Three-dimensional virtual surgical planning (3D-VSP) in orthognathic surgery: Advantages, disadvantages and pitfalls.

In this article, the advantages, disadvantages and pitfalls of three-dimensional virtual surgical planning (3D-VSP) compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) planning methods in orthognathic surgery are discussed, alongside a standardised protocol that can be utilised. A skeletal Class II, skeletal Class III and an anterior open bite clinical case along with their 3D-VSP management are presented, highlighting modifications that can be made to computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) cutting guide and plate designs.

Total Joint Replacement for Severe Bilateral Condylar Resorption--Gorham-Stout Syndrome.

Gorham-Stout syndrome is an extremely rare bone disorder characterized by osteolytic bony resorption. It is of unknown etiology and thought to result from localized endothelial proliferation of lymphatic vessels that cause the bony resorption. Diagnosis of Gorham-Stout can only be made after excluding other common causes of bony resorption such as those caused by infection, inflammation, malignancy, and endocrine. The clinical symptoms vary from minor pain and swelling to non-healing fractures from minor injuries. Due to the rarity of the disease, the overlap of symptoms with other diseases, and uncertain etiology, very few cases of Gorham-Stout syndrome have been reported. The disease is characterized by gradual resorption of bone particularly the bones of shoulder, skull, thorax, and spine, although long bones may also be affected. We present the case of a 45-year-old male patient who presented to the maxillofacial department with marked facial asymmetry leading to functional and aesthetic problems, showing massive osteolysis of both his mandibular condyles and majority of his ramus.

Zonal analysis in contemporary aesthetic orthognathic surgical planning.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of zonal analysis in orthognathic surgical planning. CASE PRESENTATION: The importance of developing this concept of facial zonal analysis is because grouping together elements of aesthetic importance in a region in a systematic manner allows for accurate diagnosis and logical treatment planning. An orthognathic case presentation is described to demonstrate this concept. DISCUSSION: The three facial zones described are related in terms of the presenting problem and in relation to the changes envisaged with each planned surgical movement. The importance of developing this concept of facial zonal analysis is because grouping together elements of aesthetic importance in a region in a systematic manner allows for accurate diagnosis and logical treatment planning. Consideration is given to the negative features that require improvement and the positive features that the clinician and patient would prefer not to alter. It also provides an organised tool for postoperative comparison of results. The analysis and synthesis of the information provided from this approach can aid contemporary orthognathic surgical planning.

Corneal Neurotization Using the Great Auricular Nerve for Bilateral Congenital Trigeminal Anesthesia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe an indirect corneal neurotization (CN) technique for congenital bilateral trigeminal anesthesia using the greater auricular nerve (GAN) as a donor. METHOD: CN was performed to preserve the integrity of the only seeing eye in a 4-year-old boy with pontine tegmental cap dysplasia and bilateral trigeminal anesthesia. He had recurrent corneal ulceration and scarring despite full medical treatment. The GAN was used as a donor, and the sural nerve was harvested and used as a bridge which was tunneled to the sub-Tenon space in the inferior fornix. The fascicles were distributed into the 4 quadrants and sutured to the sclera near the limbus. RESULT: This technique resulted in providing corneal sensation and improving stability of the epithelium. Corneal opacity gradually decreased allowing significant visual improvement evidenced in the early postoperative months. CONCLUSIONS: Using the GAN technique for CN bypasses trigeminal innervation and has the potential to improve corneal sensation. The GAN is a large caliber nerve and provides a large amount of axons and robust neurotization. This technique would be desirable for cases with bilateral congenital trigeminal anesthesia, such as pontine tegmental cap dysplasia.

Retrospective analysis of nasal soft tissue profile changes with maxillary surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in the position of the nasal and labial soft tissue profile of patients undergoing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, with special emphasis on the effect on the nasal tip projection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lateral cephalometric radiographs of 27 consecutive patients (16 female and 11 male patients; mean age, 22 years) who had undergone maxillary advancement and mandibular setback were studied. The pretreatment and end-of-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs were selected. The pretreatment and end-of-treatment radiographs were superimposed on the sella-nasion plane, and the case was only included if there had been no change in sella-nasion length (ie, no growth). Analyses of Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise linear regression tests were used to compare the cephalometric measurements at the beginning and at the end of treatment. Paired-sample t tests were also performed to analyze changes in nasolabial angle (NLA) and columella-lobular angle (CLA). RESULTS: The correlations between vertical movement of nasal tip, A-point, and maxillary incisal tip were important. Although there was an important correlation between nasal and incisal tip, interestingly, there was no correlation between nasal tip and A-point in horizontal movement. According to stepwise linear regression analysis, the best model for horizontal movement of nasal tip was as follows: Nasal anteroposterior movement = 0.241 + 0.188 × Incisal tip anteroposterior movement + 0.153 × Incisal tip superoinferior movement. For vertical movement of nasal tip, the best model was as follows: Nasal superoinferior movement= -1.117 + 0.399 × Incisal tip superoinferior movement + 0.323 × A-point anteroposterior movement. There was no significant relation in angular measurements of NLA and CLA before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that both horizontal and vertical movements of nasal tip were related to incisal tip and A-point movements; however, angular changes in CLA and NLA did not affect the nasal tip.

