Data Analysis of Plastic Surgery Instrument Trays Yields Significant Cost Savings and Efficiency Gains.

PURPOSE: Inpatient surgery costs have risen 30% over the past 5 years, and the operating room accounts for up to 60% of total hospital operational expense. On average, only 13.0% to 21.9% of instruments opened for a case are used, contributing to significant avoidable reprocessing, repurchase, and labor expense. METHODS: A comprehensive review of 40 major instrument trays at UNC Rex Hospital was conducted using a technology service (OpFlow; Operative Flow Technologies, Raleigh, NC). Among the full scope of the project, the general plastics tray and breast reconstruction tray were evaluated for the plastic surgery service line over a 3-month period. Intraoperative data collection was performed on the exact instruments used across a standard breadth of cases. Data analytics were conducted stratifying instrument usage concordance among surgeons by tray and procedure type. After a surgeon-led review of the proposed new tray configurations, the optimized versions were implemented via a methodical change management process. RESULTS: A total of 183 plastic surgery cases were evaluated across 17 primary surgeons. On average, the instrument usage per tray was 15.8% for the general plastics tray and 23.5% for the breast reconstruction tray. After stakeholder review, 32 (45.1%) of 71 instruments were removed from the general plastics tray and 40 (36.7%) of 109 were removed from the breast reconstruction tray, resulting in a total reduction of 2652 instruments. This resulted in a decrease of 81,696 instrument sterilization cycles annually. The removal of the instruments yielded an estimated cost avoidance of US $163,800 for instrument repurchase and US $69,441 in annual resterilization savings. The instrument volume reduction is projected to save 383.5 hours of sterile processing personnel time in tray assembly annually. CONCLUSIONS: An analytics-driven method applying empirical data on actual case-based instrument usage has implications for better efficiency, improved quality, and cost avoidance related to instrument repurchase and sterile processing. Given increasing cost constraints and the transition to value-based care models, leveraging a technology-based solution enables meaningful change in the sterile processing department as a source for cost reduction and quality of care improvement.

Data analysis of vascular surgery instrument trays yielded large cost and efficiency savings.

BACKGROUND: Surgical procedures account for 50% of hospital revenue and ∼60% of operating costs. On average, <20% of surgical instruments will be used during a case, and the expense for resterilization and assembly of instrument trays ranges from $0.51 to $3.01 per instrument. Given the complexity of the surgical service supply chain, physician preferences, and variation of procedures, a reduction of surgical cost has been extremely difficult and often ill-defined. A data-driven approach to instrument tray optimization has implications for efficiency and cost savings in sterile processing, including reductions in tray assembly time and instrument repurchase, repair, and avoidable depreciation. METHODS: During a 3-month period, vascular surgery cases were monitored using a cloud-based technology product (OpFlow, Operative Flow Technologies, Raleigh, NC) as a part of a hospital-wide project. Given the diversity of the cases evaluated, we focused on two main vascular surgery trays: vascular and aortic. An assessment was performed to evaluate the exact instruments used by the operating surgeons across a variety of cases. The vascular tray contained 131 instruments and was used for the vast majority of vascular cases, and the aortic tray contained 152 instruments. Actual instrument usage data were collected, a review and analysis performed, and the trays optimized. RESULTS: During the 3-month period, 168 vascular surgery cases were evaluated across six surgeons. On average, the instrument usage per tray was 30 of 131 instruments (22.9%) for the vascular tray and 19 of 152 (12.5%) for the aortic tray. After review, 45.8% of the instruments were removed from the vascular tray and 62.5% from the aortic tray, for 1255 instruments removed from the versions of both trays. An audit was performed after the removal of instruments, which showed that none of the removed instruments had required reinstatement. The instrument reduction from these two trays alone yielded an estimated costs savings of $97,781 for repurchase and $97,444 in annual resterilization savings. Annually, the removal of the instruments is projected to save 316.2 hours of personnel time. The time required for operating room table setup decreased from a mean of 7:44 to 5:02 minutes for the vascular tray (P < .0001) and from 8:53 to 4:56 minutes for the aortic tray (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Given increasing cost constraints in healthcare, sterile processing remains an untapped resource for surgical expense reduction. A comprehensive data analytics solution provided the ability to make informed decisions in tray management that otherwise could not be reliably performed.

Correction of Microstomia Reconstruction With the Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix for Buccal Reconstruction.

