Tympanostomy Tube Otorrhea: Microbiological Differences Between Children with and Without Cleft Palate.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and compare microbiological profiles in tympanostomy tube otorrhea for children with and without cleft palate. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Pediatric otolaryngology and multidisciplinary cleft/craniofacial clinic at a single tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Children with and without cleft palate <18 years of age who underwent tympanostomy tube placement between 2017-2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Otopathogen profiles and antibiotic resistance patterns in ear culture specimens obtained in children presenting for treatment of recalcitrant post-tympanostomy tube otorrhea. RESULTS: Of the 886 children with tympanostomy tubes placed between 2017-2021, 345 (38.9%) had clinically significant otorrhea defined as requiring at least one otolaryngology visit for treatment. Children with cleft palate had higher rates of otorrhea (50.0% versus 35.7%; P < .01). In the 128 cultures obtained, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism in both groups present in 39.8% of cultures; 49% were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also frequently isolated (20.0% versus 23.4%, P = .69) in children with and without cleft palate. Collectively, fluoroquinolone resistance was observed in 68.6% and 27.6% of the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively, however, no differences in fluoroquinolone resistance were observed between cleft and non-cleft cohorts. Corynebacterium species were isolated more frequently in children with cleft palate (26.7% versus 6.1%, P < .01), a finding of unclear significance. CONCLUSIONS: Recalcitrant post-tympanostomy tube otorrhea is more common in children with cleft palate. MRSA was the most common isolate, which was commonly resistant to first-line fluoroquinolone therapy.

Utility of Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea with the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) in Children with Craniofacial Anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea in children with craniofacial anomalies. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial clinic at a tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Children with craniofacial anomalies 2 to ≤18 years of age who both completed a PSQ screen and underwent polysomnography (PSG) without interval surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity and specificity of the PSQ in detecting an obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 events/hour. RESULTS: Fifty children met study criteria, with 66% (n = 33) having an associated syndrome. Mean patient age at time of PSQ was 9.6 + 4.0 years. Overall, 33 (64%) screened positive on the PSQ, while 20 (40%) had an AHI ≥ 5. The sensitivity and specificity for identifying AHI ≥ 5 was 70% and 40%, respectively. With subgroup analysis, the sensitivity and specificity were higher (100% and 50%) in children with non-syndromic palatal clefting but lower (65% and 31%) in children with a syndrome or chromosomal anomaly. There was no correlation detected between PSQ score and AHI severity (p = 0.25). The mean obstructive AHI in the study population was 10.1 ± 22.7 despite 44% (n = 22) undergoing prior adenotonsillectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The PSQ was less sensitive and specific in detecting an AHI ≥ 5 in children with craniofacial anomalies than in a general population, and particularly poor in for children with syndrome-associated craniofacial conditions. Given the high prevalence of OSA in this patient population, a craniofacial-specific validated screening tool would be beneficial.

Three-Dimensional Printing in Cleft Care: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current applications of 3-dimensional (3D) printing in the care of patients with cleft lip and palate. We also reviewed 3D printing limitations, financial analysis, and future implications. DESIGN: Retrospective systematic review. METHODS: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were used by 3 independent reviewers. Articles were identified from Cochrane library, Ovid Medline, and Embase. Search terms included 3D printing, 3 dimensional printing, additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, cleft lip, and cleft palate. Exclusion criteria included articles not in English, animal studies, reviews without original data, oral presentations, abstracts, opinion pieces, and articles without relevance to 3D printing or cleft lip and palate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measure was the purpose of 3D printing in the care of patients with cleft lip and palate. Secondary outcome measures were cost analysis and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Eight-four articles were identified, and 39 met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Eleven studies used 3D printing models for nasoalveolar molding. Patient-specific implants were developed via 3D printing in 6 articles. Surgical planning was conducted via 3D printing in 8 studies. Eight articles utilized 3D printing for anatomic models/educational purposes. 3-Dimensional printed models were used for surgical simulation/training in 6 articles. Bioprinting was utilized in 4 studies. Secondary outcome of cost was addressed in 8 articles. CONCLUSION: 3-Dimensional printing for the care of patients with cleft lip and palate has several applications. Potential advantages of utilizing this technology are demonstrated; however, literature is largely descriptive in nature with few clinical outcome measures. Future direction should be aimed at standardized reporting to include clinical outcomes, cost, material, printing method, and results.

