Complications of sclerotherapy for 75 head and neck venous malformations.

Sclerotherapy is one treatment option for head and neck venous malformations (VMs). Evaluation of complication risks is, however, essential to improve its safety. We aimed to systematically report sclerotherapy complications by means of the Clavien-Dindo classification and to distinguish factors predisposing to complications. We identified our institution's head and neck VM patients who received sclerotherapy between 1 January 2007 and 31 August 2013, analyzed patient reports retrospectively, and applied to them the Clavien-Dindo classification. Our 75 VM patients underwent a total of 150 sclerotherapy sessions. The most common sclerosants were 3 % sodium tetradecyl sulfate and polidocanol. Complications occurred in 13 patients (17.3 %) and in 15 sessions (10.0 %); 3 complications required extensive postprocedural treatment and caused permanent morbidity, whereas 12 received conservative treatment. Patients with sclerotherapy complications underwent more treatments (p = 0.009) and more often needed further surgery (p = 0.007). We thus consider sclerotherapy a relatively safe treatment modality for head and neck VMs. To avoid complications, evaluation of VM characteristics and optimal treatment technique in a multidisciplinary team is vital.

Speech Characteristics and Oromyofunctional Outcomes in Two Bimaxillary Face Transplantation Patients in Helsinki.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Facial functional restoration is one of the main goals in face transplantation. We report the oromyofacial function outcomes of two bimaxillary face transplantation (FT) patients in Helsinki. STUDY DESIGN: Outcome Study. METHODS: Two male patients, aged 34 and 59, had severe functional facial disabilities following self-inflicted gunshot injuries sustained to their mid and lower faces several years earlier. Both underwent tooth-bearing maxillomandibular face transplantation in 2016 and 2018. We collected data regarding speech, swallowing, sensory recovery, motor recovery, and olfaction prior to transplantation. Patient charts were reviewed from the follow-up period of 4 and 2 years, respectively. RESULTS: Speech intelligibility, acceptability, and articulation continued to improve during follow-up for both patients. Voice quality and resonance were mainly normal at last follow-up. Swallowing improved once lip occlusion was regained, with only minor aspiration evident on videofluorography. Both patients had significant improvement in facial mimic muscle function after FT. The first patient who only had buccal sensory nerves connected has only recovered protective facial sensation, whereas our second patient with buccal, infraorbital, and alveolar nerves connected has almost complete facial two-point discrimination. CONCLUSION: Both patients have regained satisfactory facial sensory and motor function. Sensory recovery seems to be faster and more precise if multiple sensory nerve coaptations are performed. Swallowing and speech have continued to improve over time although not reaching the level of the normal population. We demonstrate how speech-corrective surgery can safely be performed in a FT patient and can improve speech recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2643-E2649, 2021.