Correction of microstomia is challenging with a high rate of recurrence. We report the successful treatment of microstomia using acellular dermal matrix (ADM) as an adjunct for intraoral lining with >1 year of follow-up.A 9-year-old international patient with severe immunodeficiency presented with severe microstomia because of recurrent oral infections. She had undergone 3 previous failed attempts to re-establish an adequate oral opening and was dependent on enteral nutrition via gastrostomy tube. She underwent release of the oral commissure scar contracture and orbicularis oris and the resultant mucosal defect was lined with ADM. A postoperative splint was used for 8 weeks. One-year follow-up demonstrated maintenance of the oral aperture with complete mucosalization of the ADM; the patient was able to resume oral diet and regular dental hygiene.Mucosal reconstruction with ADM is a viable alternative to local flaps and in this case exhibited minimal soft tissue contraction.

A Patient With Schimmelpenning Syndrome and Mosaic KRAS Mutation.

Schimmelpenning syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder characterized by craniofacial nevus sebaceus that fall along embryonic cutaneous lines and tend to be associated with neurological, ocular, skeletal, and vascular abnormalities. We report a child with extensive nevus sebaceus of the scalp, face, and thorax and other unusual physical findings who was found to have a mosaic mutation of KRAS c.35G>A p.12D pathognomonic of Schimmelpenning syndrome.

Less is more: does the addition of barrel staves improve results in endoscopic strip craniectomy for sagittal craniosynostosis?

OBJECTIVE Endoscopic strip craniectomy (ESC) with postoperative helmet orthosis is a well-established treatment option for sagittal craniosynostosis. There are many technical variations to the surgery ranging from simple strip craniectomy to methods that employ multiple cranial osteotomies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of lateral barrel-stave osteotomies during ESC improved morphological outcomes. METHODS An IRB-approved retrospective review was conducted on a consecutive series of cases involving ESC for sagittal craniosynostosis at 2 different institutions from March 2008 to August 2014. The patients in Group A underwent ESC and those in Group B had ESC with lateral barrel-stave osteotomies. Demographic and perioperative data were recorded; postoperative morphological outcomes were analyzed using 3D laser scan data acquired from a single orthotic manufacturer who managed patients from both institutions. RESULTS A total of 73 patients were included (34 in Group A and 39 in Group B). Compared with Group B patients, Group A patients had a shorter mean anesthetic time (161.7 vs 195 minutes; p < 0.01) and operative time (71.6 vs 111 minutes; p < 0.01). The mean hospital stay was similar for the 2 groups (1.2 days for Group A vs 1.4 days for Group B; p = 0.1). Adequate postoperative data on morphological outcomes were reported by the orthotic manufacturer for 65 patients (29 in Group A and 36 in Group B). The 2 groups had similar improvement in the cephalic index (CI): Group A, mean change 10.5% (mean preoperative CI 72.6, final 80.4) at a mean follow-up of 13.2 months; Group B, mean change 12.2% (mean preoperative CI 71.0, final 79.6) at a mean follow-up of 19.4 months. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS Both ESC alone and ESC with barrel staving produced excellent outcomes. However, the addition of barrel staves did not improve the results and, therefore, may not be warranted in the endoscopic treatment of sagittal craniosynostosis.

Upper Eyelid Coloboma Repair Using Accessory Preauricular Cartilage in a Patient With Goldenhar Syndrome: Technique Revisited.

We present an unusual case of upper eyelid coloboma repair in a patient with Goldenhar syndrome. We describe the use of a modified Cutler-Beard flap with concurrent inlay graft using cartilage from a preauricular appendage. This technique provides the benefits of autologous tissue, while minimizing donor site morbidity and reducing the risk of upper eyelid retraction.

Conjoined Twin Separation: Integration of Three-Dimensional Modeling for Optimization of Surgical Planning.

