Morbidity related to the lip-split mandibulotomy approach: a systematic and narrative review.

The lip-split mandibulotomy (LSMA) is an access procedure that has been used in head and neck (H&N) surgery as an aid to surgical resection of inaccessible tumours of the postertior oral cavity and oropharynx. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it has significant morbidity. Voices of concern within the H&N surgical community suggest that it has been abandoned in favour of technological advances such as robotic surgery. We report here the first (to our knowledge) registered systematic review of its kind, documenting the safety and efficiency of LSMA in H&N surgery. We performed a PRISMA-guided systematic review (PROSPERO-registered) and identified reports using a search algorithm in MEDLINE/EMBASE. LSMA-related surgical complications were recorded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Secondary outcomes included swallowing dysfunction, facial cosmesis, and patient satisfaction recorded in health-related quality of life questionnaires (HRQoL). From 125 studies identified, 54 met the inclusion criteria (3872 patients). The LSMA mortality rate was 0%; we did not identify a single case of perioperative death. The median rate of osteoradionecrosis was 5.4%, whereas fistula formation was 5.7%. Malunion was noted in 4.9%. Other complications (surgical site infection, plate exposure) were around 5%. There was significant between-study variation with regards to swallowing assessment tools, but overall there was no significant difference in outcomes. This was also the case for the HRQoL questionairres. LSMA is a safe procedure with an acceptable rate of complications, and should definitely remain in the armamentarium of H&N surgery.

Internal jugular vein duplication: clinical significance for head and neck cancer ablative and reconstructive surgery.

We present the case of a 75-year-old patient with a T2N0Mo oral cancer, who underwent surgery for cancer ablation and reconstruction. Intraoperatively, a duplicate internal jugular vein (IJV) was identified. Both segments were preserved. The veins of the free radial forearm flap that was used to reconstruct the defect were anastomosed to tributaries of the anterior IJV segment. In this rare anatomical variation, the anterior segment of IJV lies medially/anteriorly to the sternocleidomastoid muscle which poses a risk of inadvertent injury during the early steps of the neck dissection (ND). The posterior segment is at risk of injury during developing levels II-III-IV of ND. It is important to preserve the anterior IJV segment as this receives all tributaries that can be used for end-to-end anastomosis for the free flap. Preoperative contrast computed tomography scan can aid in recognition of IJV duplication and help prepare the surgeon to adjust certain operative steps.

Analysis of the critical dose of radiation therapy in the incidence of Osteoradionecrosis in head and neck cancer patients: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a dramatic complication following radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck tumours. Symptoms include pain, trismus, and malodour. ORN can present with exposed necrotic bone, an orocutaneous fistula, and/ or a pathological fracture. AIMS: To analyse the RT dose responsible for the pathogenesis of ORN and its associated risk factors. METHODS: The data of 17 patients from 2005 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed from the Pinnacle(3), WebPublication, and Electronic patient records (EPR) provided by Christie Hospital and Pennine Acute NHS Trust. RESULTS: The mean RT dose that ORN sites received was 57.3 Gy. The mean onset duration for ORN after RT was 640.6 days. six patients (35.2%) developed ORN following post-RT dental extractions. CONCLUSION: RT dosages of >57.3 Gy significantly increase the likelihood of developing ORN. Mandibular surgery, post-RT dental extraction, concurrent smoking, and alcohol abuse all amplify the risk of developing ORN.

An audit to analyse the two-week wait pathway at an oral cancer specialist district general hospital.

