An Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol for Orthognathic Surgery Reduces Rates of Postoperative Nausea.

For many surgical procedures, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have improved patient outcomes, particularly postoperative nausea and vomiting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative nausea following orthognathic surgery after the implementation of an ERAS protocol. This retrospective cohort study included patients between 12 and 35 years old who underwent orthognathic surgery at Boston Children's Hospital from April 2018 to December 2022. Patients with syndromes or a hospital stay greater than 48 hours were excluded from the study. The primary predictor was enrollment in our institutional ERAS protocol. The main outcome variable was postoperative nausea. Intraoperative and postoperative covariates were compared between groups using unpaired t tests and chi squared analysis. Univariate and multivariate regression models with 95% confidence intervals were performed to identify predictors for nausea. A P value<0.05 was considered significant. There were 128 patients (68 non-ERAS, 60 ERAS) included in this study (51.6% female, mean age 19.02±3.25 years). The ERAS group received less intraoperative fluid (937.0±462.3 versus 1583.6±847.6 mL, P≤0.001) and experienced less postoperative nausea (38.3% versus 63.2%, P=0.005). Enhanced recovery after surgery status (P=0.005) was a predictor for less postoperative nausea, whereas bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (P=0.045) and length of stay (P=0.007) were positive predictors for postoperative nausea in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Implementing an ERAS protocol for orthognathic surgery reduces postoperative nausea. Level of Evidence: Level III-therapeutic.

Elastic Chain Premaxillary Retraction Appliance Does Not Increase Inter-Canthal Dimension in Patients with Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the elastic chain premaxillary retraction (ECPR) appliance increases inter-medial and inter-lateral canthal dimension in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Specialized tertiary care facility. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: 126 patients with BCLP; 75 had ECPR, 51 had no pre-surgical manipulation. INTERVENTIONS: Three-dimensional facial photographs were obtained prior to insertion of appliance (T0), post-appliance therapy prior to appliance removal/labial repair (T1), and several months after labial repair (T2) for a longitudinal ECPR group, and were obtained after age 4 years (T3) for a non-longitudinal ECPR group and for the non-ECPR group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inter-medial and inter-lateral canthal dimension (en-en, ex-ex) was determined for all groups/time-points. Measurements were compared between groups and to norms. RESULTS: The mean en-en and ex-ex was 32.6 ± 3.2 mm and 84.4 ± 6.3 mm for the ECPR group and 33.5 ± 3.1 mm and 86.7 ± 7.2 mm for the non-ECPR group at T3. Inter-medial and inter-lateral canthal dimensions were significantly greater than normal (P < .05) in both groups; there was no significant difference between groups (P > .05). The mean en-en and ex-ex for the Longitudinal ECPR group was 27.5 ± 2.4 mm and 66.7 ± 3.7 mm at T0, 29.6 ± 2.4 mm and 70.4 ± 2.9 mm at T1, and 29.2 ± 2.3 mm and 72.3 ± 3.8 mm at T2. en-en and ex-ex increased significantly from T0-T1 (P < .05), decreased at T2 (P > .05) and was significantly larger than normal at all time-points (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Inter-medial and inter-lateral canthal dimension increased after ECPR but returned to baseline growth trajectory. These dimensions were above normal at all time-points. There was no difference between those that did and did not have dentofacial orthopedic manipulation.

Can Alveolar Bone Grafting Using Posterior Iliac Crest be a Day Surgery Procedure?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if patients undergoing alveolar bone grafting (ABG) can be discharged home on the day of surgery safely and with high satisfaction. DESIGN: This is a prospective cohort study of patients who underwent ABG over a 6-month period (August 2022 to February 2023). Medical records were reviewed, and postoperative surveys were provided to assess patient/family experience. SETTING: Tertiary care free-standing pediatric hospital. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants who had ABG using iliac marrow from the posterior iliac crest. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were assigned to overnight admission (ON) or day surgery (DS) based on hospital bed capacity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures were postoperative medical events and satisfaction with discharge timing. RESULTS: 41 participants were included: ON, n = 20 (48.8%); DS, n = 21 (51.2%), and there were no differences between groups in any predictor variable. There were no postoperative medical events. Overall, families reported comfort managing pain, nausea, bleeding, hydration, and nutrition after discharge. Most (83.3% of the DS group and 69.2% of the ON group, P = .644) reported satisfaction with the discharge timing they received, despite this being driven by hospital rather than patient factors. Reasons for some families preferring longer admission included fluid management (n = 2), anxiety about postoperative swelling (n = 2), and a long drive home (n = 1). For the ON group, 16.7% would have preferred same-day discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Same day discharge is safe and well-received in appropriately selected patients who undergo ABG using posterior iliac crest. Perioperative patient/family education is essential.

