Multipoint fixation with vascularised fibular bone graft and myotomy for atlanto-axial instability in cervical dystonia: a case report.

Spinal instability is a challenging condition to manage in patients with cervical dystonia. Standard surgical stabilisation approaches may fail to cope with additional stress forces created by spasmodic muscles leading to construct failure either in the immediate or late post-operative period. Long-term stabilisation relies on the management of dystonic symptoms and adjunctive strategies to increase fusion success rate. We discuss the management of a challenging patient with translational C1/2 instability who had three metalwork failures with standard occipito-cervical fixation techniques within a 12 month period. A combined surgical approach using multipoint fixation, sternocleidomastoid myotomy and a vascularised fibular occiput-C2 bone graft successfully prevented further metalwork failure at over 2 years follow up.

The role of the multidisciplinary team in surgical management of intractable tubo-ovarian abscess as a late sequelae of challenging Crohn's disease in the modern era: A case report and review of current literature.

Chronic, severe Crohn's disease in a young female patient can result in surgical complexity. The rarity of the presentation of intractable pelvic abscesses within this etiology with additional considerations given to fertility concerns and hence requirement for input from a multi-disciplinary team makes this a vital case in building a consensus for evidence-based surgical management. A 29-year-old nulliparous woman was referred to our tertiary centre for surgical management of Crohn's disease with known tubo-ovarian abscess and abdominoperineal and abdominal wall sinuses. Her previous surgical history included 4 midline laparotomies, subtotal colectomy and proctectomy with stoma formation. The patient underwent egg collection to preserve fertility. This was followed by midline laparotomy and abdominoperineal resection, which involved a retrograde radical modified hysterectomy using the Hudson technique, alongside excision of the perineal sinus, with reconstruction of the perineal defect using an internal pudendal artery perforator gluteal fold flap, and in addition to excision and drainage of the abdominal wall abscess. Involvement was sought from gynecological oncology, colorectal, urology, plastics, stoma, fertility, microbiology, and gastroenterology teams, which enabled successful preservation of end organ function and improvement in patient psychological well-being. This case is a paradigm of surgical challenge, requiring expert gynecological oncology techniques including a retroperitoneal approach, nerve and vessel sparing considerations alongside colorectal and urological procedures. Moreover, we believe that our blueprint for effective multi-disciplinary practice will inform the future management of gynecological surgery. Therefore this report aims to contribute towards the optimum management of the gynecological sequelae of Crohn's disease.

Complex hidradenitis suppurativa on a background of long-standing Crohn's disease requiring radical pelvic and perineal reconstruction: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: A surgical MDT approach to high-complexity surgeries can allow maximal resection in order to achieve disease control and excellent functional outcomes, as demonstrated here for a case of hidradenitis suppurativa in a patient with Crohn's disease. Abstract: Hidradenitis suppurativa is an autoimmune disease characterized by abscess and fistula formation with purulent discharge in intertriginous zones, and is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. We present the case of a patient with severe ongoing hidradenitis suppurativa causing osteomyelitis and affecting the perineum, on a background of Crohn's disease previously treated with panprotocolectomy and permanent ileostomy. The hidradenitis suppurativa was having a severe impact on the patient's quality of life, and she had failed to respond to conservative management. The patient opted for a radical two-step procedure: first her coccyx and sacrum were removed. The second step was a radical bilateral anterior vulvectomy and posterior vaginectomy, with preservation of the uterine body and cervix. An anterolateral thigh flap was used to reconstruct the perineum. This complex procedure required the expertise of multiple surgical specialties, including plastic, general, spinal, and gynecological oncology surgeons to achieve maximal disease resection, minimizing the risk of recurrence.

A Systematic Review on Outcomes of Anterior Skull Base Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior skull base resection often results in large defects that need to be reconstructed. This can be done using loco-regional, free flaps or both. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the surgical outcomes (mortality, complication rates and functional outcomes) for patients undergoing anterior skull base reconstruction. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus) were systematically searched for relevant articles from 1974 to March 2018. A total of 41 studies were included in this systematic review. No randomized controlled trials were identified; therefore, a meta-analysis was not performed. RESULTS: Mortality from anterior skull base reconstruction were about 0-4% for loco-regional flaps while free flaps were around 0-7%. Overall complications ranged from 0% to 43% in loco-regional flaps, while rate of complications for free flaps ranged from 25% to 66.7%. Flap complications ranged from 0% to 14% for free flaps and 0% to 35% for local flaps. Quality-of-life measures did not differ significantly depending on surgical approach but were worse for patients with malignancies. CONCLUSION: Due to varying standards of reporting of outcomes, lack of a standardized classification system for anterior skull base defects and absence of clinical trials, we were unable to perform a meta-analysis in this systematic review. Recommendations to guide future studies are proposed.