Tessier 30 Facial Clefts-A Literature Review of 72 Cases (1996-2020), Suggested Treatment Protocol, Outcome Measures, Minimum Dataset for Future Case Reports, and Registries.

INTRODUCTION: Tessier 30 facial cleft is a rare anomaly presenting in the soft and hard tissues over the central lower face. Owing to the rarity of cases and difficulty of treatment, there is no universally accepted surgical management strategy. The last comprehensive literature review of Tessier 30 clefts was in 1996. This report aims to update the literature to inform decision-making on treating Tessier 30 cases. METHODOLOGY: A literature search was performed. PubMed, SCOPUS, and OVID databases were searched. A total of 72 cases in 51 articles were analyzed, looking at demographics, extent of cleft, parent health, family history, procedures, follow-up, existence of other anomalies, and stages of repair. RESULTS: Surgeons are increasingly choosing to repair Tessier 30 defects in one rather than multiple stages. Of the 72 cases studied, only 31 had documented the completed repair of the cleft. All completed soft tissue only defects were repaired in 1 stage of repair (n = 11). Where both soft tissue and mandible was involved (n = 20), 55% (n = 11) had undergone 1-stage repair to address the Tessier 30 cleft. DISCUSSION: We argue that a single-stage approach is preferable to multistage. Primary mucogingivoperiosteoplasty should be undertaken in children at the time of management of the soft tissue cleft. The timing of this procedure should be in the latter half of the first year of life, as this is when mandibular symphyseal fusion normally occurs. We have suggested a treatment protocol and we hope that future case reports use our minimum data set.

Patients' perception of using a smartphone light source in the clinical environment.

Introduction A satisfactory light source is of paramount importance during an oral head and neck examination. It has become common practice for the light source on a smartphone to be used during inpatient intra-oral examination. We determined if patients identified the use of a smartphone as a light source, during head and neck examinations, as unprofessional.Methods and materials A clinical photograph illustrating professional errors was presented to patients as a pilot survey (n = 10); a smartphone camera flash being used as a light source was featured. Patients were then asked which aspects they considered unprofessional. Following staff training and improvements to the survey wording, the same photo was presented to patients (n = 150) as the main study.Results Of the patients surveyed, 97% considered the use of a smartphone in the staged clinical photograph as unprofessional. They also noted: a clinician sitting on the bed (88%), clinicians not wearing gloves (81%), lack of privacy/curtain not drawn (62%), long hair not tied back (50%), a clinician's name badge not visible (23%), clinician bare below the elbows (15%) and clinician not wearing a tie (12%).Conclusions This is the first piece of research into the use of a smartphone light source within clinical examination. The use of a smart phone light source during clinical examination was the most reported 'error' and was recognised more than a clinician not wearing gloves. Eighty-five percent of patients considered the use of a smartphone light source unprofessional. Authors, therefore, do not advocate the use of a smartphone light source in the clinical care of patients.

Tessier 30 Median Mandibular Hard and Soft Tissue Cleft, One-Stage Reconstruction Using a Template-Guided Resorbable "U"-Shaped Plate.

Midline clefts of the lower lip, tongue, and mandible are a rare type of facial cleft classified as "Tessier 30." We present the case of a female patient with an isolated Tessier 30 facial cleft affecting the tongue, lower lip, and mandibular symphysis with ankyloglossia. This was reconstructed with a template-guided resorbable "U"-shaped plate at 10 months of age. The procedure was carried out in one stage, which avoided the need for a repeat general anesthetic for the patient. We had a successful outcome with normal dental eruption and we believe such an approach could be considered as a relevant treatment modality for future cases.

Electronic Follow-Up of Developing World Cleft Patients: A Digital Dream?

