Paediatric endoscopic endonasal middle skull base reconstruction: retrospective analysis of 78 patients treated in a single tertiary care paediatric center.

INTRODUCTION: Skull base pathologies in the paediatric population are rare and require treatment by multiple qualified specialists. The endoscopic endonasal approach has revolutionized surgical treatment because it is less invasive than existing treatments.The goal of this study was to retrospectively review our experience with the reconstruction of paediatric skull middle base defects and associated complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed medical records from patients aged ≤ 18 years who were treated at our centre between 2013 and 2021. Patients treated with an endoscopic skull base approach and reconstruction, and who had complete clinical and radiological documentation and a minimum follow-up of 12 months, were included in the analysis. Personal data, reconstructive techniques, and complications were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Of these patients, 32 were male and 46 were female, and the mean age was 11.5 years. The main signs and symptoms were as follows: bitemporal hemianopsia in 53 cases, visual impairment in 23 cases, and headache in 30 cases. The most frequent aetiologies were craniopharyngioma (38 cases), pituitary adenoma (23 cases), and clivus chordoma (4 cases). All patients were treated via a pure endoscopic approach. For reconstruction, a multilayer technique was used in 18 cases, naso-septal flap in 43 cases, Gasket-Seal technique in 12 cases, and heterologous reconstruction in 5 cases. Only six patients presented a major complication: two had a postoperative cerebral spinal fluid leak, one developed a brain abscess, and three had diabetes insipidus.The mean follow-up period was 23.4 months.There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative CSF leak in relation to different reconstructive techniques. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery is a safe and effective treatment for paediatric middle skull base pathologies. Reconstruction techniques have a high success rate of 96.5-100%, and the rate of associated complications is < 3%.

Endoscopic Endonasal Treatment of Intra-Axial Ventral Brainstem Cavernomas: Case Experience and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Cavernous malformations of the ventral brainstem are a challenging disease to treat. From an anatomical perspective, the best surgical options are endoscopic endonasal approaches. The first reports of their usage for this purpose date back to 2012. In this study, we gathered data on the subject, share our experience, and outline technical notes and tips for this surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 14-year-old female with a ventral pons cavernoma, treated using an endoscopic endonasal transclival approach and followed-up for 5.9 years. This is the longest reported follow-up for this condition to date. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and the accompanying images. DISCUSSION: An endoscopic endonasal transclival approach was used. The skull base was reconstructed using the multilayer grafting technique and a nasoseptal flap. There was no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage. In a literature review, we identified 8 patients who were treated endoscopically: 1 transplanum-transtuberculum, 1 transtuberculum-transclival, and 6 transclival approaches were employed. Skull base closure was achieved using multilayer grafting and a nasoseptal flap in 4 cases, a gasket seal technique combined with nasoseptal flap in 3 cases and a periumbilical fat graft, fibrin sealant patch, and fibrin glue in 1 case. There were 2 cases of leakage, which resolved completely with revision surgery. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic surgery is a reliable alternative to traditional open surgery. It may be the preferred choice for intra-axial ventral brain cavernomas.

Impact of COVID19 on Maxillofacial Fractures in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. Review of 296 Patients Treated With Statistical Comparison of the Two-Year Pre-COVID19 and COVID19.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of maxillofacial trauma in a regional trauma center in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy, during the first wave of the pandemic and comparted it to an equivalent period from 2015 to 2018. The authorshave retrospectively analyzed personal data, site of trauma, etiology, and mechanism of injury. Statistical analysis has been carried out utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) and significance was accepted for P values of <0.05. From January 2015 to December 2020, a total of 296 were analyzed. In Pre-COVID era, 195 patients were evaluated, 130 males (66.6%) and 65 females (33.4%). Zygomatic-malar complex fractures were the most common site of trauma in both genders (53%), followed by mandibular fractures (23%) and orbital ones (15%). The highest incidences of injuries were recorded between 15 and 34 years (21%) with the most common etiology attributed to road accidents traumas (49%). In COVID19 era, the authors recorded 101 traumas, 58 males (57.4%), 43 females (42.6%). Zygomatic-malar complex fractures were confirmed as the most common ones in both genders (41%). The most common etiology was related to casual domestic accident and assaults (37% and 30%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of incidence in the comparison of Pre-COVID19 and COVID19 periods (P > 0.05) as opposed to the etiology in which the road traffic accidents decreased in favor of domestic accidents and interpersonal assaults (P < 0.05). Our scientific study represents the first epidemiologic study related to the impact of COVID-19 on maxillo-facial trauma in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. A decrease in the number of Maxillofacial injuries related to road traffic accidents can be demonstrated as the benefit of lockdown, however, a significant increase in the number of physical assaults shows how isolation and restrictions have had a highly negative psychological impact on society.

