Mastoid emissary vein: anatomy and clinical relevance in plastic & reconstructive surgery.

The mastoid emissary vein (MEV) is an anatomical structure with limited description in the literature and its importance is even less recognized in the plastic surgical field. Investigations in its anatomy and physiology have described its anthropological significance in transition to bipedalism and preferential intracranial venous flow into the vertebral plexus in the upright man. Inadvertant injury of vessels of this size pose a significant problem due not only to difficulty with haemostasis but also from their bidirectional flow and close proximity to the sigmoid sinus where cases of thromboembolism have been described. Recognition of this common anatomical structure and how to manage bleeding from the vessel it is important for the surgeon operating in this area and even more so for the craniofacial surgeon who operates on complex craniosynostotic patients where the MEV may be the sole dominant drainage pathway of the brain. We conducted a study on 106 cadaveric dry skull specimens looking at the incidence, position and caliber of mastoid emissary foramina. 83.7% of skulls were found to have at least one foramen with a mean diameter of 1.64 mm and the largest specimen measuring 7 mm.

The true cost of burn.

It is difficult to define the true cost of a burns injury, however there has always been a consensus that the costs associated with burns care are high. This study aims to achieve an accurate calculation of the cost of acute burns care in an Australian context. A retrospective review of 20 adult burn patients treated at our Centre was performed. An itemized price list was prepared based on items, services and equipment actually utilized in the care of burns patients. Case records were reviewed for a count of quantities to calculate costs for each item. Regression analysis was performed to produce a cost vs %TBSA curve for cost prediction. A cost breakdown was also performed for analysis of the most significant areas of expenditure and their trends with %TBSA. The cost calculated for an average adult burns patient was AU$71,056 (US$73,532). The total cost of all 20 patients was AU$2,449,112 (US$2,534,464). %TBSA injured was confirmed as the primary determinant of cost. Hospital length of stay, operative costs, dressings and staffing were found to be the most significant components of cost and increased most prominently with %TBSA. Compared to our findings, expenditure for prevention and education programs is minimal. There is limited conclusive evidence that changes in management protocols have had successful impact on the cost of burns treatment. Future progress in burns management may effect factors such as hospital length of stay, however until such changes, resource allocation should recognize the importance of prevention and its success at reduction of injury severity for real reductions in cost of burns care.