Patient-specific Le Fort I Osteotomy Plates are More Stable than Stock Plates in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that patient-specific plate fixation for Le Fort I osteotomies (LFI) is more stable than traditional plates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stability of LFI in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and determine stability differences between patient-specific and stock plates. METHODS: Consecutive patients with CLP who underwent isolated LFI by one surgeon (BLP) between 2016 and 2021 were included. The predictor variable was type of plate used for fixation (patient-specific or stock). The outcome variable was magnitude of relapse in the vertical (Nasion-A point) and horizontal planes (Basion-A point) at one year post LFI using 3-dimensional cone beam computed tomography. Statistical analysis included Independent Samples T-test, Mann-Whitney U, Fisher's exact and Chi-square tests. P<0.05 was significant. RESULTS: The sample included 63 subjects; 23 (36.5%) in the patient-specific group and 40 (63.5%) in the stock group. Groups were comparable by sex, race, age at operation, cleft type, presence of pharyngeal flap and magnitude of horizontal movement (P>0.136, all). Subjects who underwent patient-specific plate fixation were less likely to have ≥1mm change at one year in the horizontal (4.3% vs. 50.0%, p<.001) and vertical planes (4.3% vs. 65.0%, P<.001) compared to stock plates. For patients who had >10mm horizontal advancement, the patient-specific plates had significantly less relapse (patient-specific 0.105mm ± 0.317mm vs. stock 1.888mm ± 1.125mm vs, P=.003). CONCLUSIONS: Patient-specific plate fixation of LFI is more stable and demonstrates less relapse after one year than stock plates. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Does Anesthesiologist Experience Influence Early Postoperative Outcomes Following Orthognathic Surgery?

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia provider experience impacts nausea and vomiting in other surgical specialties but its influence within orthognathic surgery remains unclear. PURPOSE: The study purpose was to evaluate whether anesthesiologist experience with orthognathic surgery impacts postoperative outcomes, including nausea, emesis, narcotic use, and perioperative adverse events, for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: This is a retrospective cohort study of subjects aged 12 to 35 years old who underwent orthognathic surgery, including Le Fort 1 osteotomy ± bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, at Boston Children's Hospital from August 2018 to January 2022. Subjects were excluded if they had incomplete medical records, a syndromic diagnosis, or a hospital stay of greater than 2 days. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: The predictor variable was attending anesthesia provider experience with orthognathic surgery. Providers were classified as experienced or inexperienced, with experienced providers defined as having anesthetized ≥10 orthognathic operations during the study period. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: The primary outcome variable was postoperative nausea. Secondary outcome variables were emesis, narcotic use in the hospital, and perioperative adverse events within 30 days of their operation. COVARIATES: Study covariates included age, sex, race, comorbidities (body mass index, history of psychiatric illness, cleft lip and/or palate, chronic pain, postoperative nausea/vomiting, gastrointestinal conditions), enhanced recovery after surgery protocol enrollment, and intraoperative factors (operation performed, anesthesia/procedure times, estimated blood loss, intravenous fluid and narcotic administration, and anesthesiologist's years in practice). ANALYSES: χ2 and unpaired t-tests were used to compare primary predictor and covariates against outcome variables. A P-value <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were 118 subjects included in the study after 4 were excluded (51.7% female, mean age 19.1 ± 3.30 years). There were 71 operations performed by 5 experienced anesthesiologists (mean cases/provider 15.4 ± 5.95) and 47 cases by 22 different inexperienced providers (mean cases/provider 1.91 ± 1.16). The nausea rate was 52.1% for experienced providers and 53.2% for inexperienced providers (P = .909). There were no statistically significant associations between anesthesiologist experience and any outcome variable (P > .341). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Anesthesia providers' experience with orthognathic surgery did not significantly influence postoperative nausea, emesis, narcotic use, or perioperative adverse events.

