Social Profiloplasty: A Practical Assessment and Injection Guide.

The trend of aesthetic medical procedures continues growing every year since decades all over the globe, especially considering minimal invasive treatments since the results are immediate and the downtime minimal. Hence, treatments with hyaluronic acid fillers have become extremely popular and routinely used in common practice. However, numerous areas of treatment were identified and described in the last years clinical training and consciousness of possibly complication remain still under represented. In the following article, we present four key treatment areas for optimal overall facial rejuvenation of what the authors define the social profile. Of each area an assessment, anatomical considerations, danger zones, and the preferred personal technique of the authors are described.

Temporomandibular Joint Arthrocentesis and Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Injection for the Treatment of Internal Derangement and Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Internal derangement and osteoarthritis are the most common degenerative temporomandibular joint diseases and initial treatment for such conditions relies on arthrocentesis. Microfragmentation of adipose tissue has been proven in orthopedic literature to represent a more effective method to preserve stem cells, but no application has ever been reported in the temporomandibular joint. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to compare standard treatment conducted by injecting hyaluronic acid after the procedure to the new treatment relying upon microfragmented adipose tissue injection using the Lipogems technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was designed enrolling 20 patients in the control group receiving the standard treatment and 20 patients in the experimental group receiving microfragmented adipose tissue obtained through the Lipogems technology after arthrocentesis. Two main outcomes were defined, pain (visual analogic scale) and function (maximum interincisal opening). Both were measured in the immediate preoperative time, and 10 days, 1 month, and 6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: In both groups, pain reduction and mouth opening significantly improved compared with the preoperative situation (P = .001). At 6-month follow-up, there was an almost statistically significant reduction of pain compared with preoperative visual analogic scale (P = .0546) and a statistically significant improvement of mouth opening (P = .0327). Overall, statistical analyses showed that the experimental group had a statistically significant superiority in the success rate of the procedure compared with the control group (P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of this clinical trial show that the injection of microfragmented adipose tissue can significantly improve outcomes of pain and function compared with the standard treatment and encourage to pursue research on this topic. Further studies with a longer follow-up time are needed to evaluate the clinical stability of the achieved improvement in pain and function.

Nonsurgical Redefinition of the Chin and Jawline of Younger Adults With a Hyaluronic Acid Filler: Results Evaluated With a Grid System Approach.

BACKGROUND: Aesthetic treatment of the lower face is increasingly in demand, particularly owing to age-related changes in appearance. VYC-25L is a novel hyaluronic acid filler with high G' and high cohesivity, specifically designed for sculpting and contouring of the chin and jaw. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the use of a grid traced onto the chin and jaw for guiding treatment with VYC-25L. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center analysis of data from adult patients undergoing treatment of the lower third of the face with VYC-25L. A grid system of horizontal and vertical lines was used to systematize the process of treatment planning and performance. RESULTS: Thirty subjects were enrolled (53.3% female; mean [standard deviation] age, 34.4 [2.8] years). The mean quantity of VYC-25L used was 4.0 [0.8] mL. Based on the 5-point Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, 29 patients (96.7%) rated their appearance at 20 days posttreatment as "much improved" or "very much improved." The only complications recorded were early transient soft-tissue edema (n = 14; 46.7%) and bruising (n = 6; 20.0%). There were no cases of infection, paresthesia, asymmetry, hematoma, necrosis, or skin discoloration. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of the chin and jawline with VYC-25L, with injection locations determined by a standardized grid-based approach, appears to be effective and safe with high rates of patient satisfaction. Injection of this filler offers a potentially high-impact approach for patients across a variety of biological and economic circumstances.

One-Stage Computer-Guided Customized Management of Skeletal Asymmetry by Concomitant Proportional Condylectomy and Orthognathic Surgery in Patients With Unilateral Condylar Hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: Facial asymmetry associated with unilateral condylar hyperplasia can benefit from condylectomy, which aims to arrest the pathologic condylar growth and restore an appropriate posterior height. However, there are several cases in which condylar hyperplasia is combined with various dentofacial deformities, for which joint surgery has to be accompanied by concomitant orthognathic surgery. The literature is relatively poor of examples in which virtual planning for orthognathic surgery includes the evaluation of condylectomy, which is often manually performed. The aim of this study was to present and discuss a workflow for 1-stage computer-guided customized management of skeletal asymmetry by simultaneous condylectomy and orthognathic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients were enrolled in this study from 2018 to 2019. All patients underwent combined virtual planning of orthognathic surgery and condylectomy. Virtual surgery was translated into real surgical coordinates using patient-specific surgical guides and custom-designed osteosynthesis plates. RESULTS: All surgical procedures were uneventful, and in all patients, virtual planning was successfully brought into the operating room with high accuracy, as confirmed by superimposition analyses. Symmetrization of the face and achievement of correct occlusion were observed in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The presented protocol is a reliable solution for the combined planning of orthognathic surgery and condylectomy. Virtual planning, surgical guides, and custom-designed plates allow computerized simulations to be replicated in the real patient.