Orbital emphysema - the need for surgical intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Orbital emphysema is a recognised complication of fractures of the orbit and only rarely poses a threat to vision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present three patients with threatened vision secondary to orbital emphysema that required an immediate surgical decompression. RESULTS: Visual function was preserved in all three patients. CONCLUSION: Clinical awareness of pneumo-orbitism is vital as immediate orbital decompression may be necessary to preserve visual function.

Review of nasal changes with maxillary orthognathic surgery.

This article reviews the literature on nasal changes with maxillary orthognathic surgery. Understanding such changes is vital for surgical planning and for obtaining appropriate informed consent, and there are medico-legal implications. During orthognathic surgical planning a prediction of the effects of the different surgical movements is possible and this forms part of the basis of the planning stage. The predicted changes need to be identified and their desirability or not for each individual patient determined. Some techniques for managing undesirable nasal changes are discussed, including adjunct measures to minimize these potential effects (e.g. cinch sutures), and additional surgical procedures to manage the undesired nasal changes once they are produced.

Facial calcinosis: case report.

Antisynthetase syndrome is a subgroup of the idiopathic inflammatory muscle diseases and is characterised by myositis, interstitial pulmonary disease, arthritis, and Raynaud phenomenon. We report the case of a 34-year-old woman with known antisynthetase syndrome who presented with subcutaneous calcinosis bilaterally in the submandibular region.

Unilateral parotid mass as an unusual presentation of lupus erythematosus profundus.

Unilateral parotid swelling or mass in the lupus erythematosus profundus person is a rare or under reported clinical scenario in existing literature. This is a case of a 49-year-old man with such presentation for whom medical management of the underlying condition led to the resolution of the swelling. Lupus erythematosus profundus must be considered as a differential diagnosis of unexplained parotid swelling to prevent incorrect diagnosis, unnecessary surgical intervention (eg, parotidectomy) and the morbidity that comes with it (eg, facial nerve weakness, Frey's syndrome etc).

Silent sinus syndrome.

Silent sinus syndrome is defined as a spontaneous and progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus with hypoplasia of the maxillary sinus and resorption of the orbital floor. It is caused by atelectasis of the maxillary sinus in the presence of ipsilateral chronic hypoventilation of the sinus. The problem may be idiopathic, but the term is now also used to describe cases that follow operation or trauma. We describe three cases, each with a different aetiology, and discuss the clinical and radiographic evaluation of the condition, theories regarding its pathophysiology, and surgical correction.

A cadaveric study of the cranio-orbital foramen and its significance in orbital surgery.

BACKGROUND: The cranio-orbital foramen is an osseous anatomical landmark located adjacent to the superior orbital fissure. It is a potential source of hemorrhage during deep orbital dissection because it is the location of an anastomosis between the lacrimal artery and the middle meningeal artery. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, location, and number of cranio-orbital foramina within a Caucasian population. METHODS: Forty-seven orbits from 24 formalin-fixed Caucasian cadavers were exenterated. If the cranio-orbital foramen was present within an orbit, its distance from the frontozygomatic suture, supraorbital notch, and Whitnall's tubercle was measured. The gender variations and asymmetric presentations of foramina were studied. RESULTS: The cranio-orbital foramen was present in 26 orbits (55 percent). The average distance from the frontozygomatic suture, supraorbital notch, and Whitnall's tubercle was 30.92 mm (±4.37 mm), 37.77 mm (±3.55 ±), and 29.69 mm (±3.89 mm), respectively. In nine orbits (19 percent), an additional accessory cranio-orbital foramen was identified. The average distance from the frontozygomatic suture, supraorbital notch, and Whitnall's tubercle was 28.56 mm (±5.00 mm), 32.64 mm (±3.20 mm), and 27.78 mm (±5.24 mm), respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of the cranio-orbital foramen and other accessory foramina represents a source of hemorrhage that surgeons should be aware of when operating along the lateral orbital wall.