What is the Success Rate of Repeat Alveolar Bone Graft?

BACKGROUND: Success rates for alveolar bone grafting range from 30 to 96%. There is limited information regarding the success of repeat grafts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the radiographic success rate of repeat alveolar bone grafts. STUDY DESIGN: The study designs was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent repeat grafting by 1 surgeon over 15 years. To be included, subjects had to have: cleft lip and alveolus and a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan obtained >6 months after repeat graft. Patients were excluded if CBCT was inadequate. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: Predictor variables were sex, age at repeat graft, cleft type, presence of an erupted canine, premaxillary osteotomy at time of repeat graft, presence of a visible oronasal fistula, size of bony defect, presence of a bony palatal bridge, and whether the surgeon who performed the repeat graft also performed the initial graft. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: The outcome variable was graft success determined using CBCT assessment and defined as a score of >3 out of 4 in each domain: vertical bone level, labiopalatal thickness, and piriform symmetry. COVARIATES: The covariates were time from bone graft to CBCT (months) and age at time of CBCT (years). ANALYSES: Frequency distributions, relative risk with 95% confidence intervals, medians, and interquartile ranges were calculated. Pearson c2 and Fisher exact tests were performed to determine predictors of outcome. A P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Fifty subjects (54% male) who had repeat bone grafting to 59 cleft sites were included. Median follow-up time from repeat graft to CBCT was 7.0 months (interquartile range: 5.9 months). The radiographic success rate was 81.4%:91.7% if the same surgeon performed both initial and repeat grafts, but 78.7% if initial graft was completed by another surgeon (P = .43). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Despite being a multifactorial issue, extensive and bilateral clefts, the presence of an erupted tooth in the cleft area, a visible oronasal fistula, and concomitant osteotomy of the premaxilla are warning signs of the possibility of failure. Performing repeat alveolar bone grafting by an experienced surgeon appears to increase the chance of success.

Piriform Rim Asymmetry in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients Before Orthognathic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) creates a continuity defect on the nasal floor, which contributes to nasal asymmetry. Traditionally, piriform rim symmetry has been evaluated by comparing cleft and noncleft sides. No study has compared the magnitude of perinasal asymmetry in UCLP patients with a control group of patients without clefts. PURPOSE: To address the following question: In UCLP patients, whose alveolar clefts are reconstructed with alveolar bone grafts (ABGs), is the magnitude of remaining piriform rim asymmetry similar to that of patients without UCLP? STUDY DESIGN SETTING, SAMPLE: This is a retrospective cohort study that used the cone beam computed tomography of UCLP and non-UCLP patients to evaluate the piriform rim symmetry. The sample was derived from patients who presented for orthognathic surgery between January 2015 and December 2022. To be included, patients had to have a maxillary deficiency. The cleft group had ABG performed with symphyseal bone harvest and bone morphogenetic protein application. Patients were excluded from the control group if they had clinical asymmetry and nasal septum deviation. Patients from the UCLP group were excluded if they failed the first attempt of ABG or had a syndrome. Preorthognathic cone beam computed tomography was used to measure the distance from the inferior and lateral aspects of the piriform rim to reference lines. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: UCLP status grouped as present or absent (control). OUTCOME VARIABLES: The magnitude of piriform rim asymmetry defined as the millimetric distance from the inferior and lateral aspects of the piriform rim to reference lines. COVARIATES: The covariates were age, sex, tissue thickness at the level of the alar base, and turbinate size. ANALYSIS: Welch's two-sample t-test was utilized to compare means. A level of significance of 5% (P < .05) was used for all analyses. To analyze the reliability of the measurements intraexaminer and interexaminer errors were tested using the Weir method. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included, 30 in each group. The mean age of UCLP patients was 16.76 (range 13 to 25), and the control group was 17 (range 13 to 25), P = .71. The UCLP group had 12 girls, and the control had 18 girls (P = .12). In the UCLP group, the mean discrepancy between affected and unaffected sides at the inferior aspect of the piriform rim was 3.9 mm (range 0.9 to 7 mm, P < .01), and in the control group the discrepancy between right and left sides was 0.1 mm (0-2.1 mm, P = .87). The mean discrepancy between affected and unaffected sides at the lateral aspect of the piriform rim was 3.6 mm (range 0.7 to 7.6 mm, P < .01) in the UCLP group, and in the control group the discrepancy between right and left sides was 0.1 mm (range 0.1 to 5.8 mm, P = .78) in the control group. The mean alar base soft tissue thickness discrepancy was 3.1 mm (range 0.9 to 7.9 mm, P < .01) in the UCLP group and 0 mm (range -1.8 to 1.9 mm, P = .97) in the control group. The mean difference in the turbinate area in the UCLP group was 314 mm2 (range 797 to 2,898) and in the control group 35 mm2 (range 702 to 2,302) (P = .19). CONCLUSION: ABG with symphyseal bone and bone morphogenetic protein was not able to provide the same level of piriform symmetry observed in patients without a cleft. Alar base tissue was thicker on the cleft side, and the turbinate size demonstrated greater variability in the UCLP patients.