Computer-Guided In-House Cranioplasty: Establishing a Novel Standard for Cranial Reconstruction and Proposal of an Updated Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Restoring the ideal geometry of the skull vault can be a challenging task. This is especially true for complex cases when cranial reconstruction is associated with concomitant cranial resection in a one-stage procedure. Oftentimes, cranioplasty designing and production are delegated to external companies, with a significant increase in time and cost to fabricate an alloplastic implant. This case series collects and critically examines previous experiences in the field of in-house cranial reconstruction providing an updated protocol to establish a novel standard for cranial reconstruction with a substantial reduction of costs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A virtual craniotomy was digitally designed by the surgeon and transferred in the operating room using navigation and a surgical guide. Cranial reconstruction was planned using interpolation functions, recreating the ideal shape of the skull vault. Molds were designed, and 3D printed to intra-operatively shape polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) according to the pre-operative plan. For validating the accuracy of reconstruction, as well as the restoration of the appropriate skull thickness, software-encoded color maps and root-mean-square error (RMSE), were calculated. RESULTS: All surgeries were uneventful. No adverse reactions to PMMA were observed. Accuracy of the procedure was validated, showing a submillimetric deviation from the original planning and a plate thickness value similar to the adjoining bone. All steps of design and production were performed by the surgical team, and costs were seven to ten times less than the past. CONCLUSION: We discussed and improved previous reports in the field of computer-guided in-house cranioplasty, particularly when complex one-stage resective and reconstructive procedures are planned. The use of three-dimensional analyses provides a validation of the accuracy of the resulting cranial reconstruction. The authors hope that the results might inspire other colleagues to consider computer-guided in-house cranioplasty, giving surgeons the mastery of each planning phase with a substantial decrease in costs.

An Updated Protocol for the Treatment of Condylar Hyperplasia: Computer-Guided Proportional Condylectomy.

PURPOSE: To present an updated protocol for proportional condylectomy in which virtual surgical planning and 3-dimensional (3D) printing allow precise definition of the osteotomy level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional mirroring was performed to generate a virtual replica of the healthy hemimandible, which was subsequently aligned and overlapped with the actual mandible to estimate the level for condylectomy. A custom-fitted 3D printed surgical guide was modeled for the condylar head to reproduce the virtual plan in the surgical scenario. The updated protocol for computer-guided condylectomy was applied to 7 patients. RESULTS: All patients were followed for 12 months. Surface deviation color maps showed a strong correspondence between the virtually calculated condylectomy and the surgical outcome achieved with the aid of the surgical guide. No cases of condylar hyperplasia recurrence were observed. CONCLUSION: An updated protocol based on accurate 3D analysis was performed by virtual surgical planning and 3D printing. Virtual surgical planning allows the precise definition of the level of condylectomy, and custom-made 3D printed cutting guides are useful to reproduce virtual measurements during surgical maneuvers.

Fungus ball of the maxillary sinus: Retrospective study of 48 patients and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Maxillary fungus ball (FB) is the most frequent paranasal localization. OBJECTIVE: To review clinical presentation, surgery and results of treatment in our series of patients with maxillary FB. To review the literature concerning treatment of maxillary FB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 48 patients with a diagnosis of maxillary FB were treated with endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) alone or in association with external approaches. Before surgery all patients received computed tomography (CT), nasal endoscopy and dental examination. All the patients were followed for 1 year after surgery. Studies concerning surgical treatment of maxillary FB from 2006 were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 53.6 ±â€¯11.9 years. 20 patients (41.6%) did not present any symptom, 19 patients (39.7%) had nasal symptoms, 3 patients (6.2%) had facial pain, 6 patients (12.5%) had a combination of both. Endoscopic examination was positive in 31 patients (64.6%), 17 patients (35.4%) showed negative findings. Logit regression model demonstrated that clinical symptoms contribute to the prediction of a positive endoscopic examination. 25 patients (52.1%) presented odontogenic factors. Complete clinical and radiological resolution of FB was observed in 46 patients (95.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Comparing our sample to the studies reviewed we may concluded that odontogenic factors were frequently reported and should be treated at the same time of maxillary FB. ESS alone or in association with external approaches is an effective treatment for patients with maxillary FB.