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential access to telemedicine follow-up of children with clefts operated on a humanitarian mission. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of parents of children presenting to a humanitarian cleft lip and palate mission in a Provincial Hospital in the Philippines. A purpose designed questionnaire was used to assess access to electronic and digital resources that could be used to aid follow-up. Forty-five (N = 45) parents of children having primary cleft lip and or palate surgery participated. There were no interventions. Access to the Internet was through Parent Perceived Affordability of Internet Access and Parent Owned Devices. RESULTS: Thirty-one (N = 31) respondents were female. There was 93% mobile phone ownership. The mean distance traveled to the clinic was 187 km. Majority (56%) were fluent in English. Thirty-one percent accessed the Internet daily. Sixteen percent reported use of e-mail. Fifty-one percent accessed the Internet on a mobile device, and short message service use was the most affordable means of communication. CONCLUSIONS: Due to perceived unaffordability and low levels of access to devices with cameras and the Internet, as well as issues with privacy, we cannot recommend relying on electronic follow-up of patients in the developing world.

The Olympic legacy: Journal metrics in sports medicine and dentistry.

Systematic analysis of integral aspects within sport enables improvement in performance. One key aspect is the management and prevention of injuries. Bibliometrics is a systematic method for evaluating research output. It may be expected that the quantity and quality of sports injury research over time may strongly correlate with the timing of the Olympic games. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the Olympic legacy on academic sports medicine and evidence to prevent injuries of the face and teeth. A literature search within the PubMed database was undertaken to identify the quantity of literature published annually between 1996 and 2015 in the fields of sports injuries and injury prevention. The top 5 journals publishing in each field were then identified and the change in their impact factor (IF) was investigated. It was seen that, since 1996, there has been an overall increase in the quantity of literature published regarding sports injuries and prevention of sports injuries of 209% and 217%, respectively. Publications regarding facial injuries and dental injuries within sport show an increase of 114% and 71%, respectively. There was an increase in IF since 2000 in almost every journal investigated. A strong, positive correlation is seen among journals publishing on the prevention of sports injuries, showing a median IF increase of 2.8198. No statistical significance was found between Olympic years and the number of publications. Hence, there has been a gradual increase in both the quality and quantity of publications regarding sports injuries since 1996. However, there appears to be no immediate added effect of the "Olympic legacy" following each Olympic games on the quantity or quality of publications in these fields.

West of Ireland facial injury study. Part 2.

The pattern, presentation, and volume of facial injury in the west of Ireland are subjectively different from those in the United Kingdom. We know of no prospective regional study of facial injury in Ireland to date, and nationally there is no system in place to collect data on injury. The epidemiology of facial trauma has important implications for the development of health services, the education and training of clinicians, workforce planning, prevention of injury, and promotion of health. Over 1 week we did a multicentre prospective data collection study involving all emergency departments in the west of Ireland. All patients who attended with facial injuries were included (n=325), and those with injuries solely of the scalp and neck were excluded. The proforma recorded a patient's characteristics, details of injury and presentation, treatment and follow-up. It also included relation with sport, alcohol, assault, and animals. Eighty-two fractures were suspected, of which 46% were nasal. Accidents caused 75% of injuries and sport caused 27%. Fractures were sustained by 63% (n=5) of those wearing helmets while playing hurling, but by only 22% of those who were not. Helmets did, however, reduce the total number of injuries. Injuries were associated with alcohol (23%), assault (14%), falls (38%), and motor vehicle crashes (11%). Because of the differences in aetiology, different avenues and methods are required to prevent injury. Staff in emergency departments will need training in this area, given the large proportion of facial trauma in the region.

West of Ireland facial injury study. Part 1.

The pattern, presentation, and volume of facial injury in the west of Ireland are subjectively different from that in the United Kingdom. We know of no prospective regional study of facial injury in Ireland to date, and nationally there is no system in place to collect data on injury. The epidemiology of facial trauma has important implications for the development of health services, the education and training of clinicians, workforce planning, prevention of injury, and promotion of health. Over one week we did a multicentre prospective data collection study involving all emergency departments in the west of Ireland. All patients who attended with facial injuries were included, and those with injuries solely of the scalp and neck were excluded. The proforma recorded patients' characteristics, details of injury and presentation, treatment and follow-up. It also included relation with sport, alcohol, assault, and animals. During the study period 325 patients were injured (5% of attendances at emergency departments in the region). The mean was 29.8%, and 68% were male. Falls caused 39% of injuries, sport 27%, and assault 14%. Sixteen percent of patients were treated in oral and maxillofacial surgery departments, and 16% in plastics, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) departments combined. There were 166 serious injuries. The busiest 24h were from Saturday at 09:00. Forty-five percent presented between 1 and 2h after injury. Different approaches and methods may be needed to prevent injury because of differences in aetiology, and staff in emergency departments will need training in this area, given the large proportion of facial injuries in the region.

