Evaluation of opioid prescription patterns among patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND: There is variability in opioid prescription patterns among surgeons performing thyroidectomy. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate opioid prescription rates and opioid use among hemithyroidectomy (HT) and total thyroidectomy (TT) patients. DESIGN/METHOD: An electronic postoperative survey was distributed to assess opiate use among patients undergoing HT/TT. Groups were compared using t-tests, chi-square tests, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: A total of 142 opiate naïve patients were included, of which 75 (52.8%) underwent HT and 67 (47.1%) underwent TT. The mean number of tablets prescribed was 21.3 (HT = 22.1, TT = 20.4; P = 0.3), with a mean of 14.1 tablets unused after surgery (HT = 13.2 tablets, TT = 15.0 tablets; P = 0.44). The mean morphine milligram equivalent (MME) prescribed was 150.1 mg (HT = 159.0 mg, TT = 140.2 mg; P = 0.3), with a mean of 98.2 MME unused after surgery (HT = 93.7 mg, TT = 103.2 mg; P = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Opioids are overprescribed after thyroid surgery. Avoidance of overprescribing is vital in mitigating the current opioid crisis.

Correction of the high female hairline.

OBJECTIVES: To review a technique and to make quantitative analyses of the senior author's 20-year experience with his preferred technique to correct the high female hairline. METHODS: A retrospective review of 29 female patients who underwent the hairline-lowering procedure performed by the same surgeon (S.S.K.). We analyzed preoperative and postoperative standardized photographs by taking measurements from the medial and lateral canthi to the anterior hairline. Facial height, from the menton to the hairline, was also measured. We calculated mean values and then used a 2-tailed, paired t test to evaluate for statistical significance. Patients also underwent evaluation for satisfaction, complications, and aesthetic result. We reevaluated the measurements from the profile view and compared them with the original data. RESULTS: The photographed midfrontal hairline position was vertically lowered on average 1.3 cm in patients who underwent a single-stage procedure (P < .001). In retrospect, the analysis was flawed compared with clinical experience. Therefore, the profile views were evaluated, and the correlating true curvilinear advancement was an average of 2.1 cm. Three complications occurred, including 1 major effluvium, 1 minor effluvium, and 1 scar that required revision. Patient satisfaction was extremely high. CONCLUSIONS: Advancement of the female hairline by incorporating an irregular trichophytic incision and a posterior scalp advancement flap is an effective and safe technique that has been used by the senior author for more than 2 decades. The average advancement was 2.1 cm in this study. The technique is immediately effective, well tolerated by patients, and associated with minimal complications. Although it is associated with a potentially visible incision, this technique can be used to make the scar virtually invisible.

Use of BioGlue surgical adhesive for brow fixation in endoscopic browplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy, longevity, and safety of BioGlue Surgical Adhesive for periosteal fixation in endoscopic browlifts. METHODS: Retrospective review of 80 patients who underwent endoscopic browlift using BioGlue as the primary means of periosteal fixation. Visits were categorized as preoperative, 1 to 2 months, 3 to 6 months, and 7 to 12 months, and photographs of the first 15 patients were evaluated for change in brow position at each of these visits. Brow position was measured at the lowest brow hairs at the midpupillary and lateral canthus positions. Follow-up was 3 months to 3 years. RESULTS: All of the first 15 patients were included in the 1- to 2-month postoperative grouping, 13 in the 3- to 6-month grouping, and 10 in the 7- to 12-month grouping. At all postoperative visits, brow elevation was significantly maintained during 12-month follow-up. Revision has been required in only 1 of 80 patients to date. CONCLUSIONS: BioGlue is an effective and safe method of maintaining brow position in endoscopic browplasty. Brow elevation achieved using BioGlue was significantly maintained during the 7- to 12-month postoperative period. Tissue adhesives such as BioGlue have the potential to become significant adjuncts in facial plastic surgery and warrant more critical evaluation.

Chronic pachymeningitis presenting as asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize the auditory dysfunction associated with chronic pachymeningitis (inflammation of the dura mater). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a university-based retrospective review. RESULTS: Three patients were identified who were diagnosed with chronic pachymeningitis after being referred for asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss. All patients were found to have other neurologic symptoms and signs during careful neurotologic evaluation. Two varieties of chronic pachymeningitis exist: a hypertrophic mass lesion and a linear dural thickening. Although the hypertrophic variety could be easily detectable by noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the linear form is only visible with the use of gadolinium enhancement. CONCLUSION: Chronic pachymeningitis is a rare form of sensorineural hearing loss that could portend an underlying disease of greater concern. Extensive evaluation is needed to exclude identifiable causes of chronic pachymeningitis, including infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune diseases. SIGNIFICANCE: The clinician should be aware that the evaluation of a patient with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss involves more than simply ruling out an acoustic neuroma. Fast-spin echo MRI techniques without the use of gadolinium contrast could miss a number of potentially treatable diseases such as chronic pachymeningitis. Patients with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss should be carefully evaluated for other neurologic findings, and imaging with enhanced MRI is recommended.

The role of botulinum toxin type B (Myobloc) in the treatment of hyperkinetic facial lines.

Botulinum toxin type B was studied for the management of hyperkinetic facial lines. It showed clinical longevity of up to 12 weeks on subjective rating scales and 8 weeks on objective rating scales. Botulinum toxin type B has shown relative safety but can have autonomic side effects at higher total doses, which limits the possibility of continued dose escalation. Although these findings may preclude its use as a primary modality for the use in hyperkinetic facial lines, botulinum toxin type B still has a role in the treatment of the aesthetic patient and is yet another tool in the armamentarium of aesthetic practitioners.

Botulinum toxin type B (MyoBloc) in the management of hyperkinetic facial lines.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type B (BTX-B) in the management of hyperfunctional facial lines. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Twenty-four patients from an academic faculty practice were treated with 400 to 800 units BTX-B in the corrugator, orbicularis oculi, or frontalis. Patients were evaluated with the Wrinkle Improvement Score (WIS) and Rated Numeric Kinetic Line Scale (RNKLS) and questioned about side effects and pain. Evaluations were made at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Onset of effect was within 72 hours. WIS and RNKLS for all sites were statistically better after treatment, with the effect lasting 8 weeks. In general, patients noted a moderate improvement (grade 2) on WIS and a 2-point improvement on RNKLS. Injection was more painful than that of BTX-A. There were no complications. CONCLUSION: BTX-B is a safe and effective technique to eliminate wrinkles. Further studies are needed to elucidate dosage and duration. SIGNIFICANCE: BTX-B is stable for prolonged periods of time, requires no preparation before use, and is antigenetically distinct from BTX-A.