Background The incidence of head and neck cancers is increasing, alongside a decrease in associated mortality. Currently, medical and dental practitioners can refer patients to be seen urgently within two weeks. The appropriateness of these referrals has been disputed. In 2020, the Department of Health aims for patients to be given cancer diagnoses within 28 days from referral.Methods A retrospective audit was conducted for all patients referred under the two-week wait pathway in a six-month period. In the first cycle of this audit, one month's worth of urgent referrals were analysed; given the small sample size, very few recommendations could be made. The audit cycle was repeated and it analysed six months' worth of data, which gave a much more representative study. All patients were analysed to see if the 14-day period had been breached. Positive cancer patients were further assessed to see if their diagnosis had been given within 28 days and treatments within 62 days.Results Of the 569 patients seen, there was a positive malignancy diagnostic yield of 7.38%. Nineteen patients breached the 14-day wait. Of the positive patients, 45.2% received their diagnosis more than 28 days from referral, and 22.2% of these patients received treatment after 62 days.Conclusion The department performed well despite the high number of referrals. This audit has touched on some key issues which have been discussed in detail in this article. Furthermore, this audit recommends a concerted effort to improve oral cancer detections skills among GDPs and GMPs. While all referrals may be appropriate from a primary care point of view, this audit makes it apparent that better differentiation is needed between malignant and routinely manageable lesions. All secondary care units alongside general practitioners can learn from the findings of this audit.

Surgical tracheostomies in COVID-19 patients: A multidisciplinary approach and lessons learned.

Surgical tracheostomies have a role in the weaning process of COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care units. A multidisciplinary team approach (MDT) is required for decision making. This process is augmented by specific standard operating practices implemented by senior clinicians. Here, we report on our early experience and outcomes with open tracheostomies in a cohort of COVID-19 patients. We outline the criteria that guide decision making and explore the challenges faced by our intensive care colleagues in the management of these patients. The cohort was 100% male with 90% of them having a raised Body Mass Index (BMI) and other comorbidities (hypertension and diabetes). 60% have been decannulated and have been stepped down the intensive care unit. We recorded no surgical complications or adverse events. The service to date has been shown to be effective, safe, largely reproducible and reflective.

Surgical tracheostomies in Covid-19 patients: important considerations and the "5Ts" of safety.

The coronavirus disease (covid19) pandemic (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) is the greatest healthcare challenge in a generation. Clinicians are modifying the way they approach day-to-day procedures. Safety and reduction of transmission risk is paramount. Surgical tracheostomies in covid19 patients are aerosol generating procedures linked with a significant risk of viral contamination. Here, we describe our local approach for these procedures, introducing the "5Ts" of safe tracheostomy practice: Theatre set-up, Team Briefing, Transfer of patient, Tracheostomy Procedure, Team Doffing and De-brief. We identify the critical steps of the procedure and explain how we overcome the risks associated with breaking the transfer circuit to attach the patient to the theatre ventilator. We explain our technique to reduce secretion spillage when opening the trachea. We emphasise the importance of closed tracheal suctioning and mouth suctioning prior to patient transfer. We highlight the importance of maintaining a closed circuit throughout the procedure and describe tips on how to achieve this. We summarise the steps of our protocol in an "easy to reproduce" way. Finally, we emphasise the importance of communication in a constantly changing environment and challenging circumstances.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma presenting as mandibular tumor: case report.

CONTEXT: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma metastasizing to the mandible is extremely rare, with only 4 previous cases reported in the literature. Here, we present a patient with a metastatic lesion in the mandible as the initial manifestation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We also review the incidence, diagnosis, and management of this rare occurrence. CASE REPORT: A 45-year-old man with a 5-week history of pain, following a tooth extraction, was referred to our Oral & Maxillofacial Department and presented with a nonhealing socket in the mandibular premolar region. He was investigated by use of imaging and an urgent biopsy. The diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasm was made. At this stage, the disease was fairly extensive and management was palliative. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the importance of a full investigation when a patient presents with a nonhealing socket and pain after tooth extraction. Mandibular metastases from distant primaries often have poor prognosis, with most patients getting palliative support. A multidisciplinary team approach is required for the management of these rare cases.

Prognosis Research Strategy (PROGRESS) 2: prognostic factor research.

