Interscapular Pain after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: Does Zygapophyseal Joints over Distraction Play a Role?

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical disc herniation (CDH) is commonly performed. Specific post-operative complications include dysphagia, dysphonia, cervicalgia, adjacent segment disorder, cage subsidence, and infections. However, interscapular pain is commonly reported by these patients after surgery, although its mechanisms have not been clarified yet. Methods: This retrospective series of 31 patients undergoing ACDF for CDH at a single Academic Hospital. Baseline and post-operative clinical, radiological, and surgical data were analyzed. The linear regression analysis was conducted to identify any factor independently influencing the incidence rate of post-operative interscapular pain. Results: The mean age was 57.6 ± 10.8 years, and the M:F ratio was 2.1. Pre-operative mean VAS-arm was 7.15 ± 0.81 among the 20 patients reporting brachialgia, and mean VAS-neck was 4.36 ± 1.43 among those 9 patients reporting cervicalgia. At 1 month, interscapular pain was still reported by 8 out of the 17 patients who experienced it post-operatively, and it was recovered in all patients after 2 months. The regression analysis showed that interscapular pain was not directly associated with age (p = 0.74), gender (p = 0.46), smoking status (p = 0.44), diabetes (0.42), pre-operative brachialgia (p = 0.21) or cervicalgia (p = 0.48), symptoms duration (p = 0.13), baseline VAS-arm (p = 0.11), VAS-neck (p = 0.93), or mJOA (p = 0.63) scores, or disc height modification (p = 0.90). However, the post-operative increase in the mean zygapophyseal joint rim distance was identified as an independent factor in determining interscapular pain (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our study revealed that the onset of interscapular pain following ACDF may be determined by over distraction of the zygapophyseal joint rim. Then, proper sizing of prosthetic implants could reduce this painful complication.

Synchronous Ipsilateral Pleomorphic Adenomas of Parotid and Submandibular Glands: An Unusual Finding.

A rare case of synchronous ipsilateral pleomorphic adenomas (PA) of the left parotid and submandibular glands is reported. Simultaneous multiple PA in major salivary glands are a very rare entity, and merely few cases of ipsilateral synchronous PA involving parotid and submandibular glands are reported in the literature. The case of a 40-year-old female with a six-year history of asymptomatic growing lesion in both left parotid and left submandibular regions is presented. Left superficial parotidectomy and left submandibular gland excision at the same surgery have been performed. The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of an accurate head and neck presurgery examination both clinically and radiologically, keeping in mind the possibility of multiple tumor location.

Complex Orbital Fractures: Three-Dimensional Planning and Combined Surgical Approach.

Nowadays the development of diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, alloplastic materials, and surgical instruments has made possible a more accurate management of orbital fractures. The aim of the present study was the management of orbital fractures and the solution of particular cases. The use of high-resolution computed tomography makes possible to gain a better understanding of the complex orbit anatomical structure. Also endoscopy is a valid alternative for medial orbital wall fractures treatment. It gives high control of the fracture site and its reduction. When this technology is combined with 3-dimensional (3D) reformatted images, it allows us to reconstruct more accurately the orbital defects. The authors present their experience in complex orbital fractures treated with the aim of the 3D navigation using a preformed orbital titanium plate. Endosopical approach was used to control plate positioning.

Fibrous Dysplasia: A Complex Maxillary Reconstruction.

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign tumor of the skeleton. Mostly 2 forms are described: a monostotic and a poliostotic form. The maxilla and the mandible are the most interested of the facial district. The authors report a patient of a huge maxillary fibrous dysplasia. A 63-year-old patient was treated for a 20-year progressive left maxillary neoformation. A total maxillectomy was performed. The defect was reconstructed with a custom-made midface implant associated with a temporal and a pericranial flap.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising on a forearm free flap 21 years after hemiglossectomy.

AIM: Free and pedicled flap are methods of choice for reconstruction of post-surgical defects consequent to oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), and missing intraoral mucosa is commonly reconstructed by the cutaneous component of the flap to guarantee an epithelial lining. Even if rare, cases of second tumors arising in the skin flap have been described. We present our experience reporting a clinical case. CASE REPORT: A squamous cell carcinoma arose on a forearm free flap 21 years after hemiglossectomy in a 72 years old woman. No smoking or alcohol habits were referred, and it was decided to perform surgical resection of the flap. RESULTS: Resection in free margins of a moderate differentiated (G2) SCC staged as pT2 was achieved and reconstruction with anterolateral thigh free flap was performed. DISCUSSION: Even if rare, secondary tumors arising in the skin flap in case of oral cavity defects reconstruction are described. It is important to recognize them early in order to perform surgical resection. CONCLUSION: We think that it is fundamental to perform a prolonged follow-up of skin flap if a white patch or erythema raising clinical suspicion are present. Incisional biopsy has to be performed in order to identify those lesions potentially inclined to a malignant transformation, such as p53 expression and Ki67 index. KEY WORDS: Free flap, Oral cancer, Squamous cell carcinoma.