Endoscopic Forehead Approach for Minimally Invasive Frontal Osteoma Excision.

Benign osseous tumors of the frontal bone can be treated with endoscopic surgery, minimizing postoperative complications associated with the coronal approach and guaranteeing more functional and aesthetic results. The authors describe a case of a patient who had endoscopic removal of osteoma of the forehead using two 1 cm incisions behind the hairline. No complications such as hematoma and edema were detected. Endoscopic technique offered both good illumination and excellent magnification; it permitted safe anatomic dissection, minimum bleeding, avoiding visible scars. The outcome achieved with endoscopic technique could be the first-line surgical treatment of benign bone tumors of the frontal area, offering more advantages and better results than the conventional surgical approaches.

Endoscopy-Assisted Intraoral Removal of Elongated Styloid Process: Mini-Invasive Surgical Treatment of Eagle Syndrome.

The aim of this work is to illustrate a transoral mini-invasive approach to safely remove elongated styloid process in Eagle syndrome. A 34-year-old Asian male came to our center referring pharyngeal and cervical pain on the right side on swallowing and opening the mouth. Computed tomography showed elongation of the right styloid process. Surgical removal was performed through endoscopy-assisted intraoral approach using a pituitary curette to perform dissection and piezosurgery for the osteotomy. Surgical intervention was completed in 25 minutes. Postoperative period was uneventful except for transient (12 hours) right facial palsy that resolved spontaneously. Two months after surgery, patient referred resolution of symptoms. This technique is easy to perform and permits to obtain good result with reduction of surgical time and with low risk of complication.

Fascia Lata Harvesting: The Donor Site Closure Morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: Fascia lata (FL) is a worldwide adopted source of autologous grafts. In our Department, the endoscopic endonasal transphenoidal surgery (EETS) has been performed regularly for anterior and middle cranial fossa lesions, and FL graft has commonly been a practical resource in repairing tissue defects after EETS.Enough, we used routinely harvesting FL to restore symmetry in facial palsy. To our known, this is the biggest case series about FL harvesting to repare tissue defects after EET. The purpose of our study was to evaluate our experience with the harvesting of FL, in particularly the donor site morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study case series, which evaluated by questionnaire the morbidity of FL donr site. METHODS: The details of 44 patients were analyzed from 2011 to 2016. Thirty-eight patients needed cranial base reconstruction and 6 patients needed facial reanimation. RESULTS: Adequate length of FL was harvested in all our patients. There were no intraoperative complications. We did not use drain in any case. We analyzed 18 women (40%) and 26 men (59.9%). The estimated median age at presentation was 51.53. CONCLUSION: For little FL's gap, diameter until 3 × 6 cm, it's possible to suture FL's margin with Nylon, but for bigger gap it's necessary to reconstruct with allograft to avoid muscle bulge or compartmental syndrome.