Volumetric Analysis of Fat Injection by Computerized Tomography in Orthognathic Surgery: Preliminary Report on a Novel Volumetric Analysis Process for the Quantification of Aesthetic Results.

BACKGROUND: Integrated approaches to orthognathic surgery should include accurate volumetric evaluation of the skull and soft tissues. In patients with dentofacial deformities, the most frequent aesthetic deficits are attributable to an underdevelopment of hard and soft tissues. Traditional osteotomic procedures often fail to guarantee a stability of soft tissues over time. For this reason, in selecting a surgical strategy, the surgeon should consider not only traditional osteotomies, but also soft-tissue improving procedures, such as lipofilling. Preoperative surgical planning systems, such as the Virtual surgical planning (VSP) protocol, are based mainly on skeletal movement prediction. Quantitative estimation of soft-tissue modifications is not part of common clinical practice. Most commonly, the evaluation of soft-tissue modifications after orthognathic procedures is instead performed by clinical qualitative means.The purpose of this study was to describe a novel computed tomography (CT)-based volumetric analysis process for the quantification of injected autologous adipose tissue in patients who have undergone simultaneous orthognathic and lipofilling procedures. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent combined orthognathic surgery and lipofilling from June 2016 to May 2017 for malocclusion with functional and aesthetic impairments. Preoperative planning included clinical evaluation and virtual osteotomy planning according to the VSP protocol. The volume of fat to be injected was estimated clinically by comparing virtual renderings with preoperative clinical photographs. The surgical technique involved Le Fort I and sagittal split mandibular osteotomies, combined with autologous fat injection in the malar and perioral regions. Postoperative evaluation was performed with a novel imaging process based on CT image segmentation to quantify the exact volume of injected fat. Skeletal stability was also evaluated at 3 months. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled in the study, all females, with a mean age of 24.5 years (range, 18-36 years). The mean difference between the fat tissue injected and that quantified postoperatively was 6.01 cm. All patients had clinically satisfactory facial convexity, with complete restoration of the cheekbone contour, at 3 months. CONCLUSION: This study introduces a novel CT-image based technique to quantitatively assess the contribution of injected fat to the postoperative soft-tissue volume increase after combined orthognathic surgery with autologous lipofilling. In the future, this CT-based volumetric analysis technique could be the gold standard for evaluating facial lipofilling outcomes, and for assessing clinical aesthetic outcomes based on the injected volume of fat.

Multidisciplinary treatment with a customized lingual appliance for an adult patient with severe Class III malocclusion and multiple missing teeth.

A 24-year-old man presented with a severe skeletal class III malocclusion, associated with an anterior and posterior crossbite in the left side, upper and lower lip eversion, skeletal asymmetry, midline discrepancy, diastemas in the maxillary and mandibular dental arches, and agenesis of maxillary lateral incisors and canines with retained deciduous teeth. Treatment was performed with the use of the Win Lingual System. When the 0.016 × 0.022-inch NiTi archiwire was applied, the deciduous teeth were extracted and replaced with temporary crowns connected to the appliance. After the aligning, leveling, and diastema closure phases, a modified Le Fort II osteotomy, a mandibular setback with a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and a genioplasty were performed. Implants were placed in the canine site through a flapless guided surgery, and cantilevered temporary bridges were delivered. Final prosthetic rehabilitation included veneers for the central incisors and zirconia-ceramic cantilevered bridges for the canine and lateral incisors. After 36 months of active treatment, the patient showed an Angle Class I molar and canine relationship and an ideal overbite and overjet. His profile had improved, lips were competent, and gingival levels were acceptable. The lateral radiograph and cephalometric analysis showed a good balance of the skeletal pattern, a good profile of the soft tissue, and proper inclinations of the maxillary and mandibular incisors in relation to maxilla and mandible. After 2 years of follow-up, the patient had a pleasant smile and no relapse, or joint or muscular pain.

Primary Stability of Short Implants Inserted Using Piezoelectric or Drilling Systems: An In Vitro Comparison.

