Clinical and radiographic outcomes of shoulder hemiarthroplasty for patients with glenoid medialization.

BACKGROUND: Glenoid bone loss in shoulder arthroplasty is a difficult problem that is prone to complications because of challenges with achieving glenoid component fixation and stability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of primary shoulder hemiarthroplasty for patients with severe glenoid medialization precluding placement of a glenoid component. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series evaluating patients who underwent shoulder hemiarthroplasty for severe glenoid erosion and medialization between 2010 and 2020. Patients were evaluated via chart review and phone survey to determine if there were any reoperations at final follow-up and to obtain Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were evaluated and compared to determine glenoid morphology, version, medialization, acromiohumeral distance, and humeral offset. Final postoperative films were also evaluated for anterosuperior migration and signs of mechanical failure, including loosening or periprosthetic fracture. RESULTS: Overall, there were 28 patients during this period who underwent shoulder hemiarthroplasty for severe glenoid medialization. Eight patients were deceased at the time of the study, 2 were unable to complete surveys because of dementia, and 7 were lost to follow-up. The final cohort included 11 shoulders and 11 patients with a mean age of 71 ± 7.1 years and mean follow-up of 6.7 years (range 1.6-13.0 years). Mean postoperative SANE, ASES, and SST scores were 80.6 ± 17.6, 71.5 ± 29.3, and 7.6 ± 2.0, respectively. There were no reoperations or revision surgeries at final follow-up. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated severe glenoid medialization and decreased lateral humeral offset, which was unchanged postoperatively. There were 2 patients with signs of anterosuperior migration at final radiographic follow-up but no signs of implant failure. CONCLUSION: Shoulder hemiarthroplasty for severe medial glenoid bone loss provides modest clinical outcomes and low rates of reoperation at mid- to long-term follow-up and is an option worth considering in cases where placement of a glenoid component is challenging because of deficient bone stock and high risk for complications.

Proximity of the Ulnar Neurovascular Structures in Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: A Cadaveric Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the proximity of the ulnar neurovascular structures to the endoscopic blade during endoscopic carpal tunnel release (CTR). METHODS: Ten fresh-frozen cadaver hands were used to perform endoscopic CTR using devices from two manufacturers. The skin was excised from the palm, and the endoscopic carpal tunnel blade was deployed at the distal edge of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL). The blade's proximity to the ulnar neurovascular bundle, deep ulnar motor branch, superficial palmar arch, and median nerve was recorded. Following release of the TCL, the device was turned ulnar to the maximal extent to determine if direct injury to the ulnar neurovascular bundle was possible. RESULTS: The average longitudinal distance from the end of the TCL to the superficial palmar arch was 13.3 mm (range, 8.4-20.9) and to the ulnar motor branch was 10.8 mm (range, 4.0-15.0). The average transverse distance from the end of the TCL to the ulnar neurovascular bundle was 5.9 mm (range, 3.1-7.8) and to the median nerve was 3.3 mm (range, 0-6.5). In two of our specimens, the median nerve subluxated volarly over the cutting device. When placing the blade at the distal edge of the TCL, injury to the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve, ulnar neurovascular bundle, or superficial palmar arch was not possible in any specimens using the tested devices, even when turning the blade directly toward these structures. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low likelihood of direct injury to the ulnar neurovascular bundle during endoscopic CTR. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results suggest that injury to the ulnar neurovascular bundle is unlikely during endoscopic CTR if the distal aspect of the transverse carpal ligament can be clearly identified prior to release. Control of the median nerve is also important to prevent subluxation over the cutting device.