Minimally-Invasive Endoscopic-Assisted Sinus Augmentation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to evaluate endoscopic-assisted technique by lateral approach for sinus floor augmentation, to reduce the incidence of Schneiderian membrane perforation, and to guarantee a sufficient apposition of new bone even in the posterior maxillary sinus. METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2017, 10 patients affected by severe maxillary atrophy underwent endoscopic-assisted sinus augmentation using a lateral approach. RESULTS: In only 1 patient, a little perforation of sinus membrane was observed intraoperatively and it was repaired. No abnormal postoperative bleeding was observed. None of the patients experienced oro-antral fistula, infection, or V2 dysesthesia. The authors did not find radiologic evidences of biomaterial displaced on the maxillary sinus or postoperative sinusitis. CONCLUSIONS: The authors evaluated endoscopic-assisted maxillary sinus augmentation technique using a lateral approach that allows a direct and clear view of the surgical field. This technique, as the preliminary results demonstrate, is safe and helpful, especially in avoiding membrane perforation and in xenograft optimal distribution. It could be very useful in retreatment patients.

Proposal of Standardization of Closure Techniques After Endoscopic Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery Based on Postoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Risk Classification.

Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak still represents the main limitation of endonasal endoscopic surgery. The aim of the study is to classify the risk of postoperative leak and to propose a decision-making protocol to be applied in the preoperative phase based on radiological data and on intraoperative findings to obtain the best closure.One hundred fifty-two patients were treated in our institution; these patients were divided into 2 groups because from January 2013 the closure technique was standardized adopting a preoperative decision-making protocol. The Postoperative CSF leak Risk Classification (PCRC) was estimated taking into account the size of the lesion, the extent of the osteodural defect, and the presence of intraoperative CSF leak (iCSF-L). The closure techniques were classified into 3 types according to PCRC estimation (A, B, and C).The incidence of the use of a nasoseptal flap is significantly increased in the second group 80.3% versus 19.8% of the first group and the difference was statistically significant P < 0.0001. The incidence of postoperative CSF leak (pCSF-L) in the first group was 9.3%. The incidence of postoperative pCSF-L in the second group was 1.5%. An analysis of the pCSF-L rate in the 2 groups showed a statistically significant difference P = 0.04.The type of closure programmed was effective in almost all patients, allowing to avoid the possibility of a CSF leak. Our protocol showed a significant total reduction in the incidence of CSF leak, but especially in that subgroup of patients where a leak is usually unexpected.

Rare Complication in Third Maxillary Molar Extraction: Dislocation in Infratemporal Fossa.

AIM: Removal of impacted third maxillary molar is frequently carried out without difficulties and low rate of intraoperative complications. The rare and particularly challenger to manage it is the third molar dislocation into the infratemporal fossa (IF). In this clinical report, the authors present their solution to manage and resolve this particular complication. METHODS: A 28-year-old woman was referred to the emergency rescue unit of the authors' hospital by her dentistry, after the attempt to extract the left impacted maxillary third molar. During the procedure the tooth accidentally dislodged and was lost sight of it. The patient had significant mouth-opening limitation, omolateral mid face swelling and pain. Computer tomography was immediately performed to determine the exact position of the tooth, showing the dental element dislocated into the IF. RESULTS: Considering all of possible complications the best surgical option must guarantee a direct approach and a constant eye contact of the tooth, even in case of further displacement during the procedure, and allow early surgery. The authors used an endoscopic transoral approach through the preexisted access and solved all the issues reducing morbidity. CONCLUSION: Removing tooth from the IF could be burdened by serious risk of bleeding and/or nerve injury. The endoscopic approach provides direct view of the IF reducing morbidity.

Endoscopic endonasal versus transfacial approach for blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall.