The primary objective of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of implant site preparation technique (drills vs ultrasonic instrumentation) on the primary stability of short dental implants with two different designs inserted in simulated low-quality cancellous bone. Eighty implant sites were prepared in custom-made solid rigid polyurethane blocks with two different low cancellous bone densities (5 or 15 pounds per cubic foot [PCF]), equally distributed between piezoelectric (Surgysonic Moto, Esacrom, Italy) and conventional drilling techniques. Two short implant systems (Prama and Syra, Sweden & Martina) were tested by inserting 40 fixtures of each system (both 6.0 mm length and 5.0 mm diameter), divided in the four subgroups (drills/5 PCF density; drills/15 PCF density; piezo/5 PCF density; piezo/15 PCF density). Insertion torque (Ncm), implant stability quotient values, removal torque (Ncm), and surgical time were recorded. Data were analyzed by 3-way ANOVA and Scheffé's test (α = 0.05). With slight variations among the considered dependent variables, overall high primary implant stability was observed across all subgroups. Piezoelectric instrumentation allowed for comparable or slightly superior primary stability in comparison with the drilling procedures in both implant systems. The Prama implants group showed the highest mean reverse torque and Syra implants the highest implant stability quotient values. Piezoelectric implant site preparation took prolonged operative time compared to conventional preparation with drills; among the drilling procedures, Syra system required fewer surgical steps and shorter operative time.

Primary stability of short implants inserted using piezoelectric or drilling systems: an in vitro comparison.

The primary objective of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of implant site preparation technique (drills vs. ultrasonic instrumentation) on the primary stability of short dental implants with two different designs inserted in simulated low quality cancellous bone. Eighty implant sites were prepared in custom-made solid rigid polyurethane blocks with two different low cancellous bone densities (5 or 15 pounds per cubic foot, PCF), equally distributed between piezoelectric (Surgysonic Moto, Esacrom, Italy) and conventional drilling techniques. Two short implant systems (Prama and Syra, Sweden & Martina) were tested by inserting 40 fixtures of each system (both 6.0 mm length and 5.0 mm diameter), divided in the four subgroups (drills/5 PCF density; drills/15 PCF density; piezo/5 PCF density; piezo/15 PCF density). Insertion torque (Ncm), implant stability quotient values, removal torque (Ncm) and surgical time were recorded. Data were analyzed by three-way ANOVA and Scheffé's test (α=0.05). With slight variations among the considered dependent variables, overall high primary implant stability was observed across all subgroups. Piezoelectric instrumentation allowed for comparable or slightly superior primary stability in comparison with the drilling procedures in both implant systems. Prama implants group showed the highest mean reverse torque, Syra implants the highest implant stability quotient values. Piezoelectric implant site preparation took prolonged operative time compared to conventional preparation with drills; among the drilling procedures, Syra system requires fewer surgical steps and shorter operative time.

Cranioplasty: Review of Materials.

Cranioplasty remains a difficult procedure for all craniofacial surgeons, particularly when concerning the reconstruction of large lacunae in the skull. Considering the significant clinical and economic impact of the procedure, the search for materials and strategies to provide more comfortable and reliable surgical procedures is one of the most important challenges faced by modern craniofacial medicine.The purpose of this study was to compare the available data regarding the safety and clinical efficacy of materials and techniques currently used for the reconstruction of the skull. Accordingly, the scientific databases were searched for the following keywords autologous bone, biomaterials, cranial reconstruction, cranioplasty, hydroxyapatite, polyetheretherketone, polymethylmethacrylate, and titanium. This literature review emphasizes the benefits and weaknesses of each considered material commonly used for cranioplasty, especially in terms of infectious complications, fractures, and morphological outcomes.As regards the latter, this appears to be very similar among the different materials when custom three-dimensional modeling is used for implant development, suggesting that this criterion is strongly influenced by implant design. However, the overall infection rate can vary from 0% to 30%, apparently dependent on the type of material used, likely in virtue of the wide variation in their chemico-physical composition. Among the different materials used for cranioplasty implants, synthetics such as polyetheretherketone, polymethylmethacrylate, and titanium show a higher primary tear resistance, whereas hydroxyapatite and autologous bone display good biomimetic properties, although the latter has been ascribed a variable reabsorption rate of between 3% and 50%.In short, all cranioplasty procedures and materials have their advantages and disadvantages, and none of the currently available materials meet the criteria required for an ideal implant. Hence, the choice of cranioplasty materials is still essentially reliant on the surgeon's preference.

Maxillary Segmental Micro Osteotomy: A Human Cadaver Study on the Efficacy of the Technique.

