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Objective To provide the basis for endoscopic craniocervical junction surgery through cervical CT image and endoscopic odontoid process anatomy of atlas, axis and odontoid. Methods A total of 150 cases of cervical vertebrae were selected for high resolution thin slice plain CT measurement to evaluate the atlantoaxial structure and its adjacent structure, and to estimate the safe boundary of odontoid process resection. The atlantoaxial odontoid process was anatomized on 3 cadaver head specimens under endoscope through the submandibular approach using STORZ endoscopy system and endoscopic surgical instruments. Results The average length of atlas anterior arch and other anatomical marks were measured by CT, and the safety boundary area of odontoidectomy was estimated to be（240.9 ± 39.92）mm~2, male:（248.3 ± 49.64）mm~2, Female:（233.2 ± 24.54）mm~2. Through the submandibular endoscopic approach, the atlantoaxial anatomy and odontoidectomy anatomy made a transverse incision at the midpoint of the connecting line between one mandibular angle and hyoid bone to expose the submandibular triangle area. Under the endoscope, the digastric muscle and the greater angle of hyoid bone were exposed through the submandibular triangle area, and the retropharyngeal space was passively separated layer by layer to the prevertebral space to expose the prevertebral fascia. After removing the prevertebral tissue, the atlas, the dentate process of the axis, the atlantooccipital joint, the atlantoaxial joint, and part of the foramen magnum were fully exposed. Conclusion Estimating odontoid resection safety boundary area by CT image, in combination with endoscopic odontoidectomy anatomy via sunbmandibular approach, we can perform the surgery safely and efficiently under the bright of endoscope with surgical instruments, which can significantly reduce the incidence of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and postoperative infection while decompressing.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical efficacy of a modified paramedian lower lip-submandibular approach for maxillary (subtotal) total resection.@*METHODS@#Eleven patients of maxillary tumors underwent maxillary (subtotal) total resection through the modified paramedian lower lip-submandibular approach. Clinical follow-up visits were conducted to evaluate appearance restoration, facial nerve functional status, parotid gland functional status, and orbital region complication.@*RESULTS@#During the follow-up period of 6-36 months, the appearance of all 11 patients recovered well. All cases presented hidden scars. No facial nerve and parotid duct injury, lower eyelid edema, lower eyelid ectropion, or epiphora in all cases was observed.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Applying modified paramedian lower lip-submandibular approach to maxillary (subtotal) total resection effectively reduces incidence of orbital region complications including lower eyelid edema, lower eyelid ectropion, and epiphora, which often occur to traditional approach. The modified approach produces more subtle scars than other methods and should be applied to treatment of maxillary (subtotal) total resection.
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Humans , Facial Nerve , Lip , Maxilla , Maxillary Neoplasms , Surgical FlapsABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the surgical method for primary malignant osseous tumors in the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) and its effectiveness. Methods: The clinical data of 7 patients with primary malignant osseous spinal tumors in CVJ, which collected between September 2010 and April 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 2 females, aged 23 to 75 years (median, 56 years). All patients were diagnosed as chordoma in 4 cases, plasmacytoma in 2 cases, and fibrosarcoma in 1 case. The disease duration ranged from 0.7 to 36.0 months, with an average of 12.2 months. Lesion location: 1 case of C 0, 1, 3 cases of C 2, 1 case of C 1, 2, 1 case of C 2, 3, and 1 case of C 0-2. Preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 6.7±2.1, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was 15.6±2.4. According to American Society of Spinal Cord Injury (ASIA) grading system, there was 1 case of grade C, 1 case of grade D, and 5 cases of grade E. According to Enneking stage of spinal malignant tumor, there was 1 case of stage ⅠB, 2 cases of stage ⅡB, and 4 cases of stage Ⅲ. According to Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini (WBB) stage, there was 1 case of 5-8/A-D, 1 case of 4-9/A-D, 1 case of 6-7/B-D, 1 case of 6-7/A-D, 2 cases of 1-12/A-D, and 1 case of 3-10/A-D. All these patients were treated with tumor extended resection, bone graft fusion, and internal fixation via posterior cervical approach, as well as tumor (stage Ⅰ or stage Ⅱ) boundary resection via transoral or submandibular approach. Meanwhile, anterior reconstructive fusion was procedured with bone grafting Cage needed to place the internal fixation. Results: The operation time was 307-695 minutes (mean, 489.57 minutes), and the intraoperative blood loss was 400-2 000 mL (mean, 1 107.14 mL). There was no intraoperative injury in vertebral artery and spinal cord or any related postoperative complications, including incision infection, intracranial infection, and pulmonary infection. All the patients were followed up 3-57 months (mean, 21 months). Postoperative X-ray film and CT showed that the internal fixation screw was firm and in a satisfactory position, and the bone graft was fused at 3-6 months after operation. Symptoms such as neck pain, limb numbness, and fatigue relieved to different degrees after operation. At 3 months after operation, the VAS score improved to 1.7±0.8 ( t=7.638, P=0.000); while the JOA score improved to 16.1±1.5, but no significant difference was found when compared with preoperative score ( t=1.549, P=0.172). According to ASIA grading system, 1 patient with grade C had upgraded to grade D after operation, while the remaining patients had no change. There were 4 cases of recurrence after operation, in which those patients were with high malignancy of tumors before the first surgery. Their tumors also affected a wide range of slope or surrounding soft tissues and could not be completely removed. Among the 4 cases, 1 patient underwent transoral tumor removal operation again, while the other 3 cases gave up further treatment. There was no recurrence among the remaining 3 cases. Conclusion: Primary malignant osseous tumors in the CVJ can be completely exercised via means of trabsoral or submandibular approach. Meanwhile the anterior reconstruction can be achieved by placing special Cage specimen. These two methods together with postoperative adjuvant treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can improve the survival time of patients and reduce tumor recurrence.
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PURPOSE: A plunging ranula is relatively uncommon and represents a mucus escape reaction occurring from a disruption of the sublingual salivary gland. It is a common condition found in young adults, even though the reported age range is 2 - 61 years. We report our experience of a complete excision of a plunging ranula via the intraoral and submandibular approach. METHODS: A 23-year-old man had a large protruding mass in the right submandibular area. Initially, the protruding mass appeared bilaterally but the left side disappeared spontaneously. The MRI findings revealed a homogenous fluid attenuation mass in the submandibular space, suggesting a ranula. The sublingual gland was extirpated through the intraoral approach and the ranula excised totally via the submandibular approach. RESULTS: The patient had an uneventful postoperative course without infection, paralysis and tongue sensory changes, etc. The pathology findings were characteristic of a pseudocyst without a lining epithelium or endothelium but with a vascular fibro-conective tissue wall filled with mucinous fluid. No recurrence was observed on the submandibular area during the 8 month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The combined intraoral approach and submandibular approach is an effective and highly recommended method for sublingual gland extirpation and complete excision of a plunging ranula.