In the last decades, the introduction of computed tomography has allowed an increase in the number of diagnosed fractures of the medial orbital wall. To repair medial wall fractures, many surgical techniques have been proposed (1), each one with its advantages and disadvantages. In this study, we compared endoscopic endonasal and transcutaneous reduction approaches in terms of surgery time and clinical outcome. Between 2001 and 2005, 81 patients with orbital wall fractures were treated at our department. Among these 81 patients, 24 (29.63%) were affected by a medial orbital fracture. Patients with fracture to both floor and medial walls underwent floor reduction by a transcutaneous subpalpebral approach (n = 9, 11.1%), whereas patients with isolated medial wall fracture underwent medial wall reduction by a transcutaneous subpalpebral approach using alloplastic implants (n = 8, 9.88%) or were treated by endoscopic approach (n = 5, 6.17%). After surgery, oculomotor function improved in all 22 patients. None of the patients had complications. Computed tomography revealed a well-consolidated site of fracture in both endoscopic endonasal and transcutaneous approaches. The average operating time for endoscopic endonasal and transfacial approach was 50 and 45 minutes, respectively. In this paper, the author proposed a results comparison between the endoscopic approach and the transcutaneous one.

Endoscopic sinus surgery in sinus-oral pathology.

OBJECTIVE: Oral surgery is compounded by safe and well-known techniques and presents a low rate of complications. When the superior alveolar ridge is approached, surgery may result in oroantral fistula or tooth or implant dislocation in maxillary sinus. Those conditions lead to development of the maxillary sinusitis that, if underestimated, may evolve in orbital cellulitis and cerebritis or cerebral abscess. Our work aimed to compare the surgical techniques suitable for treatment of those complications and define the better surgical strategy. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2010, 55 patients, presenting with displaced or migrated oral implants in the paranasal sinuses, with oroantral communication or with paranasal sinusitis of odontoiatrogenic origin, were visited and referred for treatment in the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the University of Rome "La Sapienza." Surgical treatment consists of one of the following procedures: functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS); intraoral approach to the sinus with Caldwell-Luc technique; and oroantral fistula closure with a local flap, alone or combined with FESS. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 55 patients: 28 female and 27 male patients aged 43 to 78 years (mean, 60 years). All had undergone oral surgery before our first visit: 17 patients had a prosthetic implant surgery (3 lateral-approach sinus augmentation and 15 implant placement). Seventeen patients had tooth extractions, 7 did root canal treatments, and 14 had sinus maxillary augmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery has slowly taken the place of the Caldwell-Luc technique in treating odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. Advantages of FESS are the less invasivity, the preservation of sinus anatomy and physiology, the reduction of recovery time, and oral rehabilitation without loosening efficacy compared with the previous transoral approach.

LEOPARD syndrome: maxillofacial care.

This article reports a case of a boy with LEOPARD syndrome with unusual mandibular osteolytic osteoclastic-like lesions and eruption disorder. The patient was referred to our department for bilateral facial swelling: systemic examinations, diagnosis, and dental and maxillofacial care are reported.

Management of a bulky capillary hemangioma in the parapharyngeal space with minimally invasive surgery.

In this article, the authors report their management with minimally invasive surgery of a bulky capillary hemangioma in the parapharyngeal space. Parapharyngeal space capillary hemangioma is a rare tumor in adults. Because of its rarity and difficulty to treat, we suggest a multidisciplinary approach in choosing the best treatment, with an accurate follow-up.

Maxillofacial Bone Involvement in Fibro-Osseous Lesions: Emphasizing the Significance of Differential Diagnosis.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) 2022 update on the classification of odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumors has revolutionized diagnostic and treatment paradigms by integrating novel molecular insights. Fibro-osseous lesions of the maxillo-facial bones constitute a heterogeneous group encompassing fibrous dysplasia, Psammomatoid Ossifying Fibroma (PSOF), Juvenile Trabecular Ossifying Fibroma (JTOF), and other variants. Despite histological similarities, their distinct clinical manifestations and prognostic implications mandate precise differentiation. The intricacies of diagnosing fibro-osseous lesions pose challenges for pathologists, maxillofacial surgeons, dentists and oral surgeons, underscoring the importance of a systematic approach to ensure optimal patient management. Herein, we present two cases, fibrous dysplasia and Cemento-Ossifying Fibroma, detailing their clinical encounters and management strategies. Both patients provided informed consent for publishing their data and images, adhering to ethical guidelines.

