Long-term auditory performance and psychosocial benefits of cochlear implantation in Mandarin-speaking older adults.

PURPOSE: Although previous studies have shown the efficacy of cochlear implants (CIs) in older adults, no study written in English has focused on Mandarin-speaking older recipients. Mandarin is a tonal language, it is hard to lip-read and tone recognition for CI users. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term post-CI outcomes in Mandarin-speaking older adults and the difference between them and younger recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six post-lingually deafened adults were included. Speech perception tests (vowel, consonant, disyllable words, Mandarin monosyllable recognition test, and categories of audiology performance were evaluated) and psychosocial scale were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between older and younger recipients in post-CI open-set speech perception. However, older recipients had significantly lower social and total scores in the subjective questionnaire than younger recipients. In both duration of deafness less than seven years and hearing years in life over 92.6 %, older recipients had no less capable speech perception than in younger. CONCLUSION: Mandarin-speaking older recipients can improve not only speech perception but also psychosocial benefits. Well hearing experience may confer an advantage to older recipients, despite their older implanted age. These results can help provide pre-CI consultation guidelines for older Mandarin-speaking recipients.

One-Year Treatment Outcome of Profile Changes After Transcutaneous Maxillary Distraction Osteogenesis in Growing Children With Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term stability of LeFort I osteotomy followed by distraction osteogenesis with a transcutaneous rigid external device for the treatment of severe maxillary hypoplasia in patients with cleft lip and palate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients with cleft lip and palate underwent rigid external distraction after a LeFort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement. Lateral cephalometric films were analyzed for assessment of treatment outcome and stability in 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after distraction. RESULTS: Significant maxillary advancement was observed in the horizontal direction, with the anterior nasal spine (ANS) distance of the maxilla increasing by an average of 20.5 ± 5.1 mm after distraction. The ANS relapse rates in 6 months and 1 year were 8.7% and 12.8%, respectively. The mean inclination of upper incisors to the palatal plane was almost unchanged (before: 109.8° ± 6.6°; after: 108.9° ± 7.5°). The movement ratios at the nasal tip/ANS, soft tissue A point/A point, and the upper vermilion border/upper incisor edge were 0.36:1, 0.72:1, and 0.83:1, respectively. CONCLUSION: Considerable maxillary advancement was achieved with less change of incisors inclination after distraction. Moreover, the relapse rate after 1 year was minimal. The concave facial profile was improved as well as the facial balance and aesthetics.

Endoscopic and Image Analysis of the Airway in Patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IVA.

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is a hereditary disorder arising from lysosomal enzymes deficiency, with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) storage in connective tissues and bones, which may compromise the airway. This retrospective study evaluated patients with MPS type IVA with airway obstruction detected via endoscopy and imaging modalities and the effects of surgical interventions based on symptoms. The data of 15 MPS type IVA patients (10 males, 5 females, mean age 17.8 years) were reviewed in detail. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FB) was used to distinguish adenotonsillar hypertrophy, prolapsed soft palate, secondary laryngomalacia, vocal cord granulation, cricoid thickness, tracheal stenosis, shape of tracheal lumen, nodular deposition, tracheal kinking, tracheomalacia with rigid tracheal wall, and bronchial collapse. Computed tomography (CT) helped to measure the deformed sternal angle, the cross-sectional area of the trachea, and its narrowest/widest ratio (NW ratio), while angiography with 3D reconstruction delineated tracheal torsion, kinking, or framework damage and external vascular compression of the trachea. The NW ratio correlated negatively with age (p < 0.01), showing that airway obstruction progressed gradually. Various types of airway surgery were performed to correct the respiratory dysfunction. MPS type IVA challenges the management of multifactorial airway obstruction. Preoperative airway evaluation with both FB and CT is strongly suggested to assess both intraluminal and extraluminal factors causing airway obstruction.

