Use of Buccinator Myomucosal Flap in Tongue Reconstruction.

The myomucosal buccinator flap, first described by Bozola in 1989, has become an important tool for intraoral defects reconstruction. In the literature, there is a variety of proposed myomucosal cheek flaps, both pedicled and island, based on the buccal or the facial arteries. From January 2007 to December 2011, the authors used a pedicled buccinator flap based posteriorly on the buccal artery to reconstruct partial lingual defects following tumor resection in 27 patients. The buccal fat pad was translated to cover the donor site defect. After 3 to 4 weeks from the original surgery, a second procedure under local anesthesia was performed to detach the pedicle and remodel the flap. The morphological and functional outcomes of the procedures were evaluated by the surgeons and a speech and language therapist. All patients presented satisfactory results. The authors consider the use of the described technique as the gold standard in the reconstruction of partial tongue defects after tumor resection.

Complications After Treatment of Head and Neck Venous Malformations With Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate Foam.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate complications in patients with head and neck venous malformations (VMs) treated with foam sclerotherapy using sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS). METHODS: The authors retrospectively evaluated the complications, pain. and degree of satisfaction in 69 consecutive patients affected by cervicofacial VM managed with STS using the Tessari method in a single institution. RESULTS: The average number of procedures for each patient was 2.1. The most frequent complication was blistering. We observed 1 patient of temporary weakness of a facial nerve branch, 1 paradoxical embolism, and 1 orbital compartment syndrome.The average pain score was 0 (no pain at all) (51.5%). There was no statistically significant correlation between patient satisfaction and the presence of complications or the degree of pain. CONCLUSIONS: Sclerotherapy with STS is an effective treatment that yields to very high patient satisfaction. This procedure has an overall low complication rate and is usually effective within a few sessions. However, severe complications may occur; these must be pointed out in the informed consent and the surgeon must be aware of and ready to quickly treat them to prevent long-term sequelae.

Regional flaps in head and neck reconstruction: a reappraisal.

PURPOSE: Starting from our experience with 45 consecutive cases of regional pedicled flaps, we have underlined the effectiveness and reliability of a variety of flaps. The marketing laws as applied to surgical innovations are reviewed to help in the understanding of why regional flaps are regaining wide popularity in head and neck reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2009 to January 2014, 45 regional flaps were harvested at San Paolo Hospital to reconstruct head and neck defects. These included 35 pectoralis major muscular and myocutaneous flaps, 4 lower trapezius island or pedicled flaps, 3 supraclavicular flaps, 2 latissimus dorsi pedicled flaps, and 1 fasciocutaneous temporal flap. The basic literature of marketing regarding the diffusion of new products was also reviewed. RESULTS: Two myocutaneous pectoralis major flaps were complicated by necrosis of the cutaneous paddle (one complete and one partial). No complete loss of any of the 45 flaps was observed. At 6 months of follow-up, 2 patients had died of multiple organ failure after prolonged sepsis. The 43 remaining patients had acceptable morphologic and functional results. CONCLUSIONS: Regional and free flaps appear to compete in many cases for the same indications. From the results of the present case series, regional flaps can be considered reliable reconstructive choices that are less expensive than their free flap alternatives. The "resurrection" of regional flaps can be partially justified by the changes in the global economy and the required adaptation of developed and developing countries.

Sinus lift access in partial maxillectomies.

Maxillectomies often result in anatomical defects that need to be reconstructed. In partial maxillectomies, the most significant defect is the formation of an oronasal or oral-antral fistula. This creates discomfort and needs to be addressed secondarily with local or regional flaps. Here, we describe a technique adopted in 8 patients in which limited maxillectomies are carried out in a way that preserves the nasal and sinus mucosa, preventing the formation of fistulas and allowing the use of flaps that would normally carry a high risk of fistula formation. Contemporary bone reconstruction with grafts was used in 2 patients. Sparing the sinus and nasal mucosa during maxillectomies is an easy, safe procedure that can prevent a number of complications and can be recommended in selected cases.