SMAS flap for extracapsular dissection of parotid gland tumors: is it necessary?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective article is to evaluate postoperative outcomes after extracapsular dissection for small benign superficial parotid neoplasms (<3 cm) in patients who received Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) flap and in patients who did not receive it. METHODS: Two groups were created and statistically compared regarding Frey's syndrome and aesthetic satisfaction by data collected through the POI-8 validated questionnaire and through an aesthetic satisfaction scale ranging from 1 to 10. The difference between these two groups was the utilization of SMAS flap. SMAS flap was harvested in one of these two group, meanwhile was not used in the other. RESULTS: The p-value analysis between group 1 and group 2 on these complications, resulted statistically not significant. Also, the aesthetic satisfaction resulted not statistically significant between group 1 and group 2. Gender, localization, and facial palsy resulted statistically correlated with the aesthetic satisfaction (p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there is no statistical difference in the use of SMAS flap for benign parotid neoformations of the superficial lobe, with a diameter of less than 3 cm for which extracapsular dissection is adopted as a surgical technique.

Endoscopic endonasal approaches for cerebrospinal fluid leaks repair.

OBJECTIVE: A variety of techniques have been described for the repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks at the anterior skull base. Conservative management includes bed rest, avoidance of straining activities, and temporary CSF diversion with serial lumbar punctures or lumbar drains. Surgical repair may be achieved transcranially through a bifrontal craniotomy, extracranially through an external ethmoidectomy or frontal sinusotomy, or transnasally with microscopic or endoscopic visualization. METHOD: Between January 2006 and May 2011, 30 patients with nontraumatic and traumatic CSF rhinorrhea were treated at the Departments of Neurosurgery and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Universities of Rome 'La Sapienza'. All patients underwent surgery: 5 patients (15%) were treated by a combined intracranial and endoscopic endonasal approach and 25 patients were treated (91.1%) by the endoscopic endonasal approach alone. In our study, we used autologous material, the fascia lata, free grafts of septal or middle turbinate mucoperichondrium, and septal cartilage grafts, and in cases with a large deficit in the posterior wall of the sphenoid or clivus, a pedicle flap from sphenopalatine artery of septal mucosa is used. RESULTS: Only in 2 cases was there an appearance of secondary rhinoliquorrhea with a success rate of 94%, in line with what is described in international literature. CONCLUSIONS: Posttraumatic cerebrospinal leak in our experience can be treated through endoscopic approach, in selected cases, using autologous materials with a few relapse of the pathology. Endoscopic endonasal technique offers a high viewing of surgical field and it permits to manage even larger lesions with minimally invasivity.

Complications of orbital floor repair with silastic sheet: the skin fistula.

Treatment of orbital floor fracture is a subject of great interest in maxillofacial surgery. Many materials have been described for its reconstruction.In this article, the authors report a case of a patient who, 7 years from a previous orbital floor fracture and treatment with silastic sheet, presented herself to their clinic for the failure of the material used for its reconstruction and a skin fistula.Orbital floor repair with silastic sheet is an old method that no one uses anymore, but we still observe cases of late complications with this material. So a fine knowledge of silastic sheet complications is needed for young surgeons.The authors report the case and perform a literature review about the use of more modern biomaterials for orbital floor reconstruction.

Vascular complications with necrotic lesions following filler injections: Literature systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Although the related risk of vascular necrosis due to filler injection is low, the outcomes can be severe when they occur. This systematic review aims to report the occurrence and treatment of vascular necrosis due to filler injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: The results showed the most used treatment is a combination of pharmacologic therapy and hyaluronidase application, which is efficacy when applied in the first 4 h. In addition, even though management recommendations are available in literature, proper guidelines are unavailable due to the low number of complications occurrence. CONCLUSION: Clinical and high-quality studies on treatment and management of filler injection combination are necessary to provide scientific evidence on what to do in case of vascular complication occurrence.