Predictors of Outcomes in 900 Alveolar Bone Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Significant discrepancies exist in the reported variables influencing alveolar bone graft outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate graft success and identify outcome predictors in a large patient cohort using an objective Cone Beam Computed Tomographic (CBCT) assessment tool. METHODS: Consecutive patients with cleft lip/palate who underwent alveolar bone grafting by one surgeon were included. Predictor variables were age at graft, oronasal fistula, canine position, concurrent premaxillary osteotomy, size of cleft, presence of bony palatal bridge, history of failed graft, location of primary repair, and surgeon experience. The outcome variable was graft success determined using a CBCT assessment tool and defined as a score of > 3 out of 4 in each domain: vertical bone level, labiopalatal thickness, and nasal piriform symmetry. RESULTS: The sample included 900 alveolar cleft sites (median graft age 9.9 years). The success rate was 94.6%. Presence of an erupted canine, large cleft defect, and premaxillary osteotomy were independent predictors of graft failure, while presence of a bony palatal bridge was associated with graft success (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of an erupted canine, large bony defect, and premaxillary osteotomy increase failure, and a bony palatal bridge portends success. Variables of age > 12 years, visible oronasal fistula, history of failed graft, primary cleft repaired at outside institution, and surgeon experience were associated with higher graft failure but were not independent predictors when controlling for co-variates. Surgeons should be aware that these factors in combination increase the odds of graft failure.

Evaluation of Research Diagnostic Criteria in Craniofacial Microsomia.

Characteristics of patients with craniofacial microsomia (CFM) vary in type and severity. The diagnosis is based on phenotypical assessment and no consensus on standardized clinical diagnostic criteria is available. The use of diagnostic criteria could improve research and communication among patients and healthcare professionals. Two sets of phenotypic criteria for research were independently developed and based on multidisciplinary consensus: the FACIAL and ICHOM criteria. This study aimed to assess the sensitivity of both criteria with an existing global multicenter database of patients with CFM and study the characteristics of patients that do not meet the criteria. A total of 730 patients with CFM from were included. Characteristics of the patients were extracted, and severity was graded using the O.M.E.N.S. and Pruzansky-Kaban classification. The sensitivity of the FACIAL and ICHOM was respectively 99.6% and 94.4%. The Cohen's kappa of 0.38 indicated a fair agreement between both criteria. Patients that did not fulfill the FACIAL criteria had facial asymmetry without additional features. It can be concluded that the FACIAL and ICHOM criteria are accurate criteria to describe patients with CFM. Both criteria could be useful for future studies on CFM to create comparable and reproducible outcomes.