PURPOSE: Ultrasonic bone cutting was recently introduced as a feasible alternative to the conventional tools of cranio-maxillofacial surgery because it offers improved precision and safety.This study examined the feasibility of minimally invasive orthodontic or preprosthetic surgery using a piezosurgery device for latero-posterior maxillary segmental osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four fresh cadaveric heads were obtained for this study. Maxillary posterior osteotomy was performed using piezoelectric surgery. To preserve the vascular supply, only 1 vestibular incision was made during surgery. The Mectron Piezosurgery unit is a multipurpose device that uses micrometric ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrations with a variable frequency and cutting energy. The strategy for maxillary osteotomy included 1 horizontal osteotomy, 2 vertical osteotomies, and 1 palatal osteotomy performed transantrally without incision of the mucoperiosteum. The osteotomies were performed using a piezodevice (OT7-type inserts: 0.55 and 0.35 mm). In total, 1 horizontal cut (3 mm above the roots of the teeth), 2 vertical bone cuts, and 1 palatal osteotomy were made without incision of the palatal mucoperiosteum.Gentle dissection of the buccal fat pad was used to promote the healing of hard and soft tissues in the osteotomized zone. RESULTS: No damage to soft tissues, including the palatal mucosa, occurred. The buccal fat pad was mobilized easily without requiring an additional incision. The osteotomic sites were linear and clean in the palatal aspect. The integrity of the vascular network was maintained because of the lack of damage to the palatal mucosa. No chisels were used during the osteotomies. DISCUSSION: This cadaveric study shows the feasibility of using piezosurgery for segmental maxillary osteotomy. This report outlines a new and simple application of segmental maxillary micro-osteotomy.

Ultrasound endoscopic bone cutting for rapid maxillary expansion.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the feasibility and morbidity of ultrasound endoscopic rapid maxillary expansion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen consecutive patients (7 women and 6 men; mean age at time of surgery, 22 yr 10 months; range, 15 yr 4 months to 26 yr 3 months) who required surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion were included in this study. Eight patients had Class III malocclusion and 5 had Class II malocclusion. All osteotomies were performed using ultrasound bone-cutting instruments under direct visualization with a rigid 30° 2.7-mm-diameter endoscope connected to a video system, with access through 3 small vertical incisions. RESULTS: Satisfactory maxillary expansion was achieved in all patients, with minimal postsurgical sequelae. The average operative time for the 13 cases was 74 minutes (standard deviation, 11 minutes) and was not dependent on the quality of bone. Postoperative pain was measured using a visual analog scale ranging from 0 to 10 and was found to be 1.5 ± 0.8 on the first postoperative day, which decreased to 0.9 ± 0.4 on the second day. Mucosal healing was excellent and none of the patients had excessive edema, hematoma formation, or nerve injury. CONCLUSION: The procedure described is minimally invasive and has advantages over the usual technique in providing direct vision, creation of a precise and safe osteotomy, minimal bleeding risk, and decreased dissection.

Immediate socket restoration after orbital trauma with globe loss: principles, timing, and our experience.

The literature-reported incidence of ophthalmic injuries occurring with facial fracture ranges widely from 0.8% to 30%. Ocular trauma necessitating enucleation or evisceration is less common, but it is not rare. The trauma and physical disability related to removal of the eye are extreme. Moreover, the loss of an eye causes severe changes to the anatomy and physiology of the orbit, resulting in deformities that affect the relationship between the socket and the prosthesis. Here, the authors present their own experience of 8 consecutive cases of trauma injuries with globe loss and emphasize the importance of accurate, early bone reconstruction involving evisceration and immediate socket restoration.

Evaluations of sagittal and vertical changes induced by surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion.

INTRODUCTION: Class II, anterior open bite and/or a steep mandibular plane angle are frequently considered a contraindication to the use of surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE). Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the maxillary and mandibular effects after SARPE on the sagittal and vertical planes, with dissimilar results and small samples of patients.The aim of the current study was to evaluate the sagittal and vertical effects after SARPE. METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive adult patients (7 males, 14 females; mean age, 25.6 ± 6.3 years) who required SARPE were included in this study. All patients were subjected to subtotal LeFort I osteotomy with pterygomaxillary disjunction. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken during the preoperative assessment (T0) and 6 months after the end of the expansion (T1). Cephalometric measurements were realized at T0 and T1 for all the patients. Independent-sample t test and analysis of variance were used. RESULTS: Statistically significant changes were observed only in upper incisor^NA (P = 0.04). No skeletal sagittal or vertical variation was found after SARPE. CONCLUSIONS: Class II, anterior open bite and/or a steep mandibular plane angle cannot be considered an outright contraindication to its use. Upper incisor palatal inclination could result after SARPE.

