Bilateral Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction With Custom Alloplastic Implants for Pediatric Ankylosis.

For pediatric patients with refractory temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis, reconstruction with autologous techniques such as costochondral grafts or distraction osteogenesis has long been considered the gold standard. Many surgeons believed the use of alloplastic joint replacement to be contraindicated in pediatric patients due to concerns for growth restriction and the limited lifespan of the implants. However, recent data has supported TMJ prostheses in skeletally immature patients. This study aims to present a case series of pediatric patients undergoing bilateral TMJ reconstruction with custom-made implants and evaluate their postoperative results. A retrospective chart review was performed of all consecutive pediatric patients undergoing bilateral alloplastic TMJ reconstruction for refractory ankylosis. All patients underwent bilateral TMJ release and total joint replacement with custom-made implants. Preoperative and postoperative cephalometric and volumetric airway data was obtained using cone-beam computed tomography. Three patients, aged 8 to 17, underwent bilateral TMJ replacement with custom-made implants. There were no postoperative complications, and no implants required explantation or replacement. Postoperatively, all patients had increases in maximal interincisal opening, which was stable over months/years of follow-up. The patients also subjectively reported improved speech and mastication; 1 patient had significant improvements in sleep apnea symptoms. Volumetric airway analysis revealed an average airway size increase of 25.6%. Alloplastic TMJ reconstruction is a safe, effective solution for refractory ankylosis in pediatric patients and represents a promising new frontier in craniofacial surgery. Continued long-term evaluation will provide further evidence of the utility of this procedure.

A DIEP Dive into Patient Risk Factors for Hernia and Bulge Development: A Meta-regression.

BACKGROUND: This meta-regression aims to investigate risk factors for abdominal hernia and bulge in patients undergoing deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps and the effect of prophylactic mesh placement on postoperative complications. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in July of 2022 in alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Seventy-four studies published between 2000 and 2022 met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-four studies were included in the analysis for bulge and 71 studies were included in the analysis for hernia. Meta-regressions were run on the proportion of patients experiencing hernia or bulge to assess for patient risk factors and the role of prophylactic mesh placement. Proportions were transformed using the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine method. RESULTS: The average rates of hernia and bulge after DIEP flaps were found to be 0.18% and 1.26%, respectively. Increased age (ß = 0.0059, p = 0.0117), prior abdominal surgery (ß = 0.0008, p = 0.046), and pregnancy history (ß = -0.0015, p = 0.0001) were significantly associated with hernia. Active smoking (ß = 0.0032, p = 0.0262) and pregnancy history (ß = 0.0019, p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with bulge. Neither the perforator vessel laterality nor the number of perforator vessels harvested had any association with hernia or bulge. Prophylactic mesh placement was not associated with hernia or bulge. CONCLUSION: Understanding the comorbidities associated with hernia or bulge following DIEP flap breast reconstruction, such as advanced age, prior abdominal surgery, pregnancy history, and active smoking status, allows surgeons to proactively identify and educate high-risk patients. Future studies may further explore whether prophylactic mesh placement offers patients any benefit.

Jaw Thrust: A Simple Predictor of Success in Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis.

BACKGROUND: The hypoplastic mandible in the congenital condition Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) displaces the base of the tongue posteriorly, which results in upper airway obstruction (UAO) that can potentially be corrected with mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO). Jaw thrust (JT) is routinely performed during evaluation of the airway; similar to MDO, it projects the mandible and tongue anteriorly to open the airway. The authors demonstrate that JT can be used as a criterion to predict successful MDO outcomes in infants with PRS. METHODS: The study was a single-center, retrospective chart review of infants diagnosed with PRS between 2016 and 2023. Data regarding their demographics, comorbid diagnoses, JT success, airway anomalies, laryngeal grade of view, apnea-hypopnea index, and perioperative course were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients included in the study, 11 had successful relief of their airway obstruction with JT and proceeded with MDO. The unsuccessful JT group had significantly greater proportions of females, birth prematurity, gastrostomies, tracheostomies, and longer hospital stays. In the successful JT group, both the mean laryngeal grade of view ( P =0.029) and mean apnea-hypopnea index ( P =0.025) improved significantly post-MDO. Post-MDO tracheostomy was also avoided in all but 1 patient who was not previously tracheostomized. CONCLUSIONS: There is no widely accepted algorithm to guide craniofacial surgeons on the optimal intervention for relieving UAO in infants with PRS. In our institutional experience, patients whose preoperative JT relieved UAO also successfully relieved UAO with MDO. In patients with PRS, JT may be a useful criterion for selecting appropriate candidates for MDO.