Prognosis of Maxillary Central Incisors in Patients with Bilateral Cleft Lip/Palate.

Evaluate periodontal bone support of maxillary central incisors (MCI) in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCCLP). Determine if syndromic diagnosis, age at time of alveolar bone graft (ABG), presence of maxillary lateral incisor (MLI), history of dentofacial orthopedics, maxillary expansion, and pre-maxillary osteotomy are associated with the periodontal bone support of MCI.Retrospective radiographic study.Tertiary care children's hospital.One hundred seventy-nine patients with BCCLP (22 syndromic) who had post-operative ABG cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans taken between 2002-2018.Crown to root (C/R) ratio of MCI measured on CBCT scans.The C/R ratio in 65% of MCI indicated periodontally compromised teeth. Presence of a MLI improved bone support on adjacent MCI when compared to those missing a MLI (51.4% vs 28.4%, P = .010). There was no significant difference in C/R ratios for syndromic diagnosis, age at ABG, history of dentofacial orthopedics, maxillary expansion, and pre-maxillary osteotomy.The majority of MCI in patients with BCCLP are periodontally compromised but bone support is improved when cleft adjacent lateral incisors are present.

Upper and Lower Limb Anomalies in Craniofacial Microsomia and Its Relation to the OMENS+ Classification: A Multicenter Study of 688 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is characterized by several malformations related to the first and second pharyngeal arch. Patients typically present with facial asymmetry, but extracraniofacial organ systems might be involved, including limb anomalies. The purpose of this study was to analyze the occurrence of upper and lower limb anomalies in CFM patients. Furthermore, the relation between limb anomalies and the OMENS+ (orbital distortion; mandibular hypoplasia; ear anomaly; nerve involvement; soft-tissue deficiency; and associated extracraniofacial anomalies) classification was examined. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted including patients with CFM from craniofacial units in three different countries. Patients were included when clinical and/or radiographic images were available. Demographic, radiographic, and clinical information was obtained. RESULTS: A cohort of 688 patients was available and selected for analysis. In total, 18.2% of the patients were diagnosed with at least one upper and/or lower limb anomaly. Upper and lower limb anomalies were seen in, respectively, 13.4% and 7.8% of patients. Patients with other extracraniofacial anomalies had a significantly higher risk for limb anomalies (OR, 27.98; P = 0.005). Laterality of CFM and a higher OMENS score were not associated with limb anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: More than one in six patients with craniofacial microsomia have limb anomalies. Therefore, clinical awareness for these anomalies is warranted. Examination and, if present, follow-up on limb abnormalities in patients with CFM should be implemented in the standard assessment of CFM patients. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Do patients treated with Invisalign have less swelling after orthognathic surgery than those with fixed orthodontic appliances?

INTRODUCTION: Patients treated with perioperative Invisalign for orthognathic surgery may experience less postoperative swelling than those with fixed appliances because of a lack of mucosal irritation from bonded brackets and wires. The aims of this study were to (1) compare facial swelling after orthognathic surgery in subjects with Invisalign to those with fixed appliances using 3-dimensional (3D) subtraction imaging and (2) determine if the type of operation influences differences in swelling. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study. To be included in the case group (Invisalign), patients had to have had: (1) LeFort I and/or bilateral sagittal split osteotomies, with or without genioplasty, (2) perioperative orthodontic treatment using Invisalign, and (3) 3D photographs at postoperative timepoints 1 week (T1), 3-4 weeks (T2), and 5-7 weeks. A sex and operation-matched control group with fixed appliances (standard) was also included. The primary outcome variable was the volume of facial swelling, measured by subtraction imposition of the T1 and T2 3D images using reference images (5-7 weeks). RESULTS: Twenty-two subjects (36% female; mean age 20.7 ± 3.15 years) were included: Invisalign (n = 11) and standard (n = 11). For each group, 7 subjects had 1 operation (LeFort I or bilateral sagittal split osteotomies), and 4 had bimaxillary surgery ± genioplasty. At T1, the Invisalign group had significantly less swelling than the standard group (17.52 ± 10.79 cm3 vs 37.53 ± 14.62 cm3; P <0.001). By T2, the differences were no longer significant (6.62 ± 5.19 cm3 for Invisalign; 5.85 ± 4.39 cm3 for standard, P = 0.728). CONCLUSION: Subjects with Invisalign had significantly less facial swelling in the first postoperative week than those with fixed appliances.

