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.

Temporomandibular joint disorders and maxillomandibular malformations: role of condylar "repositionin" plate.

Even if the relationship between condylar position and/or temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and dentofacial deformity is controversial in literature, several patients presenting malocclusion refer to pain and TMDs as the main trouble. There are also various opinions concerning the alterations or improvements of temporomandibular joint symptoms after orthognathic surgery. In agreement with the experience of Universität Würzburg, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of splint technique to reproduce centric condyle positioning in bimaxillary osteotomy surgeries for the patients with skeletal-facial disorders and coexisting TMDs. The present study is based on a sample of patients with maxillomandibular malocclusion and coexisting TMDs who underwent bimaxillary osteotomy surgeries with splint technique. All patients underwent a protocol consisting of various steps: Pretreatment evaluation consisted of a questionnaire on subjective symptoms, clinical examinations, photographs of the occlusion, plaster casts, bite registrations, examination of the posture; instrumental examinations; panoramic, teleradiography, and cephalometric analysis; stratigraphy of TMD; and electromyography. Presurgical treatment consisted of therapy by modified Farrar splint associated with a pharmacologic therapy for the acute symptoms; orthodontic treatment associated with a global reeducation of the posture and a pompage of the masticatory muscles; and manufacturing of an occlusal splint in the most posterior asymptomatic position. Surgical treatment consisted of bimaxillary osteotomies performed after registering condyle position by a "repositioning" plate. The condyle position is guided by the intermaxillary fixation with the interposition of the occlusal splint. Surgery on maxillary is performed through Le Fort I osteotomy and fixation. Later, sagittal splint osteotomy of mandible is performed. Position of ramus and TMD complex is guided by the positioning of the plates modeled previously and fixed to maxillary and ramus in the same relationship registered with the splint. Finally, fixation of mandibular osteotomies is performed. Postsurgically patients underwent orthodontic treatment (to stabilize occlusal and articular changes) and physical therapy. After the end of treatment, stability of results was investigated with clinical, radiologic, and electromyographic valuations. The authors' experience suggests that, as in orthognathic surgery, identification of a correct condyle-fossa relationship (achieved by splint and repositioning plate) is essential to guide osteosynthesis after sagittal split osteotomy in patients affected by TMDs and ultimately affects the stability of the procedure.

Evolution in diagnosis and repairing of orbital medial wall fractures.

In the last decades, diagnostical imaging, surgical techniques, alloplastic materials, and surgical instruments development allowed a great progress in management of orbital fractures; the aim of the present study was to focus on the progress and changes in the management of orbital medial wall fractures. Isolated medial wall fractures are not a common clinical evidence, and those necessitating surgery is relatively rare. Diagnostical refinements allowed to detect such fractures more commonly than suspected, and the indications to surgical treatment had been increased by the progresses that minimized morbidity of patients and allowed better restoration of the functional anatomy. Mainly, the endoscopic surgery as an alternative to open reduction allowed to manage such fractures with less unwanted sequelae; endoscopy decreases morbidity and improves the results with respect to open reductions. In literature, currently, it can be noticed that there is an increased trend in surgical treatment of the patients with orbital medial wall fracture because endoscopy decreased perisurgical morbidity and improved long-term results. Endoscopic repair of orbital blowout fractures represents an innovative and highly successful and safe alternative to external repairs owing to its introduction in orbital trauma management; actually, indications for surgical intervention are in the course of revision. New deal is important for the future treatment of patients sustaining orbital trauma. The authors present their experience.

Navigator system guided endoscopic intraoral approach for remodelling of mandibular condyle in Garré syndrome.

In recent years, surgical trends showed an interest for minimally invasive surgery. Endoscopically assisted techniques were developed and widely reported. Endoscopic approaches can sometimes represent an alternative to traditional surgery. Such approaches minimize unwanted sequelae such unaesthetic scars and iatrogenic damage of facial nerve. In the reported case, the endoscopic approach and the navigator guide allowed reshaping of mandibular ramus up to the medial condilar surface, where an osteophite was present. To solve the intraarticular, mechanical obstacle, medial surface of mandibular condyle was reshaped. Such surgery represents a valid conservative solution; for traditional surgery with transcutaneous approach, a condylectomy should have been planned. The navigator (Brain Lab, Feldkirchen, Germany) allowed the checking of anatomic landmarks, even in bone with anatomy subversion, and guided its reshaping. The technique is summarized with step-by-step explanations. Further studies are obviously required to standardize the technique, and even technical and technological advances are expected, but computer-aided endoscopic surgery could be introduced to allow surgery on temporomandibular joints.

Could transcranial endoscopy represent an alternative to craniotomy in skull base surgery?