Oral cavity examination: beyond the core curriculum?

There has been little improvement in the survival of patients with oral cancer despite advances in treatment, and late presentation of the disease is one reason for this poor outcome. Research and experience tell us that tuition in medical schools about examination of the oral cavity is poor. We aimed to ascertain the opinions and experience of students regarding this in our institution by dissemination of a web-based anonymous questionnaire that focused on education about examination of the oral cavity and experience in carrying it out. From a cohort of 600 students 458 (76%) responded. A total of 334 (73%) had not been taught how to examine the oral cavity, 372 (81%) had had no experience of doing so in patients, and only 13/86 (15%) felt confident to diagnose a carcinoma of the lip or oral cavity. Eighty-nine percent felt that the tuition given had not been adequate. Examination of the oral cavity cannot be considered part of the core clinical curriculum, and medical schools and departments of oral and maxillofacial surgery urgently need to embrace the introduction of the necessary skills.

Electronic follow-up of facial lacerations in the emergency department.

It is often difficult for emergency department staff to follow up the primary closure of simple facial lacerations. This is important to allow closure of the feedback loop. Consecutive patients who were sutured by a single operator using the same technique were asked to send a photograph of the laceration six months and 12 months afterwards. The patients had Internet access and a digital camera, or a mobile phone with a camera. They were given a leaflet with the details of the email address or mobile number to send the picture to. A reminder telephone call was made to each patient at six months and 12 months, and the email address or mobile number to send the picture to was given again. In each telephone call patients were asked to grade the healing on a 5-point scale from 1 = very happy to 5 = very unhappy. At 13 months all patients were re-contacted and reminded again. Fifty patients were included in the study (33 males). The cause of injury was sport in 17 patients, assault in 18 and accidents in 15. At six months, 23 patients stated that they were happy and 27 were very happy with the scar. The mean score was 1.5. At 12 and 13 months, four patients were happy and 46 very happy. The mean score was 1.1. Twenty-four patients said they would use a computer/camera to send in the follow-up image, and 26 patients had a mobile phone with a camera and said they would use that. Despite the reminders, no patients sent a photograph. The results provide no evidence to support the use of photographs sent by email or text message for the follow-up of facial lacerations sutured in the emergency department.

Educational paper: research in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Training in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) requires undergraduate degrees in both medicine and dentistry. When trainees in other surgical specialties may be pursuing a higher degree in research or education, OMFS trainees will be studying for their second undergraduate degree. It is possibly therefore that the specialty is weak in terms of doubly qualified university academics who have been trained in the full and extended curriculum OMFS. Research is recognised in all applications to United Kingdom and Ireland specialist training programmes, and points are awarded, though many juniors who enter these will have found it difficult to do any research during their careers to date. With changes in specialist training it may become even more difficult to obtain a research degree, although with the introduction of the National Institute for Health Research Integrated Academic Training (academic clinical fellowships/clinical lectureships) there is renewed hope that enthusiasm for academic OMFS will be reignited. In this paper we try to provide an idea of the opportunities available to OMFS trainees in academia and research.

Retrospective review of donor site complications after harvest of cancellous bone from the anteriomedial tibia.

Donor site morbidity is important in deciding the site for harvest of cancellous bone for alveolar bone grafts. Many studies have supported the view that tibia is safe with few complications in the short term. We know of no studies on the long-term complications to the donor site after tibial bone grafting in children with alveolar clefts. The casenotes of 40 children who had had tibial bone grafts for alveolar clefts were studied retrospectively, and parents or patients were contacted by telephone and a standardised questionnaire was used to assess any long term complications at the donor site. We found none. We found no evidence of long-term complications at the donor site in children who had had proximal tibial bone grafting for secondary repair of alveolar clefts. We conclude that the proximal tibia is a safe site from which to obtain cancellous bone graft for alveolar clefts in children. This study is preliminary, and highlights the need for a randomised trial.