How Have the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis Changed Over Time?

PURPOSE: Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare inflammatory condition characterized by sterile bone lesions. There appears to be a shift in the diagnostic modalities and treatment over the past decades despite insufficient published data. The purpose of this study was to document: 1) the number of patients diagnosed with CRMO, 2) patient demographics, 3) disease characteristics at presentation, 4) diagnostic modalities employed, and 5) treatments prescribed at our institution over a 30-year period. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included children diagnosed with CRMO who presented between 1990 and 2020. The electronic medical records were queried using numerous search terms. Patients were excluded if CRMO was included in the differential diagnosis but was not confirmed at the time of chart review or if CRMO was suspected early in the disease course but the patient was ultimately diagnosed with another condition. The predictor (time in years) and outcome variables (diagnostic modalities and treatment types) were tested using bivariate analyses using IBM SPSS, Version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: A total of 224 patients were diagnosed with CRMO during the observation period (68.3% female; 67.4% white). The number of patients diagnosed over the past decade rose by 215%, as compared to the previous 2 decades (1990 to 2010). Regional magnetic resonance imaging (83.8%) and biopsy (66.5%) were the most utilized diagnostic modalities over the past decade, with a statistically significant decline in the proportion of biopsies performed (66.5% during the past decade vs 84.9% in the previous 2 decades, P = .01). Over the past decade, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (40.1%), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (27.1%), and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (21.1%) were the most commonly used treatments, with a statistically disproportionate increase in the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (21.1% during the past decade vs 3.8% in the previous 2 decades, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the largest CRMO cohort studies and the only study to observe changes in diagnostic modalities and treatment over a 30-year period. Future studies should assess the impact of variations in clinical presentation, time to diagnosis, diagnostic modalities, and management as predictors of disease outcomes.

The First Hybrid International Educational Comprehensive Cleft Care Workshop.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the first hybrid global simulation-based comprehensive cleft care workshop, evaluate impact on participants, and compare experiences based on in-person versus virtual attendance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey-based evaluation. SETTING: International comprehensive cleft care workshop. PARTICIPANTS: Total of 489 participants. INTERVENTIONS: Three-day simulation-based hybrid comprehensive cleft care workshop. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participant demographic data, perceived barriers and interventions needed for global comprehensive cleft care delivery, participant workshop satisfaction, and perceived short-term impact on practice stratified by in-person versus virtual attendance. RESULTS: The workshop included 489 participants from 5 continents. The response rate was 39.9%. Participants perceived financial factors (30.3%) the most significant barrier and improvement in training (39.8%) as the most important intervention to overcome barriers facing cleft care delivery in low to middle-income countries. All participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the workshop and a strong positive perceived short-term impact on their practice. Importantly, while this was true for both in-person and virtual attendees, in-person attendees reported a significantly higher satisfaction with the workshop (28.63 ± 3.08 vs 27.63 ± 3.93; P = .04) and perceived impact on their clinical practice (22.37 ± 3.42 vs 21.02 ± 3.45 P = .01). CONCLUSION: Hybrid simulation-based educational comprehensive cleft care workshops are overall well received by participants and have a positive perceived impact on their clinical practices. In-person attendance is associated with significantly higher satisfaction and perceived impact on practice. Considering that financial and health constraints may limit live meeting attendance, future efforts will focus on making in-person and virtual attendance more comparable.

Does Differential Maxillary Expansion Prior to Alveolar Cleft Bone Grafting Affect Nasal Width?