Prognostic factor research aims to identify factors associated with subsequent clinical outcome in people with a particular disease or health condition. In this article, the second in the PROGRESS series, the authors discuss the role of prognostic factors in current clinical practice, randomised trials, and developing new interventions, and explain why and how prognostic factor research should be improved.

The treatment of mandibular condyle fractures: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The treatment for mandibular condyle fractures remains controversial. Conservative management (CM) and open reduction/internal fixation (ORIF) are both used, but the evidence to support superiority of one method over the other has not been assessed. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing CM versus ORIF in patients with condyle fractures. The primary outcome was post-treatment function; we looked at the status of the post-treatment occlusion, mouth opening, protrusion, facial height, pain and the presence of postoperative ankylosis. Furthermore, in studies evaluating ORIF, adverse effects such as facial nerve weakness and scarring, were also recorded. RESULTS: Twenty (20) studies enrolling 1596 patients were eligible. These included four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 16 non-randomized case series. Only 1186 of these patients were analyzed by the studies; the reasons for exclusion were rarely clarified. All four RCTs were prospective but the majority (69%) of the remaining studies were retrospective. The inclusion criteria were described in all four RCTs; however, this was not the case in half of the remaining studies (44%). Only four (20%) studies were blinded. Across all included studies, we recorded great variation between treatment protocols, follow-up periods, and outcomes measured. This precluded any quantitative synthesis. In nine studies (45%) the superiority of ORIF over CM reached statistical significance. The incidence of facial nerve weakness following ORIF averaged 6% and it was temporary for the majority of the patients. The identified RCTs were small (160 patients) and suffered from a number of methodological shortcomings. All of them reached statistically significant conclusions favoring ORIF over CM. CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis suggests that ORIF for condylar fractures may be as good or better than CM. The morbidity associated with the operation is low. However, the available evidence is of poor quality and not strong enough to change clinical practice.

Transfusion of allogenic leukocyte-depleted packed red blood cells is associated with postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing oral and oropharyngeal cancer surgery.

Evidence indicates that allogenic packed red blood cell transfusion results in the host's immunomodulation, and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes after surgery. The aim of this study was to test whether allogenic leukocyte-depleted blood transfusion represents a significant risk factor for postoperative morbidity after oral and oropharyngeal cancer surgery. A total of 142 patients, diagnosed for the first time with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery between 2000 and 2008 were retrospectively included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were calculated to identify predictors of postoperative complications. We found a significantly higher complication rate in the group of transfused patients compared to patients not exposed to transfusion (complication rate of 84% and 39%, respectively, p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, the amount of packed red blood cells transfused (for 1-4 units transfused: adjusted OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.24-5.39; p=0.011; for more than >4 units transfused: adjusted OR, 5.29; 95% CI, 2.01-13.88; p=0.001) and Charlson's comorbidity score ≥1 (adjusted OR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.38-5.70; p<0.004) were independently associated with the development of postoperative complications. Allogenic leukocyte-depleted blood transfusion is independently associated with increased postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgery for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. This association follows a dose-response relationship, as patients who received larger amounts of packed red blood cells showed a significant trend toward higher postoperative morbidity.

Evaluation of immunohistochemical expression of p53, p21, p27, cyclin D1, and Ki67 in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the immunohistochemical expression of p53, p21, p27, cyclin D1, and Ki67 can predict therapy response and survival in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with preoperative chemoradiation. METHODS: Biomarker expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pretreatment biopsies of 111 homogenously treated patients. We assessed the association between clinicopathological variables including response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy as well as the survival of the patients and the expression of the biomarkers as both dichotomized (positive vs. negative) and continuous variables. RESULTS: Biomarker overexpression on the basis of pre-selected cutoff points was seen in 66 of 111 (59%) cases for p53, in 77 (69%) for p21, in 48 (43%) for p27, in 81 (73%) for cyclin D1, and in 54 (49%) cases for Ki67, respectively. None of the examined biomarkers was able to predict response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or was associated with survival outcome. Post-treatment pathologic TNM stage (P < 0.001), pathologic response (P < 0.001), and perineural invasion (P < 0.001) were the only factors having a significant effect on recurrence-free survival. Post-treatment pathologic N stage (P = 0.005), post-treatment pathologic TNM stage (P < 0.001), pathologic response (P < 0.001), and perineural invasion (P = 0.001) had a significant impact on overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the biomarkers p53, p21, p27, cyclin D1, and Ki67 have no impact on treatment response and survival in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation.