United States insurance coverage of immediate lymphatic reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction (ILR) is a prophylactic microsurgical lymphovenous bypass technique developed to prevent breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL). We investigated current coverage policies for ILR among the top insurance providers in the United States and compared it to our institutional experience with obtaining coverage for ILR. METHODS: The study analyzed the publicly available ILR coverage statements for American insurers with the largest market share and enrollment per state to assess coverage status. Institutional ILR coverage was retrospectively analyzed using deidentified claims data and categorizing denials based on payer reason codes. RESULTS: Of the 63 insurance companies queried, 42.9% did not have any publicly available policies regarding ILR coverage. Of the companies with a public policy, 75.0% deny coverage for ILR. In our institutional experience, $170,071.80 was charged for ILR and $166 118.99 (97.7%) was denied by insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of America's major insurance providers currently deny coverage for ILR, which is consistent with our institutional experience. Randomized trials to evaluate the efficacy of ILR are underway and focus should be shifted towards sharing high level evidence to increase insurance coverage for BCRL prevention.

Tracheostomy, the Not So Definitive Airway?: Tracheostomy Morbidity in Pediatric Craniofacial Patients.

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is the definitive treatment for airway management in severe cases of craniofacial-associated upper airway obstruction, like the Pierre-Robin sequence, but is associated with significant morbidity. The purpose of this study was to examine tracheostomy-associated morbidities and mortalities in craniofacial patients to identify opportunities to improve clinical care and patient prognosis. METHODS: The study was a retrospective review of pediatric craniofacial patients who were tracheostomized between 2016 and 2022. Data regarding their demographics, craniofacial diagnoses, endoscopic airway anomalies, intubation grade of view classification, tracheostomy-related complications, and causes of mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 17 tracheostomized pediatric patients had the Pierre-Robin sequence, with 5 of those patients having an additional syndromic craniofacial diagnosis. Additional airway anomalies were found in 82.4% of the patients. The mean length of hospital stay after tracheostomy was 4.08 months. Infection was the most common complication, observed in 94.1% of patients, followed by stomal granulation in 76.5% of patients. Two mortalities were observed: one following the compassionate removal of ventilator support and the other following the accidental dislodgment of the tracheostomy tube. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy-related complications were observed in all craniofacial patients in this group. Compared with the general pediatric population, tracheostomized craniofacial patients may endure longer hospital stays and greater stomal granulation rates. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis may allow for tracheostomy avoidance in these patients, and future research should focus on comparing the long-term complication rates and outcomes between tracheostomy mandibular distraction osteogenesis in this challenging patient population.

Uvular Dermoid Cyst: More Than Just a Lump in the Throat-Management of Resultant Velopharyngeal Insufficiency.

To seal the passage between the nasal and oral cavities during speech and swallowing, velopharyngeal closure is required. However, in velopharyngeal dysfunction, uncoupling of the nasal and oral cavities can be impaired, resulting in hypernasality, nasal air emission, and decreased vocal intensity. Velopharyngeal dysfunction can develop following velopharyngeal mislearning, oral surgery, or a congenital palatal malformation. Rare dermoid cysts of the palate may interrupt normal palatal development, resulting in velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). While speech therapy is the standard treatment, some cases may necessitate surgical correction of structural insufficiencies. In this report, we present the case of a 7-year-old female with a past surgical history of a uvular dermoid cyst removal at 14 months of age with VPI that was treated with Furlow Z-palatoplasty. To the author's knowledge, this is one of but a few cases of a uvular dermoid cyst with VPI.

Observations by health care professionals about wound healing in Ghanaian patients who skin-bleach.

Skin-bleaching is a common practice globally and is associated with many cutaneous and systemic health risks. Anecdotally, skin-bleaching is linked to impairments in wound healing, but there are little data to support the claim. This cross-sectional survey of health care professionals serving the Greater Accra Region, Ghana region investigates their observations of wound healing in patients who skin-bleach and their methods for screening skin-bleach use in patients. A 25-item self-administered questionnaire using 5-point Likert scale was distributed with convenient sampling to physicians and nurses employed at Ghanaian hospitals. Fifty-seven electronic and 78 paper responses were collected (total = 135). Most respondents agreed that wounds in skin-bleaching patients heal more slowly (4.22), are more prone to infection (4.11), haemorrhage (3.89), wound dehiscence (3.9), and are more difficult to manage (4.13). No respondent reported universal screening of all patients for skin-bleaching, but most ask about skin-bleaching if there is suspicion of it (42.2%). Our findings support the anecdotes about observable wound healing impairments in patients who skin-bleach. There is also wide variation in skin-bleaching screening practices, suggesting a need for guidelines to properly identify these patients and facilitate early risk prevention.