Comparison of the Post-Surgical Position of the Temporomandibular Joint after Orthognathic Surgery in Skeletal Class III Patients and Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our research is to compare the post-surgical position of the temporomandibular joint in skeletal Class III patients and patients with cleft lip and palate treated with two-jaw orthognathic surgery using a three-dimensional computer tomography image. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three skeletal Class III patients with mandibular prognathism associated with maxillary retrognathism in group 1 and twenty cleft mid-face retrusion skeletal Class III patients in group 2 were enrolled in this study. All subjects were treated with two-jaw orthognathic surgery. Computed tomography scans were taken in all subjects at 3 weeks preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Three-dimensional craniofacial skeletal structures were build-up, and assessed the temporomandibular joint position changes before and after surgery. RESULTS: Forty-three selected patients were separated into two groups. The mean age of patients was 22.39 ± 4.8 years in group 1 and 20.25 ± 3.8 years in group 2. The range of mean three-dimensional discrepancy of the selected condylar points was 0.95-1.23 mm in group 1 and 2.37-2.86 mm in group 2. The mean alteration of intercondylar angle was 2.33 ± 1.34° in group 1 and 6.30 ± 2.22° in group 2. The significant differences in the discrepancy of TMJ and changes in intercondylar angle were confirmed within the intra-group and between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes in postoperative TMJ position were present in both groups. Furthermore, the cleft group presented significantly more postoperative discrepancy of TMJ and more changes in intercondylar angle after surgery. This finding may be a reason leading to greater postoperative instability in cleft patients compared with skeletal Class III non-cleft patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRB No: 202201108B0.

A Comparative Study of Skeletal and Dental Outcome between Transcutaneous External Maxillary Distraction Osteogenesis and Conventional Rigid External Device in Treating Cleft Lip and Palate Patients.

BACKGROUND: Traditional distraction osteogenesis (DO) with the tooth-borne rigid external device (RED) system was regularly used in treating patients with cleft-related maxillary hypoplasia. However, the bone-borne RED system with miniplates and bone screws has currently become an effective treatment. This retrospective study was to compare bone-borne RED with traditional tooth-borne RED in distraction effectiveness, blood loss, operative time, and long-term stability. METHODS: Twenty-two growing patients who underwent RED therapy were divided into two groups: eleven patients utilizing the bone-borne RED system with the transcutaneous wire attached with skeletal anchorage; another eleven patients using the traditional tooth-borne RED system with the intra-oral device attached with dental anchorage. Serial lateral cephalograms were analyzed for comparing treatment outcomes and stability in 1 month, 6 months, and 1.5 years after distraction. RESULTS: In bone-borne RED group, the maxilla was advanced by 19.98 mm with slight clockwise rotation of 0.40° and minimal palatal inclination change of incisor by -3.94°. In traditional tooth-borne RED group, the maxilla showed less advancement by 14.52 mm, with significant counter-clockwise rotation of -11.23° and excessive palatal inclination change of incisor by -10.86°. Although operative time was longer in the bone-borne RED group by 38.4 min, this did not bring about greater blood loss. CONCLUSIONS: the bone-borne RED via transcutaneous wire system provides an easy, simple, and comfortable procedure as well as favorable long-term stability in maxillary distraction.

Airway Management of the Deformed Trachea Using T-Tube Stents in Patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IVA.

INTRODUCTION: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IVA usually results in airway obstruction due to thoracic cage deformity and crowding of intrathoracic structures, causing tracheal compression by the tortuous innominate artery. OBJECTIVES: To offer an alternative and effective method in dealing with the challenged deformity of the airway in patients with MPS type IVA. METHODS: We present 3 patients with MPS type IVA who underwent airway stenting using Montgomery® T-tube stents. Three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography was essential to design the T-tube and evaluate the anatomical relationship between the innominate artery and the trachea. The Y-shaped Montgomery® Pediatric Safe-T-Tube™ is more suitable for MPS type IVA. Regular follow-ups using fiberoptic bronchoscopy are necessary to evaluate the complications. RESULTS: All 3 patients had good outcomes during the follow-ups until present, despite the complication of granulation formation, which was resolved by revising the limbs of the T-tube. CONCLUSIONS: T-tube stents placed below the vocal cord may restore airway patency and preserve laryngeal function, including respiration, phonation, and swallowing, in patients with MPS type IVA.

Approaching patients with panfacial fractures by using an anatomical reference: A novel concept and preliminary study.