Complications after free flap surgery: do we need a standardized classification of surgical complications?

Our main objective was to apply a standard classification to surgical complications after free flap surgery for reconstructions of the head and neck. We used the modified Clavien-Dindo classification in a cohort of 79 patients who were having reconstructions with jejunal free flaps simultaneously with resections of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. The most common minor complication was the need for a blood transfusion, and the most common major complication of a respiratory nature. The medical complications, and those at the recipient site and the donor site were 53/79 (67%), 44/79 (56%), and 9/79 (11%), respectively. The Clavien-Dindo classification is suitable and can easily be used to evaluate postoperative complications after free tissue transfer.

Use of antibiotics in the treatment of mandible fractures: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The use of prophylactic antibiotics in the treatment of mandible fractures is common practice. The evidence supporting this practice has not been formally assessed for quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this empirically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized and nonrandomized trials evaluating the possible impact of the prophylactic use of antibiotics in patients with mandible fractures were identified. Data were extracted on characteristics of studies and patients, including treatment, fracture location, time from injury to treatment, antibiotics used (type, route, dosage, duration), and complications (infection, malunion, reoperation). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were further evaluated for issues of reported methodological quality. RESULTS: There were 31 eligible studies (5,437 patients). Of these, 9 were prospective RCTs; the remaining 22 were retrospective case series. Information about the time between injury and definite treatment was provided by 10 studies (31%). The type of antibiotic used was not defined in 13 of 31 studies (42%). Half of the studies (15 of 31 [48%]) did not describe the route of administration and did not comment on the duration of the antibiotic course. The vast majority (23 of 31 [74%]) did not describe the dosage of the antibiotics used. Most of the RCTs were small, had not adequately described the mode of randomization, and did not present intention-to-treat analyses. None of them presented power calculations or ensured allocation concealment. There was not a single mention about number needed to treat. The amount and quality of the available data precluded formal quantitative synthesis, despite scattered signals that prophylactic antibiotics may be better than nothing in preventing infection. CONCLUSION: The overall evidence to support the use of prophylactic antibiotics in mandible fractures is of poor quality. Large RCTs are needed to guide clinical practice.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to evaluate cervical node metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG PET) has been proposed to enhance preoperative assessment of cervical lymph node status in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Management is most controversial for patients with a clinically negative (cN0) neck. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET in detecting lymph node metastases in patients with HNSCC. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of all available studies of the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET in patients with HNSCC. We determined sensitivities and specificities across studies, calculated positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-), and constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves using hierarchical regression models. We also compared the performance of 18F-FDG PET with that of conventional diagnostic methods (ie, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration) by analyzing studies that had also used these diagnostic methods on the same patients. RESULTS: Across 32 studies (1236 patients), 18F-FDG PET sensitivity was 79% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 72% to 85%) and specificity was 86% (95% CI = 83% to 89%). For cN0 patients, sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET was only 50% (95% CI = 37% to 63%), whereas specificity was 87% (95% CI = 76% to 93%). Overall, LR+ was 5.84 (95% CI = 4.59 to 7.42) and LR- was 0.24 (95% CI = 0.17 to 0.33). In studies in which both 18F-FDG PET and conventional diagnostic tests were performed, sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET were 80% and 86%, respectively, and of conventional diagnostic tests were 75% and 79%, respectively. CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET has good diagnostic performance in the overall pretreatment evaluation of patients with HNSCC but still does not detect disease in half of the patients with metastasis and cN0.