Surgical evolution in the treatment of mandibular condyle fractures.

BACKGROUND: In Literature fractures of the mandible that involve the condyle ranges from 20% to 35% and various possible surgical options are described according to the varying pathological situations. Up to the present, numerous techniques have been used for the surgical treatment of condylar fractures. In this article we are proposing the combination of two surgical techniques as therapy for extra-capsular condylar fractures with dislocation. METHODS: From June 2003 to July 2007 30 patients were treated for condylar fractures with the application of a Rigid External Fixator under endoscopic assistance. This method includes a surgical reduction of the fracture with the aid of an endoscope, performing a transcutaneous insertion of a Rigid External Fixator to stabilize the fracture. RESULTS: Out of the total number of patients, 28 reached an optimal result without the need for temporary immobilization of the temporal mandibular joint and pre-auricular cutaneous access, thanks to the decisive aid of the video-endoscope. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscope allows perfect control over both the positioning of the external fixator and the surgical reduction, restoring the normal movement of the mandible with a return to full anatomical functioning of the temporo-mandibular joint. This approach avoids possible damages to the facial nerve branches. The rigid external fixation system is better than an internal one, because it is less restrictive in precise anatomical reduction, since with an REF the condylar fragment is kept in the correct anatomical position but is not obliged to maintain that exact position, and therefore it is possible to carry out all the repair mechanisms listed above. Endoscopic assistance allows a good positioning control of the REF although the endoscopy permits an optimal control of the condylemeniscal complex mobility after REF application.

Open reduction and internal fixation of extracapsular mandibular condyle fractures: a long-term clinical and radiological follow-up of 25 patients.

BACKGROUND: During the last 2 decades, many studies on the treatment of mandibular condyle fracture have been published. The incidence of mandibular condyle fractures is variable, ranging from 17.5% to 52% of all mandibular fractures. This retrospective study evaluated the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes after surgical treatment of 25 patients with a total of 26 extracapsular condyle fractures. METHODS: We used 2 types of surgical approaches, the retromandibular retroparotid or preauricular approach. Three kinds of rigid internal fixation plates were used-single plate, double plate, and trapezoidal plate. The following post-operative clinical parameters were evaluated: dental occlusion, facial nerve functionality, skin scarring, and temporomandibular joint functionality. All patients underwent post-operative orthopanoramic radiography and computed tomography. The patients were also monitored for complications such as Frey's syndrome, infection, salivary fistula, plate fracture, and permanent paralysis of the facial nerve; the patient's satisfaction was also recorded. RESULTS: Of the 25 patients, 80% showed occlusion recovery, 88% had no facial nerve injury, and 88% presented good surgical skin scarring. The patients showed early complete recovery of temporomandibular joint functionality and 72% of them were found to be asymptomatic. The postoperative radiographs of all patients indicated good recovery of the anatomical condylar region, and 80% of them had no postoperative complications. The average degree of patient satisfaction was 8.32 out of 10. Our results confirm that the technique of open reduction and internal fixation in association with postoperative functional rehabilitation therapy should be considered for treating patients with extracapsular condylar fractures. CONCLUSION: The topic of condylar injury has generated more discussion and controversy than any other topic in the field of maxillofacial trauma. We confirm that open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice for patients with neck and sub-condylar mandibular fractures.

Unusual complication of condrocostal implant in rhinoplasty.

A 67-year-old patient with a casual diagnosis of a foreign body within the frontal sinus outreaching the frontal cerebral parenchyma was treated. Results of anamnestic examination revealed that the patient underwent rhinoplasty with condrocostal implant of the nasal dorsum fixed to the anterior wall of the frontal sinus using a Kirschner wire 2 years ago. A combined transnasal endoscopic and transcranic approach was performed to remove the foreign body.