Multidisciplinary approach to follicular thyroid carcinoma with giant mandibular and multiple sites metastases Case report.

UNLABELLED: Multidisciplinary approach to follicular thyroid carcinoma with giant mandibular and multiple sites metastases. Case report Metastatic tumors generally have poor prognosis, with short survival period and rarely indication to surgical treatment. In case of thyroid-differentiated cancer with distant metastases, prognosis is usually better, because of the possibility of treating metastasis by Radio Ablation by 131Iodine, after surgery. We report the case of a 65 years old woman, presenting with a giant mandibular metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma, originating from a cervico-mediastinal nonfunctioning goiter, with lung metastases. After the diagnostic work-up, she underwent left hemi-mandibulectomy, reconstruction by the placement of a precustomized titanium plate with condylar prosthesis and total thyroidectomy. Subsequently the Patient was treated by Radio Ablation by 131 Iodine, in four consecutive sessions. She is alive with no progression of the neoplasm after forty-six months follow-up. Even in advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma, surgery should be taken into consideration, to treat the patient by complementary therapies and to improve the prognosis in term of survival. KEY WORDS: Advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma, Metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

The reconstruction of the spheno-orbital region using latissimus dorsi flap and costal graft.

To minimize complications in skull base surgery, it is necessary to separate intracranial structures from the upper aerodigestive tract with well-vascularized tissue. The majority of defects can be reconstructed using local flaps using pericranium, galea, or temporalis muscle. However, there are conditions that affect the suitability of the previously mentioned flaps, for example, previous surgical procedures or radiotherapy. Local flaps may also be inadequate to reconstruct particularly large defects. Extensive bony demolitions produce aesthetic deformities that need accurate reconstructions. Orbital wall defects have to be reconstructed to avoid complications such as the transmission of cerebral pulsation, bulbar dystopias, diplopia, and ophthalmoplegia. The microvascular latissimus dorsi flap is ideal in all these cases, and the use of a costal graft allows simultaneous reconstruction of bony defects. From January 2000 to January 2008, 17 patients have undergone surgical ablation of the spheno-orbital region and reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and costal grafts. The flap survival rate was 100%. One patient required revision of the venous anastomosis. No cerebrospinal fluid leak or intracranial infections have been detected. The only complications registered were dystopias in 6 patients and diplopia in 4; all of these spontaneously resolved within 2 months. The microvascular latissimus dorsi flap with costal graft is an effective method for the reconstruction of the spheno-orbital region when local flaps are not indicated. It has a negligible donor-site morbidity, an ideal vascular pedicle, and an easy harvesting technique. The costal graft allows the simultaneous reconstruction of the orbital walls, giving good results.

Submental Orotracheal Intubation: An Alternative to Tracheotomy in Transfacial Cranial Base Surgery.

This retrospective study evaluated the safety and efficacy of submental intubation not only for trauma treatment but also for oncological cranial base surgery. The medical records of 24 patients who underwent submental intubation from 1996 to 2002 were reviewed. There were 6 procedures for craniofacial trauma, 12 transmaxillary approaches to the clivus for clivus chordomas, and 6 transmaxillary approaches to the cranial base for chondrosarcomas. Time required for intubation, accidental extubation, postoperative complications, and the healing of intraoral and submental scars were evaluated. The submental orotracheal intubation was completed successfully in all patients. No accidental extubations or tube injuries occurred. The mean time required for intubation was 5 minutes. The only complication was one case of superficial infection of the submental wound. The intraoral and submental accesses healed with minimal scarring in all patients. Submental orotracheal intubation is a useful and safe technique for airway management of craniomaxillofacial traumas and during transfacial approaches to the cranial base. It avoids the complications associated with tracheostomy. It also permits considerable downward retraction of the maxilla after a Le Fort I osteotomy and is associated with good clival exposure. Furthermore, it does not interfere with maxillomandibular fixation at the end of the surgery.