Panfacial fractures are challenging for craniofacial surgeons. Aside from involving multiple subunits, they also lack the reliability of a useful landmark of the facial skeleton. Properly, reducing and fixing palatal fracture to re-establish the premorbid maxillary dental arch is important. This was a retrospective study conducted from 2015 to 2020. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) scan for surgical planning of orthognathic surgery due to either esthetic or occlusion concerns. The classification of occlusion was recorded as class I, II, and III. The parameters measured on CT were the distance between the midpoint of the supra-orbital foramen/notch (IS), mesio-buccal cusp tips (IB), central fossa (IC), palatal cusp tips (IP), and the midpoint of the palatal marginal gingiva (IM) of the bilateral maxillary first molars. The IS was compared with the IB, IC, IP, and IM. The results were analyzed by using one-way repeated measurement analysis of variance. Eighty-seven patients (36 men and 51 women) were included in the study. There were 13 patients of class I malocclusion, 8 of class II malocclusion, and 66 of class III malocclusion. The IS was comparable to the IC in all three groups. The IS can predict the IC, regardless of the patient's occlusion, and can be subsequently used to decide the width of maxillary dental arch in panfacial fracture management. Further studies are necessary to obtain more definite results.

Intraoperative Blood Loss and Postoperative Pain in the Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy and Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy: A Literature Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to review the literature regarding the blood loss and postoperative pain in the isolated sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Investigating the intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain, articles were selected from 1970 to 2021 in the English published databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). Article retrieval and selection were performed by two authors, and they independently evaluated them based on the eligibility criteria. The articles meeting the search criteria had especially at least 30 patients. RESULTS: In the review of intraoperative blood loss, a total of 139 articles were retrieved and restricted to 6 articles (SSRO: 4; IVRO: 2). In the review of postoperative pain, a total of 174 articles were retrieved and restricted to 4 articles (SSRO: 3; IVRO: 1). The mean blood loss of SSRO and IVRO was ranged from 55 to 167 mL and 82 to 104 mL, respectively. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the first postoperative day were 2 to 5.3 in SSRO and 2.93 to 3.13 in IVRO. The mean VAS scores of the second postoperative day were 1 to 3 in SSRO and 1.1 to 1.8 in IVRO. CONCLUSION: Compared to traditional SSRO, IVRO had a significantly lower amount of blood loss. However, the blood transfusion is not necessary in a single-jaw operation (SSRO or IVRO). Postoperative pain was similar between SSRO and IVRO.

Three-Dimensional Outcome Assessments of Surgical Correction in Cleft and Noncleft Patients with Class III Skeletal Relation: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: The orthognathic strategies to treat patients with a concave profile but different tissue conditions remain controversial. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the outcome predictability of orthognathic surgery in cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients and matched controls. METHODS: Fifty consecutive CLP and 45 matched non-CLP patients who received whole-piece Le Fort I and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy to correct class III skeletal relations were enrolled. The outcome discrepancies (ODs) from simulations among all groups were evaluated with consideration of the possible influences from planned surgical movements (PSM). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine threshold values of PSMs that yielded clinically relevant OD. RESULTS: Unilateral CLP (UCLP) patients had comparable postsurgical OD to non-CLP patients in both jaws, whereas bilateral CLP (BCLP) patients had greater deviations from predicted results. Vertical movement of the A - point > 1.33 mm and yaw correction > 1.65° in the BCLP patients was associated with clinically relevant maxillary OD. CONCLUSIONS: The OGS outcomes of BCLP patients were less predictable than those of the UCLP and noncleft patients. Vertical movements of the A - point > 1.33 mm and yaw correction > 1.65° in BCLP patients increased OD to a clinically relevant extent.

