Guided Genioplasty: Comparison between Conventional Technique and Customized Guided Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Genioplasty as an isolated surgical technique is a highly demanded procedure in the maxillofacial surgery area. Advances in facial reconstructive surgery have been associated with less morbidity and more predictable results. In this paper, "conventional" genioplasty and genioplasty by means of virtual surgical planning (VSP), CAD-CAM cutting guides, and patient custom-made plates are compared. METHODS: A descriptive observational study was designed and implemented, and 43 patients were treated, differentiating two groups according to the technique: 18 patients were treated by conventional surgery, and 25 patients were treated through virtual surgical planning (VSP), CAD-CAM cutting guides, STL models, and titanium patient-specific plates. RESULTS: The operation time ranged from 35 to 107 min. The mean operative time in the conventional group was 60.06 + 3.74 min.; in the custom treatment group it was 42.24 + 1.29 min (p < 0.001). The difference between planned and obtained chin changes in cases of advancement or retrusion was not statistically significant (p = 0.125; p = 0.216). In cases of chin rotation due to asymmetry, guided and personalized surgery was superior to conventional surgery (p < 0.01). The mean hospital stay was equal in both groups. A decrease in surgical complications was observed in the group undergoing VSP and customized treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-stage implementation of VSP with CAD-CAM cutting guides, STL models, and patient-specific plates increased the accuracy of the genioplasty surgery, particularly in cases of chin asymmetry, reducing operation time and potential complications.

Endoscopically Assisted Intraoral Coronoidectomy for Treatment of Coronoid Hyperplasia.

Hyperplasia of the coronoid process of the mandible is a rare condition defined as an abnormal and progressive elongation of the coronoid process (unilateral or bilateral). Jacob disease is the name given to a pseudo-joint formation between the coronoid process and the zygomatic bone. The main clinical finding is a progressive, painless difficulty in opening the mouth, due to contact of the coronoid process with the posterior surface of the zygomatic bone or the medial surface of the zygomatic arch. To restore the mouth opening in a stable manner, resection of the elongated coronoid process followed by physiotherapy is the only effective treatment. Surgery (coronoidetomy or coronoidectomy) can be performed through intraoral or extraoral access. Intraoral coronoidectomy is the best surgical choice for most of the cases. However, in some cases, the intraoral surgical field prevents an adequate visualization of the osteotomy line. The authors present 5 consecutive clinical cases of hyperplasia of the coronoid process treated with an endoscopically assisted coronoidectomy using ultrasound bone-cutting instruments.

Patient-specific profile guide in rhinoplasty.

The introduction of new technologies in the field of facial aesthetic surgery is leading to improvement in surgical intervention quality. In the field of rhinoplasty, the design of customized surgical guides for the patient helps to perform an intervention with greater precision according to the presurgical planning. We present our design and method of fabrication of surgical profile guides for patients undergoing rhinoplasty, with free software and mostly in-house design and fabrication. The entire design process takes less than an hour. We have found that designing the guide enhances the communication process with the patient, and using that guide improves the surgical result.

The persistent breach between evidence and practice in the prevention of surgical site infection. Qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the dissemination of guidelines for surgical site infection (SSI) prevention, a gap between the theoretical measures and their compliance persists. Accurate estimates of the implementation of preventative measures is crucial before planning dissemination strategies. METHODS: A web-based survey was distributed to members of 11 Associations of operative nurses and surgeons. Questions aimed to determine their awareness of evidence, personal beliefs and actual use of the main preventative measures. RESULTS: Of 1105 responders, 50.5% receive no feed-back of their SSI rate. Responders show a moderate rate of awareness of the recommendations about not removing hair, hair clipping, skin antisepsis with alcoholic solutions, and normothermia. Antibiotic prophylaxis is given for more than 24 h by 18.8% of respondents. Screening for S. aureus is performed by 27.6%. Hair removal by shaving is used by 16.6% of responders. The most common antiseptic solutions are alcoholic chlorhexidine (57.2%) and aqueous povidone (23.3%). 62.8% of surgeons allow the solution to air dry before applying surgical drapes. Adhesive drapes in the surgical field are used routinely in 33.4% of cases. Perioperative normothermia, glucose control and hyperoxia are used in 84.3%, 65.9% and 23.3% of cases. Antimicrobial sutures and negative pressure therapy are used by 20.2% and 43.5% of teams, respectively. Prior to closing the incision, 83.9% replace surgical instruments always or selectively. Wound irrigation before closing is used in 78.1% of cases, mostly with saline. Check-lists, standardized orders, surveillance, feed-back and educational programs were rated most highly by respondents as a means to improve compliance with preventative guidelines, but few of these strategies were in place at their institutions. CONCLUSION: Gaps in the translation of evidence into practice remain in the prevention of SSI among different surgical specialities. Several areas for improvement have been identified, as some core prevention measures are not in common use.

