The Use of Interlocking Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Patient-Specific Facial Implants in the Treatment of Facial Deformities. A Retrospective Review of Ten Patients.

PURPOSE: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a versatile biocompatible material with a wide variety of clinical applications. Multiple-piece 3-dimensionally milled interlocking PEEK patient-specific implants are used in cases with restricted access or around vital structures. The interlocking joints reduce the number of fixation screws required by converting the multiple segments into 1 single implant. Stability of such joints is of paramount importance to prevent complications such as infection and implant extrusion. This retrospective study evaluates the clinical outcomes in the use of multiple-piece 3-dimensionally milled interlocking PEEK patient-specific implants as a treatment for various congenital and acquired facial deformities. METHODS: Patients' records and clinical interviews were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients were included; 6 of them (60%) were men. A planning cone beam scan (90%) or computed tomography scan (10%) were obtained following a standard protocol. All treatments were performed by a single surgeon, following a standardized approach. The follow-up time ranged from 11 to 61 months (mean = 37.1 months). No implant exposure, extrusion or removal were reported. Three patients (30%) experienced complications. Recurrent edema was observed in 1 patient (10%), another patient (10%) experienced bilateral mental nerve paresthesia, and the third patient (10%) had recurrent sinusitis, which was successfully treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery without removing the implant. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, 3-dimensionally milled interlocking PEEK patient-specific implants are safe, predictable, potentially save operative time, and readily adjustable. Extra stability and antislippage mechanism can be achieved by using the interlocking joint. Further studies on a larger cohort of patients is needed to confirm these results.

Lymphangioma Formation Following Hyaluronic Acid Injection for Lip Augmentation.

Administration of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler for aesthetic lip augmentation is a routine and common procedure with a low rate of adverse reactions. This case report documents an extremely rare complication of lip augmentation with HA leading to the development of lymphangiomas. Lymphangiomas are uncommon hamartomas of the lymphatic system. Although usually congenital, they can be acquired due to trauma, inflammation, or lymphatic blockage. They may be in the deep or superficial tissues, with superficial forms being either lymphangioma circumscriptum or acquired lymphangioma, also referred to as lymphangiectasia. Acquired lymphangiomas are typically formed by blockage of lymphatic drainage leading to dilation of the lymphatic channels. The diagnosis in our case report is acquired lymphangioma. A 27-year-old female presented with a two-year history of linear swellings in her upper lip. These lumps followed the line where HA filler had been injected four years earlier. Hyaluronidase had previously been used unsuccessfully to remove these lumps. The patient was treated with surgery to excise the lesions. Five masses were excised, and histopathological analysis displayed the presence of variably ectatic lacunae, lined by cells with CD34 expression, a lymph-vascular-endothelial marker. There were also scattered macrophages with CD68 expression in the interstices. These are typical features of a lymphangioma. The patient was satisfied with the excellent aesthetic and functional outcome. To our knowledge this is the first case of a lymphangioma following HA lip augmentation. Although rare, this complication can have aesthetic implications for the patient which may require further treatment or surgery to correct.

Nodular Eruptions as a Rare Complication of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type-A: Case Series and Review of Literature.

Nodular eruption after botulinum neurotoxin type-A (BoNT-A) treatment is exceedingly rare, and the pathogenesis is poorly understood. This case series reports three patients that developed nodular eruptions following administration of Botox® (onabotulinum neurotoxin type A (ONA) injections). These patients had undergone multiple treatments before and after development of the eruptions which were uneventful. In addition to this, we have reviewed the published literature regarding this condition and have compared and contrasted the similarities and differences with regards to the clinical presentation and treatment with our patient cohort. This case series aims to raise awareness of this rare condition, its importance in relation to patient consent and provides a simplified management approach based on our experience. Further evaluation is needed to determine treatment consensus but conducting such research may prove to be challenging due to this condition being an infrequent encounter.

Morbidity from anterior iliac crest bone harvesting for secondary alveolar bone grafting: an outcome assessment study.

PURPOSE: To determine the postoperative morbidity of harvesting cancellous bone from the anterior iliac crest for treating secondary cleft alveolus patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients treated for alveolar clefts in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery unit at the Jordan University Hospital were included. Medical notes were reviewed for intraoperative and postoperative complications; patients were interviewed to fill a questionnaire on postoperative recovery. The donor site was evaluated for the following factors: chronic pain, neurapraxia of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, abnormal gait, altered sensation over the scar, skin tenderness, bone tenderness, deformity of the bony contour, and scar length and width were measured. RESULTS: Age at the time of surgery was 14.0+/-4.1 years (mean +/- SD), and follow-up was 23.2+/-19.3 months. Patients spent a median of 3 days in hospital (range=2-4 days), patients walked normally after 10.4+/-13.2 days and resumed normal activities, including sports, after a mean of 16.0+/-19.6 days. Two patients had neurapraxia of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (8%), 2 reported mild residual scar tenderness (8%) and 1 of the latter complained of tenderness on palpating the iliac crest (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Harvesting cancellous bone from the anterior iliac crest in young patients is well-tolerated, allows early resumption of normal activities, has no effect on growth, has minimal morbidity, and a reasonable esthetic outcome.