Wide excision and anterolateral thigh perforator flap reconstruction for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the face.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare cutaneous malignant tumor associated with a high cure rate but with a high incidence of local recurrence. Because of its tentacle-like subcutaneous infiltrating pattern that extends far beyond the clinically visible skin lesion, a wide resection margin is recommended. Hence, its localization to the head-and-neck regions, although rare, represents a real challenge for both the oncologic surgeon and the reconstructive surgeon, who aim to achieve a radical resection of the tumor with the best possible aesthetic outcome.A case of a 21-year-old Mediterranean man who presented with a 7-month history of a slowly growing subcutaneous lesion of the left preauricular region is reported. A diagnosis of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans CD34+ was confirmed through surgical biopsy, and the patient subsequently underwent a wide en bloc local surgical resection, followed by anterolateral thigh perforator free flap reconstruction. Healing was uneventful. Initially, there was some facial nerve neurapraxia; however, this completely subsided within 3 months after the surgery. At the 13-month follow-up, the patient was completely well and free from the disease.

Schwannoma of the facial nerve: indications for surgical treatment.

There is no preoperative diagnostic modality that can identify facial nerve schwannoma with certainty. Difficulty in locating the facial nerve intraoperatively raises suspicion of a neurogenous tumor of the facial nerve, and this may prevent unnecessary damage to the nerve. Not every facial nerve schwannoma should be resected.

Bilobed skin paddle fibula flap for large oromandibular defects.

Although the fibula free flap (FFF) is a useful choice for mandible reconstruction, its application for large oromandibular defects is still debated upon. We report the use of FFF with a bilobed perforator-based skin paddle for combined hemiglossectomy, floor-of-the-mouth, tonsillar pillar, and mandibular body defect. A case of an 84-year-old woman with a 2.5 × 3.5-cm exophytic ulcerated mass on the right side of the tongue, extended to omolateral gengival fornix, tonsillar pillar, and mandibular body, is reported. An osteocutaneus FFF with a 7-cm bone strut and a 17 × 10-cm bilobed shaped skin paddle was performed. The longer lobe was used to restore tongue shape, whereas the smaller lobe was used to line the pelvic floor, gingival, and tonsillar pillar. The postoperative period was uneventful. The patient was capable to protrude her neotongue beyond the virtual incisors line and to touch the hard palate at different degrees of mouth opening. The bilobed perforator-based skin paddle FFF is felt to be a sound option for large compound oromandibular defects offering the possibility to safely base the skin component on a single peroneal perforator while achieving effective tongue mobility preservation.

Sagittal split osteotomy of the fibula for modeling the new mandibular angle.

Fibula modeling techniques for mandible reconstruction carry a high risk of bone perfusion impairment and low predictability of osteotomy angles. To restore the parabolic shape of the mandible, the number of osteotomies should be as small as possible to preserve both periosteal and endosteal perfusion. We report our approach with sagittal split osteotomy (SSO) technique for mandibular angle reconstruction.Obwegeser-Dal Pont SSO of fibula flaps was performed on 10 patients who underwent mandibular angle reconstruction. Bone segments were tilted according to stereolithographic template and fixed with 3 bicortical screws in triangular fashion. Fibula-gonial angle at 15 days and 6 months from surgery was compared with the contralateral-mandibular-gonial angle using Kruskal-Wallis test with a P < 0.05 considered significant.Mean bone length and skin paddle size were 15.6 cm (range, 13-18 cm) and 22.5 cm (range, 3 × 4 cm to 11 × 5 cm). Bone unions occurred at 12 months (mean follow-up, 39 months). No differences (P > 0.05) between fibula-gonial angle at 15 days (mean, 122.88 ± 0.55 degrees; range, 122.49-123.27 degrees) and 6 months (mean, 123.36 ± 0.88 degrees; range, 122.73-123.99 degrees) and contralateral-mandibular-gonial angle (mean, 123.20 ± 0.80 degrees; range, 122.62-123.77 degrees) were observed.Fibula SSO allows for new-mandible angle shaping, reducing risk of pedicle and endosteal vascular impairment. Triangular bone fixation thereby emerges as a reliable technique, enhancing functional and aesthetic long-term outcomes.

Stensen duct relocation after cheek mucosa tumor resection.

Cheek mucosa cancer might surround Stensen meatus requiring preservation and relocation of the duct. Sialodochoplasty is necessary to avoid subsequent stricture, cheek swelling, and obstructive sequelae that could make following oncologic follow-up difficult. We report a simple successful technique of parotid duct cannulation and relocation in a 77-year-old woman who underwent cheek mucosa tumor resection for squamous cell carcinoma and free fasciocutaneous forearm reconstruction. Ability of milk clear saliva from the duct orifice after 6 weeks from surgery was assessed clinically, and no fistula or swelling was experienced. Stensen duct cannulation and relocation are a useful adjunctive procedure in the treatment of oral mucosa cancer, preserving salivary gland function while not compromising cancer resection.

Sphenoidal-clival neoformation: an endoscopic approach.