Anatomic Relationship of Hand Intrinsic Tendons at the Metacarpal Head as It Relates to the Diagnosis of Saddle Syndrome: A Cadaveric Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this cadaveric study was to investigate the intrinsic anatomy surrounding the metacarpal head and the relationship between the interosseous-lumbrical junction (ILJ) and transverse metacarpal ligament (TML) as it pertains to saddle deformity-posttraumatic adhesions at the ILJ that cause impingement during intrinsic activation. METHODS: Ten fresh frozen cadaveric arms underwent dissections, identifying the intrinsic musculature within the second through fourth webspaces. The TML and ILJ, or "true tendon," were identified. A separate area of nontendinous fibrous tissue identified proximal to the ILJ was referred to as "pseudotendon." Measurements were made within each webspace to identify distances between these structures in full finger extension and intrinsic plus position to assess for changes during simulated motion. RESULTS: The true tendon to TML distance progressively decreased toward the ulnar digits. In the intrinsic plus position, the pseudotendon to TML distance was 0 mm at all webspaces for each specimen. When moving from neutral to intrinsic plus, the true tendon to TML distance decreased the most in the third and fourth webspaces compared with the second, consistent with the trend toward a smaller ILJ to TML gap in the ulnar digits. CONCLUSIONS: There is a fibrous pseudotendinous region proximal to the ILJ that abuts the TML in the intrinsic plus position, which may cause impingement when inflamed in the setting of saddle syndrome. Furthermore, a decreased ILJ to TML gap in the ulnar digits may be related to an increased predilection for saddle deformity in those areas. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results suggest that there is a fibrous region present proximal to the ILJ that may be implicated in the pathology of saddle deformity. Furthermore, decreased distances found between the ILJ and TML in vivo may be an explanation for increased occurrence of saddle syndrome in the third and fourth webspaces in clinical practice.

Radial Head Arthroplasty for Fracture: Implant Survivorship and Outcomes at Mean Follow-up of 8 Years.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate implant survivorship and clinical outcomes following radial head arthroplasty for fracture at long-term follow-ups. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on adult patients who underwent primary uncemented radial head arthroplasty for radial head or neck fractures between 2012 and 2015. Medical records were reviewed to collect information regarding demographics, injury characteristics, reoperations, and revisions requiring implant removal. A bivariate analysis was conducted to identify potential risk factors for reoperation. A Kaplan-Meier curve was created to determine implant survival rates. Eligible patients were contacted to confirm any reoperations and obtain Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores at long-term follow-ups. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients were eligible for analysis and assessed at a mean of 97 months after surgery (range, 81-128). Reoperation rate was 16% (14 of 89 patients), including 5% of patients requiring implant removal or revision. However, 93% of reoperations occurred within the first 12 months of the index surgery. Fracture dislocations of the elbow had a higher rate of reoperation. A Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated an implant survival rate of 96% at 10-year follow-up. Of the patients who responded, the mean Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 8.7 ± 10.3, with none requiring additional reoperations or revisions. There were otherwise similar outcome scores among patients requiring reoperation versus those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Although radial head arthroplasty for fractures has a high potential for reoperation within the first year, survival rates with uncemented implants remain high at 10 years, and patients report excellent Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores at long-term follow-ups, despite any need for reoperation. Fractures with associated elbow dislocation may be at a higher risk for reoperation, and it is important to provide this prognostic information to patients who are likely to require arthroplasty for more extensive injuries. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.

The mutational landscape of early- and typical-onset oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is increasing among younger birth cohorts. The etiology of early-onset OTSCC (diagnosed before the age of 50 years) and cancer driver genes remain largely unknown. METHODS: The Sequencing Consortium of Oral Tongue Cancer was established through the pooling of somatic mutation data of oral tongue cancer specimens (n = 227 [107 early-onset cases]) from 7 studies and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Somatic mutations at microsatellite loci and Catalog of Somatic Mutations in Cancer mutation signatures were identified. Cancer driver genes were identified with the MutSigCV and WITER algorithms. Mutation comparisons between early- and typical-onset OTSCC were evaluated via linear regression with adjustments for patient-related factors. RESULTS: Two novel driver genes (ATXN1 and CDC42EP1) and 5 previously reported driver genes (TP53, CDKN2A, CASP8, NOTCH1, and FAT1) were identified. Six recurrent mutations were identified, with 4 occurring in TP53. Early-onset OTSCC had significantly fewer nonsilent mutations even after adjustments for tobacco use. No associations of microsatellite locus mutations and mutation signatures with the age of OTSCC onset were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This international, multicenter consortium is the largest study to characterize the somatic mutational landscape of OTSCC and the first to suggest differences by age of onset. This study validates multiple previously identified OTSCC driver genes and proposes 2 novel cancer driver genes. In analyses by age, early-onset OTSCC had a significantly smaller somatic mutational burden that was not explained by differences in tobacco use. LAY SUMMARY: This study identifies 7 specific areas in the human genetic code that could be responsible for promoting the development of tongue cancer. Tongue cancer in young patients (under the age of 50 years) has fewer overall changes to the genetic code in comparison with tongue cancer in older patients, but the authors do not think that this is due to differences in smoking rates between the 2 groups. The cause of increasing cases of tongue cancer in young patients remains unclear.