Comparison of Oral Loading Dose to Intravenous Acetaminophen in Children for Analgesia After Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen is a frequently used adjunct analgesic in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. We compared opioid administration following preoperative intravenous (IV) or oral acetaminophen in addition to a standard multimodal regimen to test the hypothesis that 1 loading dose approach would provide superior opioid sparing effects among pediatric surgical patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. METHODS: This single-center, double-blind, double-dummy prospective randomized study was conducted in patients ages 3 to 15 years undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy with or without myringotomy and tube placement between September 2017 and July 2019. Subjects received 1 dose of either oral acetaminophen 30 mg/kg with IV placebo (oral group) or IV acetaminophen 15 mg/kg with oral placebo (IV group). Acetaminophen plasma levels were measured at 2 timepoints to evaluate safety and determine plasma levels attained by each dosing regimen. Intraoperative opioid administration and postoperative analgesia were standardized. Standardized postoperative multimodal analgesia included opioid if needed to control pain assessed by standardized validated pediatric pain scales. The primary outcome measure was total opioid administration in the first 24 hours after surgery. Continuous data were not normally distributed and were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and the Hodges-Lehman estimator of the median difference. Clinical significance was defined as a 100 µg/kg IV morphine equivalents per day difference. RESULTS: Sixty-six subjects were randomized into and completed the study (29 women, 37 men; age 5.9 ± 3.0 years; percentile weight for age 49.5 ± 30.2; no differences between groups). There was no opioid dose difference between oral (median 147.6; interquartile range [IQR], 119.6-193.0 µg/kg) and IV groups (median 125.4; IQR, 102.8-150.9 µg/kg; median difference 21.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.5 to 44.2 µg/kg IV morphine equivalents; P = .13). No acetaminophen levels exceeded the predefined safety threshold (40 mg/L). No difference was found in the percentage of patients with severe pain: 50.0% oral group, 47.2% IV group; relative risk of severe pain in IV 0.94; 95% CI, 0.57-1.6; P = .82. Postoperative plasma acetaminophen levels were higher in oral (22; IQR, 16-28 mg/L) than IV (20; IQR, 17-22 mg/L) group (median difference 7.0; 4.0-8.0 mg/L; P = .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Opioid-sparing effects did not differ following an oral or standard IV acetaminophen loading dose with no identified acetaminophen toxicity in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy who received standardized multimodal postoperative analgesia. An oral loading dose may provide more consistent serum acetaminophen levels at lower cost compared to a standard IV dose.

Children with Cleft Palate: Predictors of Otologic Issues in the First 10 Years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of children with cleft palate associated with persistent otologic issues in the first 10 years of life. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Single academic center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Children born with cleft palate from 2003 to 2007 and treated by the UC Davis Cleft and Craniofacial Team between January 2003 and December 2017 were included in the study. Data from 143 patients were analyzed via Wilcoxon rank sum and Fisher exact tests for univariate analysis and logistic regression to determine adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: The median length of follow-up was 9.9 years, and the age at last ear examination was 10.7 years. At the last evaluation, unresolved otologic issues were common, with at least 1 ear having a tympanic membrane (TM) perforation (16.1%), a tympanostomy tube (36.2%), or conductive hearing loss (23.1%). After adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, history of palate revision or speech surgery was associated with having a TM perforation ( P = .02). The only clinical variables associated with conductive hearing loss was the presence of a TM perforation ( P < .01) or a genetic abnormality ( P = .02). Severity of palatal clefting was not associated with specific otologic or audiologic outcomes after adjusting for other characteristics. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of children with cleft palate have persistent otologic issues at age 10 years and would benefit from continued close monitoring well after the age when most children have normalized eustachian tube function. Prolonged otologic issues were not found to be associated with cleft type.

Marginal versus segmental mandibulectomy for pediatric desmoid fibromatosis of the mandible - Two case reports and review of the literature.

Desmoid fibromatosis (DF) is a rare, benign soft tissue neoplasm with high rate of local recurrence. Surgical management of DF in the head and neck can be challenging given the desire to balance the preservation of form and function with the need to minimize local recurrence by achieving complete resection. We present two contrasting cases which highlight the advantages of marginal mandibulectomy over segmental mandibulectomy in children with DF. We favor marginal mandibulectomy even with limited bone stock given the remarkable ability of children to generate new bone.

Revision rates and speech outcomes following pharyngeal flap surgery for velopharyngeal insufficiency.