The cranial base has distinct embryologic origins. The anterior cranial base is derived solely from the neural crest, similar to other facial bones, whereas the posterior cranial base is formed by the paraxial mesoderm. Both these parts also develop and grow with distinct features. Unlike other craniofacial bones that are mostly formed through intramembraneous ossification, the cranial base is formed through endochondral ossification, in which a cartilage plate, known as the chondrocranium, is formed first and soon replaced by bones. Individual bones are then connected by cartilaginous structures, termed synchondroses, which are morphologically similar to long-bone growth plates.These processes justify the presence of a disembryogenic cyst in the sphenoid bone. The authors present a case of a clival-sphenoidal region neoformation treated with a transnasal-endoscopic approach.

Osteosarcoma radioinduced after adenoid cystic tumor of the parotid gland.

Osteosarcoma can develop secondary to malignant transformation within a preexisting benign bone lesion, such as Paget disease, osteonecrosis, fibrous dysplasia, and chronic infection, or it can arise in previously irradiated areas. This article presents the case of a 36-year-old woman who was affected by a radioinduced osteosarcoma after radiotherapy for an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left parotid gland treated when she was 24 years old.

Lip reconstruction with local m-shaped composite flap.

The primary management of lip malignancies is radiotherapy or complete surgical resection. Surgical resection brings a full-thickness defect of lip tissues, and management of the resulting lip defect needs a surgical technique that maximizes functional and cosmetic outcomes. The use of local tissue flaps forms the basic concept of lip reconstruction. There are many techniques reported using the remaining lip and local adjacent tissues. Almost all of these techniques emphasize the innervated sphincter function after lip reconstruction. Authors present their experience in lip reconstruction by an M-shaped local composite flap. An M-shaped flap presents an incision line lying on the labiomental sulcus of the lower lip; on this line, 2 half-thickness Burrow triangles are created. The Burrow triangle allows tissue transposition to close the postsurgical defect. A similar surgical technique is presented also for the upper lip. Functional sphincteric recovery is assured by the integrity of the orbicularis oris muscle because of minimal alteration in the orientation of the muscle and the reconstruction muscular anatomic plane; moreover, such flap preserves the integrity of the corner of the mouth, preserves the sensibility of the lip, and has minimal aesthetic impact due to the camouflage of scar on the labiomental sulcus.

Malignant ethmoidal neoplasms: a cranionasal endoscopy approach.

Craniofacial resection has been adopted worldwide as the standard therapy for tumors of the paranasal sinuses involving the anterior skull base. Recent refinements in endoscopic techniques together with the development of related surgical instruments allow complete radical resection of complex anatomic structures through combined transcranial and endonasal approaches without compromising any oncological principles. We use a transcranial nasoendoscopic approach for ethmoid malignant tumors in stage I and II according to the Instituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano staging. With this technique, no cutaneous incisions and no approaching osteotomies of the facial skeleton were performed. This approach reduces the period of hospitalization and speeds recovery. Furthermore, intraoperative endoscopy facilitates placement of the osteotomies in the optimal position and improves the likelihood of achieving a complete en bloc resection with removal of all disease hitherto obscured from vision. It represents the choice indication to increase precocious postsurgery radiotherapy possibilities.

Concha bullosa: endoscopic treatment.

AIM: To assess the frequency and the endoscopic treatment of the middle turbinate pneumatization or concha bullosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients (26 males and 23 females) with sinusitis and headache symptoms and axial and coronal computed tomographic scans of the paranasal sinuses and who had an endoscopic examination visit in the outpatient department between January 2005 and July 2007 were included in this study. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. Nasal tampons were removed 3 days after surgery, and endoscopic examination visits were performed 7, 15, 30, and 60 days after surgical treatment. RESULTS: All the patients presented complaints of chronic nasal obstruction. Eleven patients (5 males and 6 females; 22.4%) presented either a unilateral or a bilateral middle turbinate pneumatization. The surgeons recorded the surgery and each examination visit. In remote controls (12 mo at least), the patients showed a total remission of symptoms. There were no important complications.

Ameloblastoma relapse after 50 years from resection treatment.

Ameloblastoma is a slow-growing, locally invasive, epithelial odontogenic tumor of the jaws with a high rate of recurrence if not removed adequately but with virtually no tendency to metastasize (World Health Organization Classification of Tumors: Pathology and Genetics of Head and Neck Tumours, 2005). This paper presents a case of a woman who was treated in 1961, when she was 25 years old, for an ameloblastoma in the right posterior region of the mandible. After 50 years, the ameloblastoma relapsed, and another surgical treatment was necessary.