Influence of acidic fibroblast growth factor on bone regeneration in experimental cranial defects using spongostan and Bio-Oss as protein carriers.

The objective of this study was to valuate 2 substances as potential carriers of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) in a rat craniectomy model: gelatin sponge (Spongostan; Ferrosan A/S, Søborg, Denmark) and natural bone mineral (Bio-Oss; Geistlich Biomaterials, Wolhusen, Switzerland).Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. A 5-mm-diameter circular craniectomy was performed in the left parietal bone. Animals were divided into 6 experimental groups of 8 rats, each group receiving a different treatment: control (no substance added), Spongostan, Bio-Oss, FGF, FGF + Spongostan, and FGF + Bio-Oss. Animals were killed 12 weeks after surgery.Descriptive histology and stereology were used, the latter to measure the volumes of regenerated bone and Bio-Oss remaining in the defect. Analysis of variance was used to determine differences in bone regeneration between groups, and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the volume of remaining Bio-Oss particles.Histologically, the control defects behaved like critical size defects, showing incomplete bone regeneration. Only the FGF + Spongostan group achieved nearly complete bone regeneration. Bio-Oss particles seemed to reduce centripetal bone regeneration. Spongostan by itself did not interfere with spontaneous bone healing.Stereologic measurements of the volume of new bone growth, measured in cubic millimeter, were as follows: control group, 3.86 ± 1.03; Bio-Oss, 2.26 ± 1.06; Spongostan, 3.00 ± 0.81; FGF, 3.99 ± 1.85; FGF + Bio-Oss, 3.02 ± 1.88; and FGF + Spongostan, 8.93 ± 1.28. Analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference between the FGF + Spongostan group and the other groups (P < 0.001). Comparison among the other groups did not show significant differences.Fibroblast growth factor 1 with a Spongostan carrier has shown great efficacy for bone regeneration in cranial critical size defects in rats. Bio-Oss did not produce a regenerative effect, either alone or with FGF-1.

Le fort I osteotomy with bone grafts in preprosthetic surgery: technical note.

Background Being edentulous causes progressive bony resorption in maxillae, which can lead to altered maxillomandibular relationships. Discussion should consider Le Fort I osteotomy with inlay grafts for a better success rate. Thus, this article introduces a technical note in improving the success rate. Case Report The presented technical note permits transformation of the surgery in a conventional Le Fort I with a simple fixation not only of the grafts but also of the osteotomy. The surgical steps are explained as well as the follow-up results. Discussion Adding additional wire anchorage around bone grafts greatly improved our success rate and reduced our operative time. Bone grafting concurrently with Le Fort I osteotomy immediately improved the facial skeletal profile. Several in vitro studies have shown that galvanic corrosion does not play a significant role when combining stainless steel and titanium. Our novel technique is relatively simple and can be easily picked up by young surgeons.

Long term results of reconstruction plates in lateral mandibular defects. Revision of nine cases.

OBJECTIVE: Although microsurgical bone transplant is still the gold standard, mandibular reconstruction plates (MRP) were for several years considered a fast and safe way to restore mandibular continuity without using a bone graft. New plate designs with locking screws have been recently introduced, and these may overcome some of the complications related to previous designs. We review the results of mandibular reconstruction plates in our institution from 1991 to 1995. METHODS: The records of nine cancer patients who underwent lateral mandibular resections (with preservation of both condyle and symphysis) followed by reconstruction with a mandibular reconstruction plate, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were treated between 1991 and 1995 with regular Synthes and Leibinger plates (without locking screws). Immediately after tumour resection, the bone defect was reconstructed with an MRP without bone grafting. Three cases required soft tissue coverage: two flaps and one buccal fat pad flap. RESULTS: There was immediate orocervical fistula in six cases, one of which required surgical closure; and late complications were common. One patient died due to distant metastasis 13 months after surgery without symptoms related to the plate. The remaining eight patients had their plates removed at between 9 and 52 months after reconstruction, due to screw loosening (four cases), plate exposure (one case), or both (three cases). CONCLUSION: Lateral mandibular reconstruction with non-locking screws and regular profile plates is no longer recommended. New plates with improved designs are currently available. Their low profile and locking screws are the usual characteristics of these new plates. More clinical experience is necessary before plate reconstruction can be recommended over microvascular bone transfer.