IMPORTANCE: Velopharyngeal insufficiency in children with cleft palate (and other causes) contributes to difficulty with communication and quality of life. The pharyngeal flap is a workhorse to address hypernasality and nasal air escape. However, there is a paucity of literature on the characteristics of cases that require revision. OBJECTIVE: To measure the revision rate of pharyngeal flaps, compare the preperceptual and postperceptual speech scores, and identify the characteristics of those patients who required revision. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective medical record review was completed for patients who underwent pharyngeal flap surgery from June 1, 2008, through January 31, 2013, at a tertiary academic center. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Perceptual speech analyses and surgical revision rates. Perceptual speech patterns before and after surgery were compared using nasal air emission and resonance scores. The association between requiring revision surgery and covariates was analyzed using multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were identified, including 24 boys (39%) and 37 girls (61%). The mean (SD) patient age at the time of pharyngeal flap surgery was 8.2 (6.8) years (range, 3-55 years). Velopharyngeal insufficiency was associated with cleft palate in 51 patients (84%), and 17 patients (28%) had a syndrome. The mean (SD) time to surgery after the speech evaluation was 225 (229) days (range, 14-1341 days). The mean (SD) nasal air emission scores decreased by -1.1 (2.0 [1.1] preoperatively to 0.8 [1.1] postoperatively). The mean (SD) resonance score decreased by -1.5 (2.4 [1.1] preoperatively to 0.9 [1.1] postoperatively; P < .001). Flaps were revised in 12 patients (20%), including port revision in 9, complete flap revision in 2, and flap takedown in 1. The only covariate that was significantly associated with revision rates was increased age at surgery, which was associated with a higher probability of revision surgery (odds ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.66; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Pharyngeal flap surgery, when appropriately selected, was effective at improving speech with a revision rate of 20%, which is comparable to previously published studies. Increased age at the time of the pharyngeal flap surgery was associated with an increased need for revision surgery, supporting evidence that cleft centers should encourage early childhood speech evaluations with consistent documentation and prompt treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Neurofibromatosis of the larynx causing stridor and sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis type 1 can rarely present in the larynx. Patients typically do not present with complete obstructive symptoms, but partial obstruction and stridor. We review our health centers' case series of two patients, the first of whom presented with persistent sleep apnea post tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, and the second who presented with noisy breathing. Additionally, we will review the literature on the management and treatment options for children with this rare clinical entity. METHODS: Retrospective case review. CASE REPORT & RESULTS: A two-year old male underwent a sleep endoscopy following persistent evidence of obstructive sleep apnea on polysomnography after initial tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Family elicited concerns about noisy breathing at night and an accompanying video documented stridor while sleeping during the monitored polysomnography. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy in the operating room revealed what appeared to be a cystic mass along the right aryepiglottic fold causing deviation of the laryngeal introitus towards the contralateral side. Subsequent direct laryngoscopy and excisional biopsy revealed pathology results consistent with a plexiform neurofibroma. A six-month-old patient with stertor and stridor was found to have a laryngeal mass, subglottic stensosis, and progressive airway obstruction due to plexiform neurofirboma in the supraglottis, subglottis, and trachea. We present a series of two patients incidentally diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 by way of a laryngeal neurofibroma and review the literature on management options. Both patients were found to have accompanying café au lait spots. Both patients required tracheostomy for airway management, and one was successfully decannulated. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal neurofibroma is a rare anomaly that can manifest with airway obstruction. Both patients presented here subsequently were noted to have café au lait spots on physical examination. The Otolaryngologist should be reminded of this anomaly when evaluating a child with evidence of a submucosal laryngeal mass. We present our series including that of a patient whose diagnosis was prompted by persistent sleep apnea following adenotonsillectomy tonsillectomy and a patient with airway obstruction and subglottic stenosis due to a neurofibroma. The treatment of choice is complete excision of the neurofibroma while maintaining functionality of the larynx. This can lead to successful decannulation.