Conjoined twinning is a rare anomaly, with an incidence of approximately 1 in 100,000 live births. There is a high perinatal mortality rate, but twins who survive pose reconstructive challenges that require meticulous preoperative planning. The authors describe the senior surgeon's career experience with conjoined twin separation, and the evolution of medical modeling and 3-dimensional imaging as a critical component in presurgical planning.The authors performed a retrospective review of all consecutive patients of conjoined twin separation at a single institution from January 2004 to December 2013. Data were collected related to patient demographics, comorbidities, operative technique, perioperative complications, survival, long-term outcomes, and the type of medical modeling system used for preoperative planning.Five sets of conjoined twins underwent separation during the 10-year study period. There were 3 sets of thoraco-omphalopagus twins, 1 set of pyopagus twins, and 1 set of ischiopagus tetrapus twins. The mean age at separation was 70 days, with a mean of 3.5 surgical procedures performed per patient during the first year of life. One set of twins experienced postseparation complications that warranted immediate return to the operating room. The overall survival rate after separation was 70%. The imaging methods used were computed tomography scan with 3-dimensional reconstruction, plaster molds, medical modeling with composite printing, and virtual surgical planning.The use of imaging and medical modeling in presurgical planning has proven to be an important element in optimizing the outcomes for patients with this rare anomaly.

Clinical Factors Associated with the Non-Operative Airway Management of Patients with Robin Sequence.

BACKGROUND: The indications for surgical airway management in patients with Robin sequence (RS) and severe airway obstruction have not been well defined. While certain patients with RS clearly require surgical airway intervention and other patients just as clearly can be managed with conservative measures alone, a significant proportion of patients with RS present with a more confusing and ambiguous clinical course. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical features and objective findings of patients with RS whose airways were successfully managed without surgical intervention. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of infants with RS evaluated for potential surgical airway management between 1994 and 2014. Patients who were successfully managed without surgical intervention were included. Patient demographics, nutritional and respiratory status, laboratory values, and polysomnography (PSG) findings were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-two infants met the inclusion criteria. The average hospital stay was 16.8 days (range, 5-70 days). Oxygen desaturation (<70% by pulse oximetry) occurred in the majority of patients and was managed with temporary oxygen supplementation by nasal cannula (59%) or endotracheal intubation (31%). Seventy-five percent of patients required a temporary nasogastric tube for nutritional support, and a gastrostomy tube placed was placed in 9%. All patients continued to gain weight following the implementation of these conservative measures. PSG data (n=26) demonstrated mild to moderate obstruction, a mean apneahypopnea index (AHI) of 19.2±5.3 events/hour, and an oxygen saturation level <90% during only 4% of the total sleep time. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical airway management was successful in patients who demonstrated consistent weight gain and mild to moderate obstruction on PSG, with a mean AHI of <20 events/hour.

An Unconventional Presentation of Branchio-Oculo-Facial Syndrome.

Branchio-oculo-facial syndrome (BOFS) is a rare disorder characterized by branchial or pharyngeal arch malformations, ocular findings, and craniofacial anomalies. Activating mutations in the enhancer-binding protein 2 alpha, TFAP2A, gene is responsible for the autosomal-dominant inheritance of BOFS. While documented patients of BOFS report wide variability in phenotype expressivity, patients typically demonstrate cervical or infra-auricular anomalies, diverse ocular malformations including microphthalmia and coloboma, and highly characteristic pseudo-cleft or palate defects. The authors present the case of an infant with an unconventional presentation of BOFS to highlight key distinguishing features of this disorder, and to emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and management of these patients.

Craniosynostosis Following Fetal Methotrexate Exposure.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite, folic acid antagonist that inhibits purine nucleotide production, DNA synthesis, and cellular proliferation. Despite widespread therapeutic uses, MTX remains a potent teratogen. Methotrexate embryopathy encompasses multiorgan system dysfunction, including intrauterine growth restriction as well as cardiac, craniofacial, renal, genital, and skeletal abnormalities. Effects of MTX exposure on fetal development continue to be described. This series of 4 patients with MTX-associated craniosynostosis represents the largest published association between prenatal MTX exposure and premature cranial suture closure.

What's in a Name? Accurately Diagnosing Metopic Craniosynostosis Using a Computational Approach.