Postsurgical Stability of Temporomandibular Joint of Skeletal Class III Patients Treated with 2-Jaw Orthognathic Surgery via Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Simulation and Navigation in Orthognathic Surgery (CASNOS).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to clarify the postsurgical stability of temporomandibular joints in skeletal class III patients treated with 2-jaw orthognathic surgery which was performed utilizing computer-aided three-dimensional simulation and navigation in orthognathic surgery (CASNOS) protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 23 consecutive nongrowing skeletal class III patients with mandibular prognathism associated with maxillary retrognathism treated with 2-jaw orthognathic surgery between 2018 and 2019 were enrolled in this study. The surgery was planned according to the standardized protocol of CASNOS (computer-aided three-dimensional simulation and navigation in orthognathic surgery). Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in all patients 3 weeks presurgically and 6 months postsurgically. ITKSNAP and 3D Slicer software were used to reconstruct three-dimensional facial skeletal images, to carry out image segmentation, and to superimpose and quantify the TMJ position changes before and after surgery. Amount of displacement of the most medial and lateral points of the condyles and the change of intercondylar angles were measured to evaluate the postsurgical stability of TMJ. RESULTS: A total amount of 23 skeletal class III patients (female : male = 12 : 11) with age ranged from 20.3 to 33.5 years (mean: 24.39 ± 4.8 years old) underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement and BSSO setback of the mandible. The surgical outcome revealed the satisfactory correction of their skeletal deformities. The mean displacement of the right most lateral condylar point (RL-RL') was 1.04 ± 0.42 mm and the mean displacement of the left most lateral condylar point (LL-LL') was 1.19 ± 0.41 mm. The mean displacement of the right most medial condylar point (RM-RM') was 1.03 ± 0.39 mm and the left most medial condylar point (LM-LM') was 0.96 ± 0.39 mm. The mean intercondylar angle was 161.61 ± 5.08° presurgically and 159.28 ± 4.92° postsurgically. CONCLUSION: The postsurgical position of TM joint condyles in our study only presented a mild change with all the landmark displacement within a range of 1.2 mm. This indicates the bimaxillary orthognathic surgery via 3D CASNOS protocol can achieve a desired and stable result of TMJ position in treating skeletal class III adult patients with retrognathic maxilla and prognathic mandible.

Computed tomographic analysis of maxillary sinus anatomy relevant to sinus lift procedures in edentulous ridges in Taiwanese patients.

PURPOSE: To analyze the maxillary sinus anatomy over edentulous ridges in the bilateral posterior maxillary area in Taiwanese patients using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: In total, 101 anatomical sites from 61 patients, including 32 premolar and 69 molar regions, were analyzed using CBCT. Measurements were made of the width and height of edentulous ridges, the thickness of the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus, and the presence of a sinus septum and the posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA). A statistical analysis of the measurements was performed, and correlations among the measurements were assessed. RESULTS: The average ridge width was 10.26±3.16 mm, with a significantly greater ridge width in the second molar region than in the premolar region. The mean residual ridge height was 8.55±4.09 mm, and ridge height showed an opposite trend from ridge width for the premolar and molar regions. A sinus septum was present at 5.9% of the sites, and the PSAA was observed in 24.5%. The average thickness of the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus was 2.08±0.94 mm, with no significant difference between the tooth position and lateral wall thickness. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the anatomical features of the maxillary sinus, which should be considered in sinus lift procedures for implant placement, in the Taiwanese population. The use of CBCT is recommended to avoid intraoperative complications.

Three-Dimensional Outcome Assessments of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients Undergoing Maxillary Advancement.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective case series study was to compare three-dimensional postsurgical outcomes of patients with cleft lip and palate following maxillary advancement. METHODS: Fifty consecutive cleft lip and palate patients who underwent whole-pieced Le Fort I advancements were assigned to the major (advancement ≥ 5 mm) or minor (advancement < 5 mm) groups. Three-dimensional surgical simulation was used for presurgical evaluation and planning. Virtual triangles of the presurgical, simulated, and 6-month postoperative stages were used for comparison. Translational and angular changes of each endpoint (A-point, MxR, and MxL) on the virtual triangles and reference planes were recorded and analyzed. Relationships between possible related variables and outcome discrepancies from simulations among all subgroups were also investigated. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance and the least significant difference test revealed that the outcome discrepancy measurements were affected by different combinations of independent variables. The reliability test showed high consistency of the authors' method for three-dimensional measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The actual surgical outcomes of cleft lip and palate patients differed from the virtual simulations. The outcome discrepancies are impacted by multiple factors. The outcome discrepancies of all rotational surgical corrections (roll, yaw, and pitch) were positively correlated to the degree of planned surgical movement. Meanwhile, bilateral cleft lip and palate patients are more likely to incur outcome discrepancies in yaw correction with major maxillary advancement. However, a maxillary advancement cutoff value of 5 mm would not necessarily lead to significant translational outcome discrepancies among cleft lip and palate patients. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.