Pediatric tracheotomy: indications and decannulation outcomes.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective of this study was to determine if there are differences in decannulation rates and duration of cannulation between pediatric patients undergoing tracheotomy for different indications. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Medical records for pediatric patients (age 0-18 years) undergoing tracheotomy between January 1, 2003, and May 31, 2012, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were assigned an indication for tracheotomy from five categories: neurological, cardiopulmonary, upper airway obstruction, craniofacial anomalies, and maxillofacial/laryngotracheal trauma. RESULTS: Initial chart review identified 124 patients, 113 for whom complete data was available. Of these patients, the indications for tracheotomy were cardiopulmonary disease in 24 (21.2%), craniofacial anomalies in 12 (10.6%), neurological impairment in 44 (38.9%), traumatic injury in 11 (9.7%), and upper airway obstruction in 22 (19.5%). The time to decannulation was shorter for trauma patients compared to cardiopulmonary (P = 0.044) and neurological patients (P = 0.001). A total of 32 (31.9%) patients were decannulated during the study period, with a higher rate in trauma patients (72.7%) and a lower rate in those with upper airway obstruction (36.4%) than would be expected under homogeneity. Of the 32 patients who were decannulated, 11 (30.6%) were decannulated during the same hospitalization in which the tracheotomy was performed. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a difference in overall decannulation rates and a shorter time to decannulation in children undergoing tracheotomy for maxillofacial and laryngotracheal trauma compared to cardiopulmonary and neurological indications.

Unilateral and bilateral expression of a quantitative trait: asymmetry and symmetry in coronal craniosynostosis.

Bilateral symmetry in vertebrates is imperfect and mild asymmetries are found in normal growth and development. However, abnormal development is often characterized by strong asymmetries. Coronal craniosynostosis, defined here as consisting of premature suture closure and a characteristic skull shape, is a complex trait. The premature fusion of the coronal suture can occur unilaterally associated with skull asymmetry (anterior plagiocephaly) or bilaterally associated with a symmetric but brachycephalic skull. We investigated the relationship between coronal craniosynostosis and skull bilateral symmetry. Three-dimensional landmark coordinates were recorded on preoperative computed tomography images of children diagnosed with coronal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (N = 40) and that of unaffected individuals (N = 20) and analyzed by geometric morphometrics. Our results showed that the fusion pattern of the coronal suture is similar across individuals and types of coronal craniosynostosis. Shape analysis showed that skulls of bilateral coronal craniosynostosis (BCS) and unaffected individuals display low degrees of asymmetry, whereas right and left unilateral coronal craniosynostosis (UCS) skulls are asymmetric and mirror images of one another. When premature fusion of the coronal suture (without taking into account cranial dysmorphology) is scored as a qualitative trait, the expected relationship between trait frequency and trait unilateral expression (i.e. negative correlation) is confirmed. Overall, we interpret our results as evidence that the same biological processes operate on the two sides in BCS skulls and on the affected side in UCS skulls, and that coronal craniosynostosis is a quantitative trait exhibiting a phenotypic continuum with BCS displaying more intense shape changes than UCS.

Differential growth factor adsorption to calvarial osteoblast-secreted extracellular matrices instructs osteoblastic behavior.

Craniosynostosis (CS), the premature ossification of cranial sutures, is attributed to increased osteogenic potential of resident osteoblasts, yet the contribution of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) on osteogenic differentiation is unclear. The osteoblast-secreted ECM provides binding sites for cellular adhesion and regulates the transport and signaling of osteoinductive factors secreted by the underlying dura mater. The binding affinity of each osteoinductive factor for the ECM may amplify or mute its relative effect, thus contributing to the rate of suture fusion. The purpose of this paper was to examine the role of ECM composition derived from calvarial osteoblasts on protein binding and its resultant effect on cell phenotype. We hypothesized that potent osteoinductive proteins present during sutural fusion (e.g., bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-ß1)) would exhibit distinct differences in binding when exposed to ECMs generated by human calvarial osteoblasts from unaffected control individuals (CI) or CS patients. Decellularized ECMs produced by osteoblasts from CI or CS patients were incubated in the presence of BMP-2 or TGF-ß1, and the affinity of each protein was analyzed. The contribution of ECM composition to protein binding was interrogated by enzymatically modulating proteoglycan content within the ECM. BMP-2 had a similar binding affinity for each ECM, while TGF-ß1 had a greater affinity for ECMs produced by osteoblasts from CI compared to CS patients. Enzymatic treatment of ECMs reduced protein binding. CS osteoblasts cultured on enzymatically-treated ECMs secreted by osteoblasts from CI patients in the presence of BMP-2 exhibited impaired osteogenic differentiation compared to cells on untreated ECMs. These data demonstrate the importance of protein binding to cell-secreted ECMs and confirm that protein-ECM interactions have an important role in directing osteoblastic differentiation of calvarial osteoblasts.

