Enhancing Frontal Sinus Surgery: Assessing the Long-Term Impact of Free Grafts and Flaps in Draf III Procedures.

The frontal sinus medial drainage -Draf Type III (modified endoscopic Lothrop) procedure, has become a cornerstone in frontal sinus surgery over the last three decades. Despite its widespread acceptance, challenges such as restenosis and neo-ostium closure persist, prompting the exploration of various preventive techniques. In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 111 patients who underwent the Draf III procedure between November 2015 and November 2023, with a mean follow-up period of 3 years and 11 months. Approximately two-thirds of patients (64%) had undergone previous sinus surgery and 16% a previous Draf III. Over half of the patients had inflammatory conditions, with the majority being chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (46%), while 15% were diagnosed with malignant sinonasal tumors, and 23% with benign sinonasal tumors, of which the commonest was osteoma, accounting for 14 cases. The mean follow-up period was 3 years and 11 months. We focused on evaluating the efficacy of mucosal flaps and free grafts in preventing neo-ostium closure. Although it appears that there is no statistically significant correlation between flap usage and the need for revision surgery or ostium patency maintenance overall, subgroup analysis highlighted the benefits of flap reconstruction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. In this subgroup, the use of flaps or grafts reduced the rate of neo-ostium stenosis from 20% to 0% (p < 0.05). Overall revision rate was 11.7%-however this was 8% in patients without acute inflammation at the time of surgery and went up to 31% in the presence of pus in the frontal recess (p = 0.02). This study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into long-term outcomes, the enduring effectiveness of interventions in frontal sinus surgery, and especially the importance of taking into account the underlying pathology when assessing long-term outcomes.

Management of Ameloblastoma with Free Tissue Flap in Comparison with Other Reconstructive Options Available.

AIM: To review the management and reconstruction of ameloblastoma of mandible in different age groups over a period of 11 years. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study includes 51 cases operated in the Maxillofacial Unit, Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Bangalore, from the year 2007 to 2017. The data of these patients were collected to record demographic data such as age, gender with site of tumour and type of reconstruction after resection, follow-up period and incidence of complications. This study evaluated the outcome in terms of aesthetics, function and choice of reconstruction in different age groups. RESULTS: Most patients were of 21-40 age group. 37 (72.5%) were found to be unicystic ameloblastoma. 41 (80.3%) patients underwent reconstruction following the resection. There was a change in trend seen over a period of time with free grafts and reconstruction plate being historical, except in special situations like old age and unfit patients. According to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc analysis, free flaps were known to take a longer duration (mean = 503 min) compared to other modes of reconstruction. However, free grafts and free flaps were demonstrated to have a good facial contour and speech with most cases dentally rehabilitated with implants. Among the complications, 1 (16%) case with reconstruction plate showed screw loosening, 2 (28%) cases with free grafts showed graft exposure, and 1 (3.5%) case with free flap had venous congestion, making free flaps the most reliable option. CONCLUSION: Free fibula is the gold standard of mandible reconstruction, but depending on age, medical condition, economic status and size of the defect other modes of reconstruction can be chosen with the acceptance of suboptimal results.

Mandibular ameloblastoma reconstruction: a case report with 10-year follow-up / Reconstrucción en ameloblastoma mandibular: reporte de caso, con 10 años de seguimiento

Abstract Ameloblastoma is a benign dental tumor mostly found in the mandible, with several variations. The treatment of this pathology ranges from simple enucleation to resection of large sections of the affected bone. There are several options for correcting the sequelae of ameloblastoma treatment, including the use of grafts and currently microvascular free flaps, which have become the standard treatment. This report describes a clinical case of a large mandibular ameloblastoma, which was resected with safety margins about 10 years ago, reconstructed by free grafts in successive surgical times and rehabilitated using removable prostheses. The question is then what the best option is today in the reconstruction of patients affected by this type of pathologies, taking into account emerging options, the clinicians' learning curve and the patients' resources.

Resumen El ameloblastoma es un tumor odontogénico benigno que se encuentra mayormente en la mandíbula, existiendo diversas variedades del mismo. El tratamiento de esta patología va desde la enucleación simple hasta la resección de grandes secciones del hueso comprometido. Para la corrección de las secuelas por tratamiento de ameloblastoma existen varias opciones, entre las que se encuentra el uso de injertos y hoy en día los colgajos libres microvascularizados, que se han convertido en el estándar de tratamiento. El presente reporte pretende mostrar un caso clínico de un gran ameloblastoma mandibular, el cual fue resecado con márgenes de seguridad hace alrededor de 10 años, reconstruido mediante injertos libres en tiempos quirúrgicos sucesivos y rehabilitado mediante el uso de prótesis removibles. Se plantea entonces la pregunta de cuál es la mejor opción hoy en día en la reconstrucción de pacientes afectados por este tipo de patologías, tomando en cuenta las opciones emergentes, la curva de aprendizaje de los clínicos y los recursos de los pacientes.

Free Grafts and Microvascular Anastomoses.