Incidence and Outcomes of Acute Laryngeal Injury After Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation.

OBJECTIVES: Upper airway injury is a recognized complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation, yet little attention has been paid to the consequences of laryngeal injury and functional impact. The purpose of our study was to prospectively define the incidence of acute laryngeal injury and investigate the impact of injury on breathing and voice outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral critical care center. PATIENTS: Consecutive adult patients intubated greater than 12 hours in the medical ICU from August 2017 to May 2018 who underwent laryngoscopy within 36 hours of extubation. INTERVENTIONS: Laryngoscopy following endotracheal intubation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred consecutive patients (62% male; median age, 58.5 yr) underwent endoscopic examination after extubation. Acute laryngeal injury (i.e., mucosal ulceration or granulation tissue in the larynx) was present in 57 patients (57%). Patients with laryngeal injury had significantly worse patient-reported breathing (Clinical Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Questionnaire: median, 1.05; interquartile range, 0.48-2.10) and vocal symptoms (Voice Handicap Index-10: median, 2; interquartile range, 0-6) compared with patients without injury (Clinical Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Questionnaire: median, 0.20; interquartile range, 0-0.80; p < 0.001; and Voice Handicap Index-10: median, 0; interquartile range, 0-1; p = 0.005). Multivariable logistic regression independently associated diabetes, body habitus, and endotracheal tube size greater than 7.0 with the development of laryngeal injury. CONCLUSIONS: Acute laryngeal injury occurs in more than half of patients who receive mechanical ventilation and is associated with significantly worse breathing and voicing 10 weeks after extubation. An endotracheal tube greater than size 7.0, diabetes, and larger body habitus may predispose to injury. Our results suggest that acute laryngeal injury impacts functional recovery from critical illness.

Outcomes following fixation of distal clavicle fractures utilizing arthroscopically assisted coracoclavicular ligament stabilization with a suspensory endobutton and cerclage tape.

Background: Distal one-third clavicle fractures are frequently unstable and often require surgical fixation due to high rates of nonunion. Many common methods of fixation have high rates of union but are associated with hardware discomfort and need for secondary surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a fixation technique involving arthroscopically assisted open reduction internal fixation of unstable distal clavicle fractures via a coracoclavicular (CC) suspensory endobutton and cerclage tape. Methods: This was a retrospective case series evaluating patients who underwent fixation of unstable distal clavicle fractures via arthroscopically assisted CC stabilization by a single fellowship-trained shoulder and elbow surgeon between 2020 and 2022. Demographic and injury-related data were collected via chart review. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were reviewed to evaluate for signs of radiographic union. Primary outcome measures included fracture union, complications, and need for additional procedures. Patients were also contacted via telephone to obtain American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores. Results: Six patients were eligible for inclusion in this study with a mean age of 52.8 ± 14.0 and a mean follow-up of 2.0 years (range 1.6-2.7 years). Mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores were 86.2 ± 21.8 (range 52-100). There were no postoperative complications, signs of symptomatic hardware, or need for secondary surgery at the final follow-up among this cohort of patients. All patients had achieved and maintained full radiographic union at a mean radiographic follow-up of 5.5 months (range 2.0-12.9 months). Conclusion: Arthroscopically assisted CC stabilization of distal clavicle fractures demonstrated high union rates while limiting complications or need for secondary hardware removal. Further analysis on a larger scale is recommended to determine long-term outcomes and direct comparison to other surgical techniques.

Infrared Fluorescence-guided Surgery for Tumor and Metastatic Lymph Node Detection in Head and Neck Cancer.

In patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), surgical removal of cancerous tissue presents the best overall survival rate. However, failure to obtain negative margins during resection has remained a steady concern over the past 3 decades. The need for improved tumor removal and margin assessment presents an ongoing concern for the field. While near-infrared agents have long been used in imaging, investigation of these agents for use in HNC imaging has dramatically expanded in the past decade. Targeted tracers for use in primary and metastatic lymph node detection are of particular interest, with panitumumab-IRDye800 as a major candidate in current studies. This review aims to provide an overview of intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence-guided surgery techniques used in the clinical detection of malignant tissue and sentinel lymph nodes in HNC, highlighting current applications, limitations, and future directions for use of this technology within the field. Keywords: Molecular Imaging-Cancer, Fluorescence © RSNA, 2024.

Consideration of Antifungal Coverage in Treating Infections Related to Delayed Esophageal Perforation from Anterior Cervical Spine Hardware.

(1) Background/Objectives: Delayed esophageal perforation following anterior cervical (spine) discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is rare but can lead to serious infectious complications. The treatment usually involves hardware explanation and prolonged intravenous antibiotics; however, there are scarce reports about the microbiology of these infections and corresponding targeted therapy. (2) Methods: Patients diagnosed or treated for delayed esophageal perforation after anterior cervical fusion between 2000-2020 at a tertiary medical center were studied. (3) Results: Seven patients with delayed esophageal perforation following ACDF were identified. The most common bacteria isolated included Streptococcus, Haemophilus, and Mycobacterium species. The cultures from five patients grew fungal species, including Candida albicans and C. glabrata. All the patients received several weeks of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and, notably, 5/7 patients received antifungal therapy targeting Candida. (4) Conclusions: Although the incidence of delayed esophageal perforation following ACDF is low, providers should remain aware of this entity due to the serious infectious complications. Most infections are polymicrobial in nature, and providers should consider empiric antifungal coverage specifically targeting Candida species when treating patients with this complication.

Outcomes of Volar Plating Distal Radius Fractures Based on Surgical Timing.

BACKGROUND: While complexity of distal radius fractures varies, volar plating is the most prevalent surgical option in adult injuries. The time between date of injury and surgical intervention varies according to several factors, including the timing of presentation and the surgeon's availability. This study aims to understand the impact of a delay in surgical intervention on operative time, patient-reported outcomes, and reoperation rates. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on patients treated with volar plating of distal radius fractures from 2017 to 2020 at a single institution by multiple surgeons. Perioperative medical records were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups using a cut-off date of surgery performed 12 days after injury. Descriptive analyses were used to compare demographics, fracture characteristics, operative information, and outcome data including postoperative Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) scores and reoperation rates between groups. RESULTS: A total of 257 patients were included. There was no difference in age, gender, smoking status, fracture type, or postoperative QuickDASH scores between groups. Patients fixed at 12 days or more after injury had a higher rate of reoperation, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores, and more surgeon experience. CONCLUSIONS: Volar distal radius fixation at 12 or more days after injury had no discernible differences with fracture type, operative time, or tourniquet time; however, a higher rate of reoperation was found in this group compared to earlier intervention. These data may provide important prognostic information that can be used to educate patients who present in a delayed fashion.

IL-6, but not TNF-α, response to alcohol cues and acute consumption associated with neural cue reactivity, craving, and future drinking in binge drinkers.

Objective and design: Preclinical studies suggest learned immune system responses to alcohol cues and consumption may contribute to alcohol's pharmacodynamic properties and/or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) pathogenesis. Mechanistically, these immune alterations may be associated with increased craving and alcohol consumption, both acutely and over time. We sought to characterize this relationship in a randomized, counter-balanced, crossover neuroimaging experiment which took place between June 2020-November 2021. Methods: Thirty-three binge drinkers (BD) and 31 non-binge, social drinkers (SD), matched for demographic and psychological variables, were exposed to alcohol cues and water cues in two separate 7 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. Each scan was followed by the Alcohol Taste Test (ATT) of implicit motivation for acute alcohol. Craving measures and blood cytokine levels were collected repeatedly during and after scanning to examine the effects of alcohol cues and alcohol consumption on craving levels, Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels. A post-experiment one-month prospective measurement of participants' "real world" drinking behavior was performed to approximate chronic effects. Results: BD demonstrated significantly higher peak craving and IL-6 levels than SD in response to alcohol cues and relative to water cues. Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (VmPFC) signal change in the alcohol-water contrast positively related to alcohol cue condition craving and IL-6 levels, relative to water cue condition craving and IL-6 levels, in BD only. Additionally, peak craving and IL-6 levels were each independently related to ATT alcohol consumption and the number of drinks consumed in the next month for BD, again after controlling for craving and IL-6 repones to water cues. However, TNF-α release in the alcohol cue condition was not related to craving, neural activation, IL-6 levels, immediate and future alcohol consumption in either group after controlling for water cue condition responses. Conclusions: In sum, BD show greater craving and IL-6 release in the alcohol cue condition than SD, both of which were associated with prefrontal cue reactivity, immediate alcohol consumption, and future alcohol consumption over the subsequent 30 days. Alcohol associated immune changes and craving effects on drinking behavior may be independent of one another or may be indicative of a common pathway by which immune changes in BD could influence motivation to consume alcohol. Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT04412824.