OBJECTIVE: Determine the effects of differential maxillary expansion on nasal width in patients with unilateral cleft lip and alveolus with or without cleft of the secondary palate (UCLA ± P). DESIGN: Retrospective radiographic study. SETTING: Institutional. PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients with UCLA ± P who had alveolar bone grafting (ABG) between 2015 and 2020 and available preexpansion and postexpansion cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Twenty patients with UCLA ± P who underwent ABG without expansion were included as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percent change in width at the nasal pyriform, inferior turbinates, and alar base on cleft and noncleft sides. RESULTS: The study included 40 patients (24 males, mean age 9.6 years) and 20 controls (10 males, mean age 10.1 years). After maxillary expansion, there was an increase in width on the cleft and noncleft sides compared to nonexpanded controls at nasal pyriform (10.9% cleft side, P ≤ 0.001 and 4.3% noncleft side, P ≤ .001), inferior turbinate (8.7%, P ≤ .001 and 4.5%, P = .01), and alar base (6.7%, P = <.001 and 0.8% P = .54). The increase in width was greater on the cleft side than the noncleft side at the nasal pyriform (7.1%, P ≤ .001), inferior turbinate (4.3%, P ≤ .001), and alar base (7.0%, P ≤ 0.001) in the expansion group. There was good to excellent intra-rater and inter-rater agreement for measurements. CONCLUSION: Patients with UCLA ± P who undergo differential maxillary expansion before ABG exhibit greater nasal widening on the cleft side.

How Much Opioid Medication Do Patients Need After Orthognathic Surgery?

PURPOSE: Opioid misuse is a public health crisis. It is incumbent upon surgeons to understand analgesic requirements for operations they perform to inform responsible prescribing practices. The purpose of this study was to quantify opioid use following orthognathic surgery. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study including consecutive patients that had orthognathic surgery at the Boston Children's Hospital from May 2020 to September 2021. To be included, subjects had to have had a Le Fort I osteotomy, bilateral sagittal split osteotomies, or both. Subjects were excluded if they had a craniofacial syndrome (not including cleft lip and palate) or did not complete the study. Postoperative prescriptions and instructions were standardized. The primary outcome variable was total postoperative opioid use (inpatient + outpatient). Inpatient opioid delivery was recorded from the electronic medical record. Outpatient opioid use was ascertained via electronic questionnaire each day for 7 postoperative days. Descriptive and analytic statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Thirty-five subjects (54% male, age 18.7 ± 2.7 years) were included. Thirty-two subjects (91%) used postoperative opioid analgesia as inpatients, outpatient, or both, with mean total use of 18.2 ± 20.9 morphine milligram equivalents/subject (equivalent to 7.3 ± 8.4 oral oxycodone 5-mg doses). Nine (26%) subjects received inpatient opioid but did not use any oral opioid after discharge. As outpatients, a mean of 3.9 ± 5.5 oral oxycodone 5-mg dose was used per patient over 2.1 ± 2.1 postoperative days. Le Fort I osteotomy-only procedures had significantly lower (P = .032) and combined Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy operations had significantly higher (P = .003) opioid requirements than the mean. Length of procedure and hospital length of stay were significant predictors of analgesic need, with an increase of 0.34 oxycodone doses/subject for each 10-minute increase in procedure time and 0.20 oxycodone doses/subject for each 1-hour increase in length of stay. Pain level on the first postoperative day was also a predictor of total opioid use (P < .050). CONCLUSION: Opioid use after orthognathic surgery is less than expected. Caution is necessary to avoid overprescribing.

Ocular and adnexal anomalies in Treacher Collins syndrome: a retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a rare craniofacial disorder characterized by bilateral hypoplasia of facial structures and periorbital, ocular, and adnexal anomalies. The purpose of this multicenter study was to report the prevalence of ocular and adnexal anomalies in TCS and to identify patients at risk for visual impairment. METHODS: The medical records of patients seen at four craniofacial centers were reviewed retrospectively. The following data were reported: primary and secondary ocular and adnexal anomalies, orthoptic and ophthalmological findings, and severity of TCS based on the facial deformity. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were included, of whom 49.5% were examined by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The mean age at the first visual acuity measurement was 6.96 ± 6.83 years (range, 1.50-47.08); at final measurement, 11.55 ± 10.64 years (range, 1.75-62.58). Primary ocular anomalies were reported in 98.5% of cases, secondary anomalies in 34.5%, strabismus in 27.3%, refractive errors in 49.5%, and visual impairment in 4.6%. We found no association between ocular anomalies and visual impairment or between the severity of TCS and ocular anomalies or visual impairment, except for an increased prevalence of secondary ocular anomalies in patients with more severe manifestations of TCS. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular anomalies were present in nearly all patients with TCS, even in mild cases.

Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Analysis Demonstrates a 94% Radiographic Success Rate in 783 Alveolar Bone Grafts.

PURPOSE: Success of alveolar bone grafting has been estimated using 2-dimensional periapical radiographs that are associated with image distortion. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) accurately displays 3-dimensional anatomy. This study sought to develop and apply a radiographic measure of alveolar bone grafting success using CBCT. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series composed of patients with cleft lip/palate who had iliac crest bone grafting by 1 surgeon from 2005 to 2020. CBCT scans were obtained ≥4 months after graft. The outcome variables included vertical bone height on cleft adjacent teeth, labiopalatal thickness, and nasal floor symmetry and were scored using a 1 to 4 ordinal scale. Vertical height was determined by the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the marginal bone level of cleft adjacent teeth (1: ≥75% root length, 2: ≥50 to <75%, 3: ≥25 to <50%, 4: <25%), labiopalatal thickness was scored by comparing graft thickness with root width of cleft adjacent teeth (1: <50%, 2: ≥50, 3: ≥75%, 4: ≥100%), and piriform symmetry was established by comparing the nasal floor height between sides (1: ≥6 mm, 2: ≥3 and < 6 mm, 3: ≥1 and < 3 mm, 4: a score of ≥3 < 1 mm). To be considered a successful graft, each dimension scored ≥3. Grafts were also successful if piriform symmetry scored 2, when all other measures indicated success. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 618 patients with 783 alveolar cleft sites. Subjects' median age was 10.0 (interquartile range 1.6 years), and 59% were male. CBCT scans were obtained a median of 9.7 months (interquartile range 68.8 months) after grafting. There was good-to-excellent intrarater and inter-rater agreement for measurements. Alveolar bone grafting was radiographically successful in 94% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is a valid and reliable assessment tool, and when applied to a large cohort, it demonstrated a 94% graft success rate. Future studies will identify predictor variables associated with bone graft outcomes.

Does Timing of Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting Affect the Need for Additional Bone Augmentation Prior to Implant Placement at Cleft Sites?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence the need for a supplemental bone graft prior to dental implant placement at previously grafted alveolar cleft sites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective case series of patients with cleft lip/palate who had both alveolar bone grafting (ABG) and placement of a dental implant(s) to replace a missing incisor(s) at the cleft site by the senior surgeon (BLP) at Boston Children's Hospital from 2005 through 2020. Primary outcome variable was need for a supplemental bone graft prior to dental implant placement. Predictor variables included gender, cleft type (unilateral vs. bilateral), implant site, number of implants placed, age at ABG and implant placement, time between ABG and implant, history of maxillary expansion and whether the patient had a Le Fort I osteotomy to correct maxillary hypoplasia before implant placement. Descriptive statistics were computed and comparative analyses were performed using Pearson X2, Fisher exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: There were 84 implants placed in 59 patients (64.2% female) with cleft lip and palate who had alveolar bone grafting of which 57.1% (n = 48) required a supplemental graft prior to placement. Median time (IQR) from alveolar bone grafting to implant placement was significantly longer in patients who required additional grafting (8.1 versus 5.4 years, P < .001). Patients who required supplemental bone were significantly younger at the time of alveolar bone grafting (10.1 versus 12.3 years, P < .001). Cleft sites in patients who had a Le Fort I osteotomy prior to implant placement required bony augmentation more often than cleft sites in patients who did not have a Le Fort I osteotomy (58.7% versus 33.3%, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cleft lip and/or palate who undergo alveolar bone grafting should be counseled that they are likely to require a supplemental bone graft prior to implant placement.