Force requirements for artificial muscle to create an eyelid blink with eyelid sling.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the force requirements, optimal vector, and appropriate materials of a novel eyelid sling device that will be used to rehabilitate eyelid closure (blink) in congenital or acquired permanent facial paralysis with an artificial muscle. METHODS: The force required to close the eyelids in human cadavers (n = 6) were measured using a load cell system. The eyelid sling using either expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or temporalis muscle fascia was implanted. The ideal vector of force and placement within the eyelid for a natural eyelid closure were compared. RESULTS: The eyelid sling concept was successful at creating eyelid closure in a cadaver model using an upper eyelid sling attached to the distal tarsal plate. Less force was necessary to create eyelid closure using a temporalis muscle fascia sling (627 +/- 128 mN) than for the ePTFE eyelid sling (1347 +/- 318 mN). CONCLUSIONS: The force and stroke required to close an eyelid with the eyelid sling are well within the attainable range of the electroactive polymer artificial muscle (EPAM). This may allow the creation of a realistic and functional eyelid blink that is symmetric and synchronous with the contralateral, normally functioning blink. Future aims include consideration of different sling materials and development of both the EPAM device and an articulation between the EPAM and sling. The biocompatibility and durability studies of EPAM in a gerbil model are under way. The successful application of artificial muscle technology to create an eyelid blink would be the first of many potential applications.

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis used to treat upper airway obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether mandibular distraction osteogenesis relieves tongue-based airway obstruction in patients with severe micrognathia. DESIGN: Retrospective medical review spanning a 7-year period in a tertiary care hospital. The inclusion criterion was defined as micrognathia associated with a severe tongue-based obstruction. The patients included 11 neonates and infants (mean age, 4.3 months) and 2 pediatric patients (mean age, 5.4 years). Two patients had already received tracheotomies, 11 had not. The intervention was bilateral mandibular osteotomies with distraction osteogenesis. The outcome measures were avoidance of tracheotomy and decannulation. RESULTS: Ten of 11 patients avoided tracheotomy. Two of 2 patients who had already undergone tracheotomies were successfully decannulated. CONCLUSION: Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is an acceptable treatment alternative to tracheotomy in select pediatric patients with micrognathia and severe tongue-based obstruction.

The macroscopic and microscopic effects of radiofrequency injury in the porcine tongue: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Current treatment protocols for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome with radiofrequency ablation of the base of the tongue are empiric. Injecting local anesthetics and saline into the treatment site is believed to shorten treatment duration and improve results. Our objective is to compare lesions at different energy levels, both macroscopically and histologically, and to determine if electrolyte solution injection results in a larger lesion. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, experimental animal study. SETTING: University-affiliated institution. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five pigs each received four treatments on the right and four on the left side of the tongue. Three of four treatments were applied sequentially by increasing length of exposure (15, 30, or 60 seconds), and the fourth was conducted over 15 seconds after injecting 1 cc of a 1:1 local anesthetic-saline solution into the treatment site. The animals were recovered for three days and then sacrificed. Macroscopic measurements for each lesion were analyzed, and histological comparison was performed. RESULTS: The average volume of the lesions was 57.36, 65.18, and 60.50 mm(3) for treatment durations of 60, 30, and 15 seconds, respectively, and there was no significant difference. Lesion volume at sites where anesthetic-saline was injected had a mean volume of 36.72 mm(3). Paired comparison against the three treatment durations revealed significantly smaller lesion volume size (P = 0.0041, 0.0007, 0.0047, respectively). CONCLUSION: The lesions created with radiofrequency energy were consistent and predictable. The volumes of the lesions did not differ significantly with regard to different energy levels. The lesion was significantly smaller after injection of anesthetic-saline at the treatment site.

Changing perspectives in cleft lip and palate: from acrylic to allele.

Cleft lip and palate deformities are the most common congenital abnormalities of the head and neck. Advancements in the various multidisciplinary fields involved in cleft management have substantially improved functional and aesthetic outcomes. The legitimacy of such controversial topics as gingivoperiosteoplasty, primary rhinoplasty, and presurgical nasoalveolar molding is heavily contested. Bone morphogenetic protein and other recombinant growth factors may play important roles in future cleft care. As the candidate alleles that contribute to cleft lip and palate are further elucidated, the complex interplay of environmental influence and genetic predisposition is emphasized. Translational research from fields such as fetal wound healing, tissue engineering, and gene therapy may have clinical applications as cleft care continues to evolve.