Double osseous flaps for simultaneous midfacial and mandible reconstruction: Automation in surgical complexity within an entirely computerized workflow.

Introduction: Broad maxillofacial surgical resections involving both the midface and the mandible represent a challenge in terms of reconstruction. Although several papers have explored the possibility of simultaneously using two microsurgical flaps, reports on the implementation of a dual osseous flap strategy are limited, and mainly addressed to static anatomical reconstruction, regardless of functional implications. In particular, there is a lack in the literature of a unifying protocol which illustrates how technology including virtual planning, statistical shape modeling, virtual occlusion, 3D-printing and patient-specific implants can address the functional and accuracy needs required for an optimal reconstruction. Materials and methods: In this paper, the Authors present their preliminary experience in a two-center study, showing how broad maxillofacial defects, requiring a simultaneous reconstruction in both the mandible and the midface, can be successfully reconstructed using the combination of two osseous flaps in an automated sequence in which all steps are anticipately defined in a virtual plan, accounting for the optimal alignment of temporomandibular joint, predicting the final occlusion and defining a mandibular shape according to a statistical shape model. Results: Average RMSE for the iliac bone crest flap was of 3.2 ± 0.36 mm; for the fibula flap, RMSE value was of 2.3 ± 0.65 mm, for patient-specific implants, for mandibular prostheses the average RMSE was 2.46 mm with 0.76 mm standard deviation. Temporomandibular joint function increased when a TMJ prosthesis was placed. Conclusions: Double bone free flap is a valuable resource to reconstruct wide defects that simultaneously involve two thirds of the cranio-maxillo-facial skeleton, but a careful virtual planning study should be always performed before approaching this surgical option.

Optimizing efficiency in the creation of patient-specific plates through field-driven generative design in maxillofacial surgery.

Field driven design is a novel approach that allows to define through equations geometrical entities known as implicit bodies. This technology does not rely upon conventional geometry subunits, such as polygons or edges, rather it represents spatial shapes through mathematical functions within a geometrical field. The advantages in terms of computational speed and automation are conspicuous, and well acknowledged in engineering, especially for lattice structures. Moreover, field-driven design amplifies the possibilities for generative design, facilitating the creation of shapes generated by the software on the basis of user-defined constraints. Given such potential, this paper suggests the possibility to use the software nTopology, which is currently the only software for field-driven generative design, in the context of patient-specific implant creation for maxillofacial surgery. Clinical scenarios of applicability, including trauma and orthognathic surgery, are discussed, as well as the integration of this new technology with current workflows of virtual surgical planning. This paper represents the first application of field-driven design in maxillofacial surgery and, although its results are very preliminary as it is limited in considering only the distance field elaborated from specific points of reconstructed anatomy, it introduces the importance of this new technology for the future of personalized implant design in surgery.

Outcomes of a Pharmacological Protocol with Pentoxifylline and Tocopherol for the Management of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (MRONJ): A Randomized Study on 202 Osteoporosis Patients.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a challenging situation in clinics. Previous studies have shown that pentoxifylline combined with tocopherol proved to be beneficial in patients with osteoradionecrosis, due to their antioxidant and antifibrotic properties. The aim of this randomized study was to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline and tocopherol in patients that had developed MRONJ after tooth extractions. The study population consisted of 202 Stage I MRONJ female patients with an average age of 66.4 ± 8.3 years, who were divided into two groups. The test group (n = 108) received a pharmacological protocol with pentoxifylline and tocopherol (2 months pre-operatively and 6 months post-operatively). The control group (n = 94) had sequestrectomy operations without any pharmacological preparation. The main outcomes were clinical healing of the mucosa after 1 month, and clinical and radiographic healing of the bone lesion at 6 months. In the test group all patients had mucosal healing and there was only one relapse within 6 months. In the control group, in 17% of the patients the mucosa did not heal, 71% of the patients relapsed within two months, and 7% developed infectious complications (such as abscess or phlegmon). After 6 months, the control group patients with persisting issues were prescribed pentoxifylline and tocopherol, as in the test group. At a subsequent follow-up, all those patients healed completely. Patients were monitored for a period of 7.8 ± 0.3 years, during which no relapse or additional problems were reported. As a conclusion, pentoxifylline and tocopherol protocol seems to be beneficial in the management of MRONJ patients.