Craniofacial malformations and upper third facial tumor surgical management is currently performed by skull base osteotomies to allow skeleton mobilization or tumor removal. Craniotomies and retraction of frontal lobes allow wide exposure of anterior skull base. In the last decades, in keeping with the trend to perform less invasive surgical approaches, several authors reported endoscopic approaches for selected cases of skull base surgery, such as closure of cerebrospinal fluid leaks and transethmoidal and trans-sphenoidal approaches for pituitary surgery. Recent experience with transnasal endoscopic procedures improved both techniques and outcomes and became more common. The authors present a cadaver study of combined transfacial transcranial endoscopic approach to skull base. Such an approach used with minimally invasive surgery principles could represent, in selected cases (both for neoplastic lesions and malformations), an alternative to traditional anterior cranial fossa surgical approaches by wide craniotomies.

Surgical timing in orbital fracture treatment: experience with 108 consecutive cases.

Orbital fractures can lead to esthetic deformities and functional impairments, and adequate surgical timing is considered important in obtaining good results from surgery. By means of chart review, a retrospective analysis was carried out in 108 consecutive cases of pure orbital fractures to investigate the differences in surgical timing and the correlations with patient age and clinical and radiographic findings. In this analysis, surgical timing of pure orbital fractures was strongly related to the combination of parameters such as anatomical location of the fracture, eventual exposure of the fracture, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage or penetrating wounds, age of patients, eventual functional impairments or muscle entrapment, and serious conditions of compression or ischemia. As the data confirmed, an urgent approach was considered indispensable in severe orbital apex fractures and in orbital fractures with CSF leakage, penetrating objects, or exposure. Early surgery was necessary within 3 days in children with diplopia (type IIIb) and mainly within 7 days in adults with double vision (type IIIa). Delayed surgery, within 12 days in all cases, was performed orbital wall fractures with no impairments (type II) or in orbital rim fractures (type I). Data from this retrospective analysis confirm the need for an aggressive approach to all orbital fractures. In our experience, surgery was performed within 12 days and most orbital fractures were treated during the first week after trauma, which is earlier than previously reported.

Bilateral parotid voluminous masses: a case report.

The case of a 75-year-old woman with voluminous bilateral symmetrical masses of the parotid glands is reported, and the literature relevant to the differential diagnosis in bilateral neoplastic and nonneoplastic parotid masses is reviewed. The presurgical workup was based on clinical evaluations, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging findings, and cytologic examination to obtain the differential diagnosis. Benign or malignant tumors were excluded. Surgery was performed for esthetic reasons and in consideration of progressive enlargement of lesions. Histopathologic examination of resected masses revealed benign lymphoepithelial cysts with polyclonal infiltration of lymphoid cells. Serological testing for tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and testing using the in situ hybridization technique for the presence of cytomegalovirus and EBV were negative for productive infection or viral replication. A diagnosis of retention cysts was suspected on the basis of presurgical evaluation, histopathological examination, and serologic analysis. In this case, bilateral obstruction of the parotid ducts by a mobile denture probably played the main role in the pathogenesis and development of bilateral parotid retention cysts, because any other specific cause for the pathogenesis was not found with diagnostic tools.

Orthodontic-surgical treatment after posttraumatic bilateral condylectomy of the mandible in an adult patient.

A posttraumatic open bite associated with a bird face is reported. Condylectomy was indicated in relation to the plurifragmentary fracture of the condyles with limitation of mandibular movement. Condylectomies were mandatory as a result of delayed maxillofacial surgical treatment, which was related to the poor general condition of the patient after trauma. Functional disorder recovery and aesthetic deformity correction were planned by a team approach between orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons with the support of a logopedist for the postural-related muscle problems. The main practical and theoretical problems presented by the clinical case were a result of the need to restore the occlusal relations and to avoid recurrence of open bite in this patient. The patient presented a wide alteration of muscular function and a strength fibrotic retraction with alteration in the relationship between upper and lower jaws and retrusion of the mandible associated to open bite. Orthodontic treatment was carried with no impact on the upper and lower axis, avoiding orthodontic correction of the open bite. Surgery corrected both the open bite and the bird face by means of bilateral sagittal split osteotomies. Wiring of the mandibular osteotomies and intermaxillary fixation allowed positioning of the mandibular ramus bilaterally because of the fibrosis and muscular action-related forces without resulting in a similar rotation of the mandible with the risk of recurrence. Myotherapy and logopedic support minimized the risk of recurrence, improved reduction of muscular tension with the resolution of the lip incompetence, and allowed functional recovery of mandibular movements.

Sclerosing osteomyelitis of Garré periostitis ossificans.

Sclerosing osteomyelitis of Garré is a rare syndrome; the mandible is the most commonly affected bone segment in the cervicofacial region. This chronic disease is characterized by a nonsuppurative ossifying periostitis with subperiosteal bone formation, commonly reactive to a mild infection or irritation. The differential diagnosis must be made with similar clinical conditions with hard mandibular swelling associated with bony sclerosis. Presumptive diagnosis can be achieved by radiology, but such diagnosis must be confirmed by histology. The aim of therapy is to remove the cause when recognized, aided by an adequate antibiotic therapy. Clinical, radiographic, and histologic features are presented in this case report.