Restoration of eyelid closure in facial paralysis using artificial muscle: preliminary cadaveric analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Electroactive polymer artificial muscle is an emerging technology that has the potential to be used in rehabilitating facial movement in patients with paralysis. These electroactive polymers act like human muscles by expanding and contracting based on variable voltage input levels. The authors seek to establish a reproducible eyelid blink with artificial muscle. The aim of this proof of concept study is to determine whether eyelid closure can be created with a novel eyelid sling model. STUDY DESIGN: A human cadaver study was performed. METHODS: With use of four cadaver heads, an extended upper and lower blepharoplasty incision was used to secure an upper and lower expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implant in the medial orbital wall and tarsal plates. The slings were passed through a hole drilled in the lateral orbital wall or around a titanium screw. Lateral pull on the sling created eyelid closure, and the necessary distance of pull was measured. RESULTS: The eyelid sling mechanism functioned to achieve complete eyelid closure. Less tension was required for eyelid closure when the sling was placed in both eyelids (3 mm of pull instead of 6 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The application of artificial muscle to a range of problems that affect both patient morbidity and quality of life is promising. Eyelid closure was created in a cadaver model using a novel sling, but future studies will need to address the feasibility of a prototype artificial muscle eyelid device in humans.

Management of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Management of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity can be a challenging task. This paper provides an overview of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity with an updated review of current management issues in the literature. RECENT FINDINGS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that orofacial clefts are now the most common birth defect. While this statistic may be disheartening, the increased prevalence brings the problem to light at the forefront of the medical community, thus gaining more support and resources. Many techniques have been described for repair of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity. A recent advancement in presurgical orthopedics is the use of nasoalveolar molding to narrow wide clefts. SUMMARY: Surgical management of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity poses a challenge to the skill and judgment of the cleft surgeon. Although techniques continue to evolve over the decades, the basic principles of cleft surgery remain the same. The main principles are to achieve an appropriate philtral size and shape, to position the cartilages in a more optimal position, and to attain muscular continuity and symmetry for optimal appearance and function. Thus, while keeping the basic principles in mind, management of bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity becomes a valuable and rewarding experience for the surgeon, patient and caregiver.

Should otolaryngologists perform pH probe studies?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This commentary discusses recent developments in the methods available to pediatric otolaryngologists in the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: The development of detachable wireless monitoring allows the otolaryngologists to perform their own pH monitoring. It can be deployed while performing other procedures, such as laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. The procedure to insert the probe and collect data is described. SUMMARY: It is hoped that the pH probe will play an important role in understanding the pathological role of pharyngeal reflux in terms of laryngeal, pharyngeal, sinus and ear pathology.

Prognosis of airway obstruction and feeding difficulty in the Robin sequence.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the course and prognosis of airway obstruction and feeding difficulty in the Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). METHODS: Retrospective review of 60 patients with PRS between 1993 and 2002 at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. Patients were placed into diagnostic subgroups: (1) Isolated PRS; (2) Syndromic PRS (known syndrome with PRS); (3) Unique PRS (unique anomalies with PRS). Data regarding severity, duration, and management of airway obstruction and feeding difficulty were collected. RESULTS: Airway obstruction requiring intervention beyond positional therapy was seen in 28% isolated, 42% syndromic, and 58% unique PRS. One-third of patients who failed positional therapy were temporarily stabilized with a nasopharyngeal airway or endotracheal intubation. The remaining two-thirds of patients, who failed positional therapy required a surgical airway procedure. Four patients underwent mandibular distraction osteogenesis, resulting in successful decannulation or avoidance of tracheostomy. Thirteen patients underwent tracheostomy; mean duration of tracheostomy-dependence was 17.0 months in Isolated PRS and 31.7 months in Unique PRS (p < 0.01). Successful decannulation by age of 3 years was confirmed in 85% of patients who underwent tracheostomy. Tube feeding was required in 53% Isolated, 67% Syndromic, and 83% Unique PRS. Forty-two percent of PRS patients with a successful positional airway still demonstrated feeding difficulty. Short-term (0-3 months) and intermediate (4-18 months) tube feeding was more commonly required in Isolated and Syndromic PRS, while long-term (beyond 18 months) gastrostomy tube feeding was more commonly required in Unique PRS (p < 0.01). By 3 years of age, a successful oral diet was seen in 91% Isolated, 92% Syndromic, and 78% Unique PRS. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic subgroups based on the presence of additional anomalies help families and physicians in understanding the severity and duration of feeding and airway difficulty in PRS. Two-thirds of PRS patients who fail positional therapy may ultimately require a surgical airway procedure. Feeding difficulty can be present in the absence of clinically significant airway obstruction. Families and physicians should be encouraged that by 3 years of age, most patients were successfully taking an oral diet without airway obstruction.