Isolated Nerve Palsy of the Flexor Pollicis Longus After a Radial Shaft Fracture: A Case Report.

We present the case of a patient who developed an isolated palsy of the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) branch of the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) following a fracture of the right radial shaft. The diagnosis of AIN palsy in this setting is rare, especially involving partial neuropathies of only the FPL branch. Clinical presentation in this scenario can be mistaken for other musculoskeletal pathology, and electrodiagnostic studies can be helpful in confirming the diagnosis.

Endotracheal Tube Size in Critically Ill Patients.

Importance: Many patients who survive critical illness are left with laryngeal functional impairment from endotracheal intubation that permanently limits their recovery and quality of life. Although the risk for laryngeal injury increases with larger endotracheal tube sizes, there are no data delineating the association of smaller endotracheal tube sizes with survival or acute recovery from critical illness. Objective: To determine if smaller endotracheal tubes are noninferior to larger endotracheal tubes with respect to critical illness outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study included all adult patients who underwent endotracheal intubation in the emergency department or intensive care unit and received mechanical ventilation for at least 12 hours from June 2020 to November 2020 at a single tertiary referral academic medical center. Exposures: Endotracheal intubation. Main Outcomes and Measures: Propensity score-matched analyses were performed with respect to the primary end point of 30-day all-cause in-hospital survival as well as the secondary end points of duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, mean peak inspiratory pressure, 30-day readmission, need for reintubation, and need for tracheostomy or gastrostomy tube placement. Results: Overall, 523 participants (64%) were men and 291 (36%) were women. Of these, 814 patients were categorized into 3 endotracheal tube groups: small for height (n = 182), appropriate for height (n = 408), and large for height (n = 224). There was not a significant difference in 30-day all-cause in-hospital survival between groups ([HR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.7-1.7] for small vs appropriate; [HR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.7-1.6] for large vs appropriate). Patients with small-for-height endotracheal tubes had longer intubation durations (mean difference, 32.5 hrs [95% CI, 6.4-58.6 hrs]) compared with patients with appropriate-for-height tubes. Conclusions and Relevance: Despite differences in intubation duration, the results of this cohort study suggest that smaller endotracheal tube sizes are not associated with impaired survival or recovery from critical illness. They support future prospective exploration of the association of smaller endotracheal tube sizes with recovery from critical illness.

The impact of social determinants of health on laryngotracheal stenosis development and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The social determinants of health affect a wide range of health outcomes and risks. To date, there have been no studies evaluating the impact of social determinants of health on laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS). We sought to describe the social determinants in a cohort of LTS patients and explore their association with treatment outcome. METHODS: Subjects diagnosed with LTS undergoing surgical procedures between 2013 and 2018 were identified. Matched controls were identified from intensive care unit (ICU) patients who underwent intubation for greater than 24 hours. Medical comorbidities, stenosis characteristics, and patient demographics were abstracted from the clinical record. Tracheostomy at last follow-up was recorded from the medical record and phone calls. Socioeconomic data was obtained from the American Community Survey. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two cases met inclusion criteria. Cases had significantly lower education compared to Tennessee (P = .009) but similar education rates as ICU controls. Cases had significantly higher body mass index (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04, P = .035), duration of intubation (OR: 1.21, P < .001), and tobacco use (OR: 1.21, P = .006) in adjusted analysis when compared to controls. Tracheostomy dependence within the case cohort was significantly associated with public insurance (OR: 1.33, P = .016) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 1.34, P = .018) in adjusted analysis. CONCLUSION: Intubation practices, medical comorbidities and social determinants of health may influence the development of LTS and tracheostomy dependence after treatment. Identification of at-risk populations in ICUs may allow for prevention of tracheostomy dependence through the use of early tracheostomy and specialized follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, retrospective review comparing cases and controls Laryngoscope, 130:1000-1006, 2020.

