"Black bone": the new backbone in CAD/CAM-assisted craniosynostosis surgery?

BACKGROUND: Computer-assisted design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques have been implemented in craniosynostosis surgery to facilitate cranial remodeling. However, until now, computed tomography (CT) scans with ionizing radiation were necessary to plan the procedure and create guiding templates. The purpose of this study was to present our series using CAD/CAM techniques in planning and conducting fronto-orbital advancement surgery in patients with trigonocephaly with datasets acquired only by "black bone" magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Six consecutively operated cases from 2019 were included in this study. All patients suffered from non-syndromic trigonocephaly with no primary surgeries. All patients underwent cranial MRI including black bone sequences. Preoperative planning and guides were created based on the DICOM datasets. We analyzed demographic data, clinical data, and outcome measured by Whitaker score. RESULTS: In all cases, precise frontobasal advancement was possible with the CAD/CAM guides created by black bone MRI. The mean operation time and planning time were 222 and 32 min. The time on intensive and intermediate care unit (ICU/IMC) time was 4.5 days, respectively. All but one case were classified as Whitaker I. CONCLUSION: In trigonocephaly treatment by frontobasal advancement, black bone MRI-based CAD/CAM craniosynostosis surgery is safe and feasible. It offers the major advantage of completely avoiding CT scans and ionizing radiation with superior imaging quality of intracranial structures. Thus, it improves intraoperative safety and-at the same time-has the potential to reduce operating room (OR) time.

Surgical Management of Facial Fractures in Geriatric Patients.

ABSTRACT: Facial fractures comprise a substantial part of traumatology. Due to aging of the population, over the last 20 years, there has been a pattern of redistribution of these fractures with a higher incidence at an older age. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the epidemiology, pattern, and surgical management of facial fractures in geriatric patients presenting at a single tertiary trauma center.This study included patients aged ≥70 years who presented with facial bone fractures between 2008 and 2017 and were treated with surgical interventions. Parameters such as age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, Glasgow Coma Scale score, fracture type, fracture mechanism, concomitant injuries, duration of hospitalization, and postoperative complications were evaluated.A total of 300 patients were included: 118 men (39.3%) and 182 women (60.7%). The mean age was 78.8 years. An orbital floor fracture was the most common injury (35.1%). The most common cause of fracture was a fall at home (67%). A total of 113 patients (37.7%) had 162 concomitant injuries, 35 patients (11.7%) suffered from polytrauma, and 7 patients developed postoperative complications. The average length of stay was 1.67 days in the intensive care unit and 5.50 days in the standard ward. Polytrauma, pre-existing medical conditions, and oral anticoagulation had a significant impact on the duration of hospitalization.Facial fractures are common in combination with other injuries. Women are more often affected than men, and falling at home is the most common cause of facial injuries. Postoperative complications are rare.

Comparison of non-invasive radiographic measurements of soft tissue in the interdental space: a cadaver study.

When we use implants the aesthetic appearance of the patient is dependent to a large extent on identification of factors that influence the presence of interdental papillae. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of different non-invasive measurements to indicate the top of the interdental papilla on dental radiographs. The sample comprised six fresh, partly edentulous cadavers. The distance from the level of the interproximal bone next to the tip of the papilla was measured (n=330) on standard radiographic images. Five different mixtures of radiopaque markers that had been used to highlight the top of the papilla in recently published studies were analysed. All measurements were compared with the bone probing length, which was evaluated clinically. The mixture of zinc oxide, eugenol cement, and tungsten powder (mean (SD) 0.14 (0.17)mm) deviated least from the control value. The deviation was significant (p<0.01) between the zinc oxide, eugenol cement, and tungsten powder mixture and each of the other individual combinations. The most accurate non-invasive radiographic method of measuring the interproximal length of the papilla relative to the alveolar bone crest was therefore the mixture of zinc oxide, eugenol cement, and tungsten powder.