Custom made cutting guides and osteosynthesis plates versus CAD/CAM occlusal splints in positioning and fixation of the maxilla in orthognathic surgery: A prospective randomized study.

The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of maxilla positioning in orthognathic surgery with the use of custom-made devices (cutting guides and patient-fitted osteosynthesis plates) comparing to CAD/CAM splints. A prospective randomized study was performed. Patients with dentofacial deformities undergoing orthognathic surgery were compared, using customized guides (experimental group) vs. CAD/CAM surgical splints (control group) for the repositioning of the upper maxilla. Preoperative and postoperative CT scans were used to compare positioning and fixation of the maxilla in the three planes of space. A total of 30 patients were included in the study (15 patients in each study group). The mean error obtained with customized guides was 0.8 mm (range 0.1-1.9) in the anterior-posterior axis, 0.4 mm (range 0-1.4) in the vertical axis and 0.2 mm (range 0-1.1) in the horizontal axis. There were statistically significant differences in the anterior-posterior and vertical axes in favour of the customized implants, whereas there were no differences in the horizontal plane. Furthermore, there was a mean reduction of the operative time of 36.5 min in the experimental group. Within the limitations of the study it seems that patient specific surgical guides should be preferred when accuracy of repositioning of the maxilla and saving operative time are the priority.

Transmandibular Approach in Head and Neck Oncological Surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the transmandibular approach to the posterior area of the maxilla, oropharyngeal region and the hypopharynx in head and neck surgery. Methods: A series of 42 patients who underwent a lip-split mandibulotomy procedure to access malignant tumours affecting deep areas of the head and neck region between 2008 and 2018 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis and operations data of the patients were collected and analysed. Results: Using the transmandibular approach, 42 patients were operated on to access malignant tumours located in the oropharynx (n = 23, 54.76%) including the posterior third of the tongue, tonsil and soft palate, retromolar trygone (n = 9, 21.43%), floor of the mouth (n = 3, 7.14%), skull base (n = 2, 4.76%), superior maxilla (n = 3, 7.14%) and deep lobe of the parotid gland (n = 2, 4.76%). Primary reconstruction was carried out in all cases. The most used flap reconstruction method was the forearm fasciocutaneous flap in 48.71% of cases, followed by the anterolateral thigh flap in 20.51% of cases. The remaining cases were treated with other methods. The most frequent complication was surgical wound infection. Conclusion: The transmandibular approach is a good alternative to provide access for the removal of complex tumours affecting the oropharyngeal region. This approach facilitates direct visualisation of the lesion and bleeding control, allowing tumour resection with wide margins and making primary reconstruction easier. Although further progress in the transoral robotic approach could be a good option in selected cases, given the current state of knowledge, the transmandibular approach is a good option to access tumours affecting deep areas of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

Infecciones cervicofaciales graves. Nuestra experiencia en el Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal de Madrid / Severe cervicofacial infections. Our experience in Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Madrid

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las infecciones cervicofaciales constituyen un motivo de consulta muy frecuente en los servicios de Urgencias de nuestro país, siendo con frecuencia causa de gran morbilidad y de importantes complicaciones, incluyendo el compromiso de la vía aérea. Por todo ello, un diagnóstico y tratamiento precoces son de vital importancia. El objetivo principal es realizar un estudio observacional retrospectivo sobre los pacientes diagnosticados de infección cervicofacial grave en nuestro centro, analizando múltiples variables demográficas, el tratamiento administrado, la duración del ingreso y las complicaciones observadas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional descriptivo retrospectivo sobre una muestra de 47 pacientes diagnosticados de infección cervicofacial grave en nuestro centro entre abril de 2016 y marzo de 2018. Se recogen y analizan múltiples variables: sexo, etiología, clínica asociada, aislamiento microbiológico, tratamiento, comorbilidades, duración de ingreso y complicaciones asociadas. RESULTADOS: El 51 % de la muestra fueron pacientes menores de 50 años sin comorbilidades asociadas. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron los hábitos tóxicos (tabaco y alcohol), hipertensión arterial y diabetes. Respecto a la etiología, el 91 % fueron odontogénicas, siendo los cordales inferiores las piezas dentales afectadas con mayor frecuencia (79,06 %). La clínica característica de presentación fue la tríada de tumefacción facial, dolor y trismus (hasta el 60 %). El espacio cervicofacial afectado con mayor frecuencia fue el submandibular (56 %). El aislamiento microbiológico mostró que la mayoría fueron infecciones polimicrobianas mixtas (18 de 38 aislamientos) con predominio de los grupos Streptococo y Prevotella. Las complicaciones encontradas fueron: dos pacientes con obstrucción de vía aérea superior que precisaron traqueostomía previa intubación, un hematoma postquirúrgico, tres reintervenciones por mala evolución clínica y un paciente con mediastinitis. CONCLUSIONES: De los resultados obtenidos podemos concluir que la etiología odontogénica es la más frecuente, siendo el espacio submandibular el más afectado. En el Hospital Ramón y Cajal de Madrid, la mayoría de las infecciones cervicofaciales graves son mixtas con microrganismos aislados aerobios y anaerobios. El tratamiento combinado con cirugía y antibioterapia intravenosa fue de elección. Amoxicilina-Clavulánico fue el antibiótico más utilizado. Las complicaciones evolutivas graves son poco frecuentes con un tratamiento adecuado

INTRODUCTION: Cervical infections are a very common reason for consultation in the emergency services of our country. However, in certain cases, these infections are a cause of a great morbidity and important complications, including the compromise of the upper airway. For all these reasons, early diagnosis and treatment are of a great importance. The main objective is to perform a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with severe cervicofacial infection in our department, analyzing multiple demographic variables, treatment administered, time of hospitalization and complications observed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive observational study based on a sample of 47 patients diagnosed with severe cervicofacial infection in our center between April 2016 and March 2018. Multiple variables were collected, among which are: sex, etiology, associated symptoms, microbiological isolation, treatment established, comorbidities, time of hospital admission and complications. RESULTS: 51 % of the sample were patients under 50 years of age without comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidities were toxic habits (tobacco and alcohol), hypertension and diabetes. Regarding the etiology, 91 % were odontogenic, being the third inferior molars the most frequently affected (79.06 %). The characteristic clinical presentation was the triad of facial swelling, pain and trismus (up to 60 %). The most frequently affected cervicofacial space was the submandibular space (56 %). The microbiological isolation showed that the majority were mixed polymicrobial infections (18 of 38 isolates) with predominance of the Streptococcus and Prevotella groups. The complications that we found were: two upper airway obstructions, a cervical bleeding, three reinterventions for a bad clinical evolution and a patient with mediastinitis. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that odontogenic etiology is the most frequent in severe cervicofacial infections, with the submandibular space being the most affected. Most of severe cervicofacial infections in Ramón y Cajal Hospital were polymicrobial and mixed infections. The combined treatment with surgery and intravenous antibiotic therapy was the therapeutic option chosen for all patients. Amoxicillin-Clavulanic was the most used broad-spectrum antibiotic. Complications are uncommon with an adequate treatment