Unilateral Vocal Fold Immobility After Prolonged Endotracheal Intubation.

Importance: Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation are life-saving treatments for acute respiratory failure but are complicated by significant rates of dyspnea and dysphonia after extubation. Unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) after extubation can alter respiration and phonation, but its incidence, risk factors, and pathophysiology remain unclear. Objectives: To determine the incidence of UVFI after prolonged (>12 hours) mechanical ventilation in a medical intensive care unit and investigate associated clinical risk factors for UVFI after prolonged mechanical ventilation. Design, Setting, and Participants: This subgroup analysis of a prospective cohort study was conducted in a single-center medical intensive care unit from August 17, 2017, through May 31, 2018, among 100 consecutive adult patients who were intubated for more than 12 hours. Patients were identified within 36 hours of extubation and recruited for study enrollment. Those with an established tracheostomy prior to mechanical ventilation, known laryngeal or tracheal pathologic characteristics, or a history of head and neck radiotherapy were excluded. Exposure: Invasive mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube. Main Outcomes and Measures: The incidence of UVFI as determined by flexible nasolaryngoscopy. Results: One hundred patients (62 men [62%]; median age, 58.5 years [range, 19.0-87.0 years]) underwent endoscopic evaluation after extubation. Seven patients had UVFI, of which 6 cases (86%) were left sided. Patients with hypotension while intubated (odds ratio [OR], 10.8; 95% CI, 1.6 to ∞), patients requiring vasopressors while intubated (OR, 16.7; 95% CI, 2.4 to ∞), and patients with a preadmission diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.2-31.9) or coronary artery disease (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.0-25.5) were more likely to develop UVFI. Conclusions and Relevance: Unilateral vocal fold immobility occurred in 7 of 100 patients in the medical intensive care unit who were intubated for more than 12 hours. Unilateral vocal fold immobility was associated with inpatient hypotension and preadmission vascular disease, suggesting that ischemia of the recurrent laryngeal nerve may play a role in disease pathogenesis.

Survival Outcomes in T4aN0M0 Mandibular Gingival Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Surgery Alone.

OBJECTIVES: To measure disease-free, disease-specific, and overall survival among patients with T4aN0M0 mandibular gingival squamous cell carcinoma who were treated with surgery alone. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of all adult patients treated surgically with an oral cavity composite resection between January 2005 and March 2017. Among other data, patient preoperative characteristics were recorded (eg, age, sex, smoking history, alcohol use, and clinical stage); operative notes were reviewed to determine tumor subsite involvement, reconstruction method, and intraoperative surgical complications; and pathology reports were evaluated for various pathologic findings. Survival outcomes were determined with Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 18.5 months (range, 0.1-100). The 1- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 90.5% and 84.5%, respectively, while the 1- and 5-year disease-specific survival rates were 87.8% and 81.9%. The 1- and 5-year overall survival rates were 86.4% and 80.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T4aN0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the mandibular gingiva treated with surgery alone have a 5-year overall survival of 80.6%. Treatment with surgery alone obviates morbidities associated with adjuvant therapy while upholding survival outcomes.

Early onset oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma: Associated factors and patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTC) is rising among those under age 50 years. The etiology is unknown. METHODS: A total of 395 cases of OTC diagnosed and/or treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center between 2000 and 2017 were identified. Of those, 113 (28.6%) were early onset (age < 50 years). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with early onset OTC. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated survival and recurrence. RESULTS: Compared to typical onset patients, patients with early onset OTC were more likely to receive multimodality treatment (surgery and radiation; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-6.3) and report a history of snuff use (aOR, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.8-15.8) and were less likely to report a history of cigarette use (aOR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9). Early onset patients had better overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study to evaluate factors associated with early onset OTC and the first to report an association with snuff.