Osteomyelitis of the jaw is an uncommon infection that arises from the flora of the oral cavity or sinuses and affects immunocompromised and polymorbid patients. Treatment includes surgical ...debridement and long regiments of broad-spectrum antibiotics. We present three cases of complicated jaw osteomyelitis presented with concurrent COVID-19 infection, including only two reported cases of odontogenic COVID-related osteomyelitis. The two mandibular cases were patients in their 30s with no comorbidities. The first case was an asymptomatic COVID-19-positive patient who developed an odontogenic infection after tooth extraction that was complicated by the second bout of abscess formation and localized osteomyelitis. The second case was a COVID-19-positive patient with an odontogenic infection that presented as airway compromise due to trismus and neck edema, which required an emergency tracheotomy. He developed osteomyelitis of the mandibular ramus that was reconstructed with a titanium plate. The third case was a polymorbid post-COVID-19 patient who developed a protracted infection of the maxillary sinus that resulted in the loss of an eye, destruction of the maxilla, palate, and parts of nasal cavum, and oronasal incontinence. The defect was reconstructed with a microvascular anterolateral thigh flap. We hypothesize that COVID-19-related immune dysfunction and microvascular changes contributed to osteomyelitis in our patients.
With advancements in computer systems, computer graphics and medical imaging technologies, clinicians strive for a personalised approach to patient treatment. Therefore, the production of ...personalised surgical guides is becoming standard. While proprietary software solutions for mandibular reconstruction planning exist, they are often not available due to their high costs. There are multiple alternative methods available, which utilise open-source technologies and free software, but they use advanced three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) concepts. The goal of this article is to provide end-users (surgeons, radiologists, or radiology technicians) with a tool that offers an intuitive interface and a simple workflow. The tool provides only the necessary methods offering a high degree of automation and abstracting the underlying 3D CAD concepts. This is accomplished by providing an add-on (written in Python) for a free and open-source software package Blender.
Aim
A SARS Coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic drastically changed the way the health system works. In Croatia, lockdown
measures to curb virus spread lasted from March to May 2020, and all ...non-essential medical procedures and patients’ visits have been cancelled. The study aimed to compare patients’ flow and interventions in the surgical department before, during and after the lockdown period.
Methods
This cross-sectional study analysed the workload at the Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Department (Department), Osijek
University Hospital, during the COVID-19 pandemic (March-May 2020) and four subsequent months. The same period of 2019 was compared as a control. The data were subtracted from hospitals’ electronic database.
Results
During COVID-19 lockdown from March to May 2020 the number of hospitalizations (306 vs. 138), surgical procedures (306 vs. 157), and scheduled outpatient visits (2009 vs. 804), dropped significantly as compared to 2019. The number of skin tumour removals was halved (from 155 in 2019 to 58 in 2019) (p<0.001), and the number of emergency patients was unchanged in the 3-month period. A significant decrease in outpatient visits and hospital admissions continued after the lockdown (p<0.001).
Conclusion
A decrease in the number of outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and tumour removals may result in larger proportions of
patients with advanced cancers in the future. The second wave of COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, and special effort must be paid to reduce the number of cancer patients receiving suboptimal treatment.
Lemierre's syndrome refers to the septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. The condition typically begins with an oropharyngeal infection and frequently involves inflammation within the ...wall of the vein, infected thrombus within the lumen, surrounding soft tissue inflammation, persistent bacteremia, and septic emboli. Lemierre's syndrome is a rare disease; it occurs most commonly in otherwise healthy young adults. The most common etiologic agent is Fusobacterium necrophorum. We present a case of Lemierre's syndrome in a young girl and the role of extracorporeal method of blood purification with continuous venous hemodiafiltration with the use of a highly adsorptive membrane (AN69 HeprAN), thus achieving the combined elimination of cytokines and endotoxins. The use of advanced methods, along with an antibiotic and surgical treatment, will certainly help reduce mortality in this syndrome.
Midface reconstruction is one of the most challenging tasks for the reconstructive surgeon. We present a technique for the reconstruction of the midface after total maxillectomy with preservation of ...orbital contents.
Skeletal reconstruction is achieved with a preoperatively bent titanium sheet mesh on a universal skeletal model. The alveolar ridge, the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus, the zygomatic prominence, the lower orbital rim, and the orbital floor are reconstructed with a titanium mesh. A soft tissue free flap, preferably anterolateral thigh free flap, is harvested as well. A part of the flap is deepithelized and put in front of the mesh to prevent exposure, and the other part is used for palatal reconstruction.
Four male and 1 female patients were reconstructed with titanium mesh. Four free flaps were raised: 3 anterolateral thigh and 1 latissimus dorsi. All free flaps survived. All patients received postoperative irradiation with 64 Gy. Median follow-up was 12 months; no major complications occurred. Mesh was exposed in only 1 case, which was managed successfully with resuspension of the heavy latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. Midface projection and height, globe position, ocular movements, and vision where satisfactory in all cases.
Midface reconstruction with titanium mesh and soft tissue free flap is a reliable and safe method for functional and aesthetic reconstruction after maxillectomy.
Introduction: Nodal yield (NY), or the number of collected and analysed lymph nodes in neck dissection, is one of the variables that could supplement the existing TNM classification in order to ...better stratify patients and their needs for further treatment. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the importance of NY in individual neck dissection levels and its relation to survival.
Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of 133 patients regarding primary tumour excision and neck dissection from 2002 to 2013. Seventy-nine patients had a neck dissection divided by levels at the time of surgery and 54 patients had an en bloc resection.
Results: In the group of all patients, there was no correlation between NY and survival. In the group of patients who underwent a selective neck dissection, a NY above the median was an indicator of a better disease-specific survival (5-year DSS < median NY 70.6%, > median NY 95.2%, p = 0.037 log-rank test). The NY of specimens separated by level was significantly higher than the NY of specimens analysed en bloc (median 33 vs 16; p < 0.001, median test). In the group of specimens separated by level, the NY in levels I-II was not associated with survival, but a high NY in levels III-IV in selective neck dissections was an indicator of an improved overall survival (p = 0.05), disease-specific survival (p = 0.022) and disease-free survival (p = 0.05).
Conclusion: High NY in patients with specimens separated by levels could be caused by a more precise pathohistological analysis of a smaller sample. A high NY in levels III-IV can be an indicator of a well-performed selective neck dissection and sufficiently treated regional disease and therefore lead to better survival rates.
(Kvolik A, Butković J, Zubčić V, Popović Z, Leović* D. Influence of Nodal Yield in Individual Neck Dissection Levels on Survival of Patients With Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer, Comorbidity and Chronic Therapy. SEEMEDJ 2020; 4(1); 14-24)
Several signaling pathways are aberrantly activated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including the Hedgehog-Gli (HH-GLI), WNT, EGFR, and NOTCH pathways. The HH-GLI pathway has mostly ...been investigated in the context of canonical signal transduction and the inhibition of the membrane components of the pathway. In this work we investigated the role of downstream inhibitors GANT61 and lithium chloride (LiCl) on cell viability, wound closure, and colony forming ability of HNSCC cell lines. Five HNSCC cell lines were treated with HH-GLI pathway inhibitors affecting different levels of signal transduction. GANT61 and LiCl reduce the proliferation and colony formation capabilities of HNSCC cell lines, and LiCl has an additional effect on wound closure. The major effector of the HH-GLI signaling pathway in HNSCC is the GLI3 protein, which is expressed in its full-length form and is functionally regulated by GSK3β. LiCl treatment increases the inhibitory Ser9 phosphorylation of the GSK3β protein, leading to increased processing of GLI3 from full-length to repressor form, thus inhibiting HH-GLI pathway activity. Therefore, downstream inhibition of HH-GLI signaling may be a promising therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.
Surgical tracheostomy is a life-saving procedure performed for emergent or expectant airway compromise. Morbidity in the pediatric population is higher than in adults due to smaller operating field, ...immaturity of tissues, anatomic specificities of the child's neck, or the presence of craniofacial dysmorphism. The procedure varies among surgeons regarding the position of the skin incision (vertical or horizontal), resection of the subcutaneous adipose tissue and isthmus of the thyroid gland, use of tracheal flaps, and use of maturation or stay sutures. Both early and late complications can be life-threatening, and include accidental decannulation, stomal plugging, bleeding, and difficult ventilating. Consistent tracheostomal care is crucial in avoiding complications. Primary caregivers must be included and educated about proper stomal care. Decannulation failures are common. Prerequisites for safe decannulation include non-dependence on mechanical ventilation and no recent aspiration events, positive endoscopic airway assessment, and successful daytime capping. The role of polysomnography in decannulation protocols is debated. Although seldom performed, tracheostomy is the procedure of choice in a selected group of pediatric patients. The risks and benefits of the procedure must be weighed for each patient. The education of medical personnel and caregivers is key to reducing serious complications.
Blepharospasm is an idiopathic condition characterized by involuntary eyelid closure mainly caused by bilateral tonic-clonic contractions of the orbicularis oculi muscle. It results in patient ...inability to open their eyes, thus significantly impairing their ability to perform activities of daily living. First-line treatment for blepharospasm are primarily botulinum toxin type A injections. However, surgical procedure as a treatment option can also be taken in consideration. In this overview, we present a case of a 75-year-old female patient who received surgical treatment as
Anderson's method after being treated with botulinum toxin type A for 3 years. This form of therapy proved to be an extremely successful permanent solution in the treatment of severe cases of refractory blepharospasm, without any long-term complications, especially ectropion and lagophthalmos.
A rare case of thoracolumbar spondyloptosis after a severe polytraumatic event is presented. Spondyloptosis accounts for a minor proportion of all spine trauma cases and is usually accompanied by ...complete neurological deficit. A 48-year-old man suffered severe polytrauma after having been hit by a truck at the work place. Radiographic scanning revealed multiple traumatic injuries and spondyloptosis at the L1/L2 level in coronal plane. However, despite extensive injuries, ASIA score was estimated as D. The patient underwent urgent multidisciplinary surgery due to severe head injuries. The next surgery was performed to stabilize the thoracolumbar segment and to preserve neurological functions. The surgery included implantation of transpedicular titanium screws
via
posterior approach. Good postoperative recovery was achieved during early postoperative rehabilitation at our Department, which was estimated as ASIA score D. In conclusion, prompt operative treatment to achieve neural integrity and early rehabilitation should be considered as the gold standard in such complicated injuries. Postoperative recovery largely depends on the quality of rehabilitation, which leads to improvement of patient self-care and normal social and psychological functions. In our case, the good preoperative neurological status of the patient also contributed to better postoperative outcome.
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