BACKGROUND: The metopic suture is unlike other cranial sutures in that it normally closes in infancy. Consequently, the diagnosis of metopic synostosis depends primarily on a subjective assessment of cranial shape. The purpose of this study was to create a simple, reproducible radiographic method to quantify forehead shape and distinguish trigonocephaly from normal cranial shape variation. METHODS: Computed tomography scans were acquired for 92 control patients (mean age, 4.2 ± 3.3 months) and 18 patients (mean age, 6.2 ± 3.3 months) with a diagnosis of metopic synostosis. A statistical model of the normal cranial shape was constructed, and deformation fields were calculated for patients with metopic synostosis. Optimal and divergence (simplified) interfrontal angles (IFA) were defined based on the three points of maximum average deformation on the frontal bones and metopic suture, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the accuracy and reliability of the diagnostic procedure. RESULTS: The optimal interfrontal angle was found to be significantly different between the synostosis (116.5 ± 5.8 degrees; minimum, 106.8 degrees; maximum, 126.6 degrees) and control (136.7 ± 6.2 degrees; minimum, 123.8 degrees; maximum, 169.3 degrees) groups (p < 0.001). Divergence interfrontal angles were also significantly different between groups. Accuracy, in terms of available clinical diagnosis, for the optimal and divergent angles, was 0.981 and 0.954, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cranial shape analysis provides an objective and extremely accurate measure by which to diagnose abnormal interfrontal narrowing, the hallmark of metopic synostosis. The simple planar angle measurement proposed is reproducible and accurate, and can eliminate diagnostic subjectivity in this disorder. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.

Near-complete Humerus Reconstruction in the Pediatric Patient with Vascularized Free Fibula Transfer.

Vascularized free fibula transfer remains the gold standard for reconstruction of large segmental diaphyseal defects of the upper extremity. In the pediatric patient, before skeletal maturity, free fibula transfer with the fibular head provides an active physis for growth and an articular interface for glenohumeral joint reconstruction. Clinical and cadaveric studies have demonstrated that the vascular supply to the fibular head originates, in most cases, from the anterior tibial system. However, anatomical variation exists, and we report a case in which a vascularized fibula autograft including the physis was transferred on the peroneal artery in a 5-year-old patient with Ewing's sarcoma. At 15-month follow-up, the patient has functional range of motion of the shoulder.

Treatment Type Is Associated with Population Hand Preferences in Patients with Unilateral Coronal Synostosis: Implications for Functional Cerebral Lateralization.

BACKGROUND: Left-handedness is a highly conserved marker of cerebral functional laterality in the human population; elevated rates of left-handedness have been documented in patients with unilateral coronal synostosis treated with fronto-orbital advancement. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of left-handedness in patients with nonsyndromic unilateral coronal synostosis is related to treatment. METHODS: The incidence of left-handedness was compared among three groups: patients who were previously treated for unilateral coronal synostosis with endoscopic suturectomy and postoperative helmet therapy (group I); patients with unilateral coronal synostosis managed with fronto-orbital advancement (group II); and healthy, unaffected controls (group III). RESULTS: Group I was composed of 19 patients; the side of synostosis was equally distributed (nine right and 10 left), and female gender was more common (n = 13). Mean age at endoscopic suturectomy and helmet therapy was 85.3 days, and the determination of handedness was performed at a mean age of 89.3 months. The rate of left-handedness in group I was 5.3 percent, not significantly different from that of the controls (group III) (11.5 percent) (p = 0.69) but significantly less than that observed in the fronto-orbital advancement patients (group II) (30.2 percent) (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent endoscopic suturectomy and helmet therapy for nonsyndromic unilateral coronal synostosis and healthy controls demonstrated functional cerebral lateralization with respect to handedness that differed from patients who underwent fronto-orbital advancement. The reason may be related to the type of procedure, secondary effects of general anesthesia, or age at which the procedure was performed.

Evaluating the Need for Routine Admission following Primary Cleft Palate Repair: An Analysis of 100 Consecutive Cases.

BACKGROUND: Routine admission following primary cleft palate repair is the standard of care at most institutions. Insurance companies have demonstrated increasing resistance to hospitalization longer than a "short stay"(23 hour) observation period following palatoplasty. The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to length of stay following palate repair. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was conducted for 100 consecutive patients undergoing primary cleft palate repair from May 2009 to February 2013. Demographic and perioperative data were collected and two-sample Student t-test, univariate and multivariable linear regression models were performed to assess for correlation with longer length of stay. RESULTS: Mean age at the time of surgery was 12.6 months. Median length of stay was 39 hours; all 100 patients had >23 hours length of stay. Seventy-three percent of patients required intravenous fluids greater than 23 hours after admission. Postoperative intravenous narcotics were required in 92 percent of patients after transfer to the post-surgical floor, and the last dose was given on average 19.8 hours after completion of surgery. There were 13 patients who required postoperative supplemental oxygen for greater than 23 hours following admission. Multivariable predictors of increased length of stay included female gender, syndromic diagnosis, longer operative and anesthetic durations, longer time to postoperative oral intake, and lower dose of postoperative intravenous narcotic. CONCLUSIONS: Factors identified in association with increased length of stay may guide opportunities for reducing postoperative hospitalization; however, these findings would oppose the safety of routine ambulatory surgery or short-stay observation following primary cleft palate repair. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Frontal Encephalocele Associated With a Bilateral Tessier Number Three Cleft and Fraser Syndrome.