Skin grafts and free skin flaps are useful options for closure of wounds in which primary closure or use of traditional skin flaps is not feasible. Grafts are classified by their morphology and host-donor relationship. Free skin flaps with microvascular anastomoses are developed from previously described axial pattern flaps and have the added advantage of reestablishing robust vascular supply to the flap, but require specialized equipment and a high degree of technical expertise. Despite intensive perioperative care and the risk of graft or flap failure, skin grafts and free skin flaps can serve as rewarding methods of closing difficult wounds.

Buccal mucosa urethroplasty: a 10-year retrospective review of maxillofacial and urological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of a urethral stricture poses a difficult surgical problem. Anastomotic repair remains the gold standard. Strictures longer than 2 cm may require substitution urethroplasty. This is a retrospective review of all patients who underwent urethral reconstruction with an autologous free buccal mucosa graft at a Regional hospital between 1998 and 2009. METHODS: Variables recorded included; demographics: patient gender/age; follow-up period. Urology: pre-operative diagnosis/aetiology; presenting complaint; previous urological surgery, pre-operative retrograde urethrogram, stricture length, graft size, operative time/blood loss, morbidity, complications. Maxillofacial: pre-/post-operative inter-incisal opening, patency of Stenson's parotid duct, ipsilateral parotid swelling, sensory nerve deficit. RESULTS: A total of eight male patients were included. Mean age was 33 years. Two patients had one-stage dorsal onlay urethroplasty, and the remaining six had a two-stage BMG urethroplasty. All patients underwent a urethrogram 20 days post-operatively, which demonstrated no leak, and a good caliber grafted urethra in all cases. A flexible cystoscopy scope was accommodated in all patients 8 weeks post-operatively. Mean follow-up was 42 months. At long-term follow-up, there was no evidence of stricture formation, and all patients were voiding well. There were no long-term intra-oral complications. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that anterior urethral strictures up to 6 cm in length may be predictably and safely managed with buccal mucosal urethroplasty. The buccal mucosa is easy to harvest, and can be used successfully in one- and two-stage grafting procedures. The rate of complications, from both a urological and maxillofacial perspective, in the group of patients studied was low.

Comportamiento de los trastornos mucogingivales y su tratamiento, Matanzas, 2008-2010 / Behavior of the mucous- gingival disorders and its treatment, Matanzas, 2008-2010

Cada día es más frecuente observar la preocupación de los pacientes por la presencia de trastornos mucogingivales, y dentro de estos, uno de los más comunes es la recesión periodontal. Esta puede acompañarse de sensibilidad radicular, mayor prevalencia de caries y abrasiones cervicales. Sin embargo, el compromiso estético suele ser el principal motivo de consulta. Ante este tipo de trastorno podemos plantear dos posibilidades: no tratarla y controlar su evolución o corregirla mediante técnicas de cirugía mucogingival. Con el objetivo de mostrar el comportamiento de los trastornos mucogingivales y su tratamiento, se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo y transversal en una población de 169 pacientes que fueron atendidos en el servicio de Periodoncia de la Clínica Estomatólogica Docente III Congreso del PCC, de Matanzas, en el período comprendido entre el 2008 y el 2010. Los trastornos mucogingivales se presentaron en un 34,1 por ciento, de ellos la recesión periodontal fue la más frecuente (28,6 por ciento). Se concluye que las féminas fueron las más afectadas, y los grupos de edades de 15 a 34 y de 35 a 59. Los pacientes remitidos de Ortodoncia en su mayoría tenían de 5 a 11 años de edad y se mantenían bajo control evolutivo periodontal, el injerto libre de tejido conectivo y epitelio fue la técnica mucogingival más utilizada en el servicio.

It is more and more frequent to observe the patients concern for the presence of mucous-gingival disorders, and among them, one of the most common is the periodontal recession. It can be accompanied by radicular sensibility, higher prevalence of caries and cervical abrasions. Nevertheless, the aesthetic compromise uses to be the main motive of consultation. In the presence of this kind of disorder we have two possibilities: no treating it and controlling its evolution or correcting it using mucous-gingival surgery techniques. With the objective of showing the behavior of the mucous-gingival disorders and their treatment, we carried out a an observational, descriptive and transversal research in a population of 169 patients attended in the service of Periodontics of the Teaching Stomatologic Clinic III Congreso del PCC, of Matanzas, in the period between 2008 and 2010. Mucous-gingival disorders were present in 34, 1 per cent, and the periodontal recession was the most frequent (28,6 per cent). We concluded that women were the most affected, and the age groups from 15 to 34 and from 35 to 59. Most of the patients referred from the service of Orthodontics were 5 to 11 years old and were under periodontal evolvable control; the free graft of connective tissue and epithelium was the most used mucous-gingival technique in the service.

The role of flaps and grafts in modern hypospadiology.

The modern hypospadiologist must be proficient in the use of both vascularized flaps and free grafts. When choosing a repair for any given patient with hypospadias, one must consider the length of the urethroplasty, the presence and degree of ventral curvature and perhaps most importantly, the surgeon's own experience. Not all repairs are created equally and different complication rates and cosmetic outcomes can be seen among different surgeons utilizing the same technique. Each surgeon tends to infuse their own modifications to any given technique and many of these modifications go unreported. It is incumbent upon each surgeon to be familiar with a wide variety of techniques, which invariably includes the use of flaps and grafts. We present a spectrum of the uses of flaps and grafts in modern hypospadiology.