Oblique craniofacial clefts and encephaloceles are each rare conditions, and only a few instances of these findings in combination have been described. Each pathologic entity presents a unique reconstructive challenge. The authors report the case of a male infant who presented with a large right frontoencephalocele and bilateral Tessier number 3 clefts. A review of the pertinent literature, including specific considerations related to perioperative management and technical aspects of the surgical approach, is discussed.

A Case of Pediatric Melanoma: Treatment Considerations in Advanced Disease.

We document a 3-year-old healthy African American girl who developed malignant melanoma on her lower extremity. The clinical appearance offered little indication of the lesion's severity (T4), and only the history of de novo presentation and disproportionate growth raised clinical suspicion. This case report highlights the subtle clinical findings of this condition and presents controversies related to surgical management of pediatric melanoma.

Progressive postnatal pansynostosis: an insidious and pernicious form of craniosynostosis.

OBJECT Progressive postnatal pansynostosis (PPP) is a rare form of craniosynostosis that is characterized by a normal head shape, insidious decrease in percentile head circumference, and high rates of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). This investigation describes the clinical, radiographic, and genetic features of this entity. METHODS The authors' craniofacial database for the period 1997-2013 was retrospectively culled to identify patients who had a normal or near-normal head shape and CT-confirmed multiple-suture synostosis. Patients with kleeblatt-schädel or previous craniofacial surgery were excluded. All demographic information was collected and analyzed. RESULTS Seventeen patients fit the inclusion criteria. Nine patients had a syndromic diagnosis: Crouzon syndrome (n = 4), Pfeiffer syndrome (n = 2), Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (n = 1), Apert syndrome (n = 1), and achondroplasia (n = 1). With the exception of 3 patients with mild turricephaly, all patients had a relatively normal head shape. Patients were diagnosed at an average age of 62.9 months. Nearly all patients had some combination of clinical, radiographic, or ophthalmological evidence of increased ICP. CONCLUSIONS PPP is insidious; diagnosis is typically delayed because the clinical signs are subtle and appear gradually. All normocephalic infants or children with a known or suspected craniosynostotic disorder should be carefully monitored; any decrease in percentile head circumference or signs/symptoms of increased ICP should prompt CT evaluation.

Extradural Ossification Following Epidural Hematoma in Children: A Rare But Significant Entity.

There has been a profound increase in the number of patients undergoing head computed tomography after minor injuries and the identification of epidural hematomas has risen concurrently. Although emergent craniotomy and evacuation has been the conventional standard for management, some epidural hematomas can be managed nonoperatively in carefully selected patients. Because of the difficulty in clinically monitoring epidural hematoma absorption and resolution because of the attributed risks of imaging radiation exposure in pediatric patients, the exact incidence of epidural hematoma ossification is unknown. Integrating epidural hematoma calcification into management algorithms is not clearly defined in the literature. The authors report a case of a 2-year-old girl with a calcified epidural hematoma requiring surgical treatment. With the incidence of epidural hematomas rising, providers should be aware of the rare but consequential incidence of epidural hematoma ossification. After literature review and discussion of the pathophysiology, the authors present an algorithmic approach to account for this rare entity. For conservative management of asymptomatic epidural hematomas, providers should consider follow-up magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate resolution in 2 to 3 months. If the magnetic resonance imaging indicates a failure to resolve, a computed tomography scan should then be performed to evaluate ossification and possible need for surgical intervention.

Salmonella osteomyelitis of the hand in an infant with sickle cell disease.

Salmonella osteomyelitis involving the hand is a rare, but potentially morbid, complication of sickle cell disease in children. This entity can be difficult to distinguish from the more frequent presentation of dactylitis, but accurate diagnosis is critical to direct proper treatment. We report on a 15-month-old patient with sickle cell disease who ultimately developed osteomyelitis of 1 hand after an acute vasoocclusive episode caused 4 extremity dactylitis. The case description illustrates the diagnostic and treatment challenges.