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ABSTRACT: Duane syndrome is a congenital disorder of eye movement characterized by partial or absent development of the sixth cranial nerve nucleus and/or the sixth nerve itself. Patients often undergo procedures, both surgical and nonsurgical, to correct ocular misalignment and improve the resulting visual problems. We present a case report of a 49-year-old woman with left-sided Duane syndrome who underwent aesthetic surgical correction of enophthalmos.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 03/2013; 24(2):518-9. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A variety of techniques have been described for the repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks at the anterior skull base. Conservative management includes bed rest, avoidance of straining activities, and temporary CSF diversion with serial lumbar punctures or lumbar drains. Surgical repair may be achieved transcranially through a bifrontal craniotomy, extracranially through an external ethmoidectomy or frontal sinusotomy, or transnasally with microscopic or endoscopic visualization.
Between January 2006 and May 2011, 30 patients with nontraumatic and traumatic CSF rhinorrhea were treated at the Departments of Neurosurgery and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Universities of Rome 'La Sapienza'. All patients underwent surgery: 5 patients (15%) were treated by a combined intracranial and endoscopic endonasal approach and 25 patients were treated (91.1%) by the endoscopic endonasal approach alone. In our study, we used autologous material, the fascia lata, free grafts of septal or middle turbinate mucoperichondrium, and septal cartilage grafts, and in cases with a large deficit in the posterior wall of the sphenoid or clivus, a pedicle flap from sphenopalatine artery of septal mucosa is used.
Only in 2 cases was there an appearance of secondary rhinoliquorrhea with a success rate of 94%, in line with what is described in international literature.
Posttraumatic cerebrospinal leak in our experience can be treated through endoscopic approach, in selected cases, using autologous materials with a few relapse of the pathology. Endoscopic endonasal technique offers a high viewing of surgical field and it permits to manage even larger lesions with minimally invasivity.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 03/2013; 24(2):548-53. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Parry-Romberg syndrome is a disease characterized by progressive hemifacial atrophy. Multiple surgical procedures have been used to improve the facial volume and contours of patients with this disease, including alloplastic, silicone, or collagen implants; lipofilling; and pedicled or free-flap transplants. The present case describes the successful application of lipostructure to treat a woman with Parry-Romberg syndrome affecting the left side of her face.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 11/2012; 23(6):e621-3. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Nasal defects resulting from tumor excision can be classified according to tissues involved, such as skin, cartilage, and bone. Although in the case of "simple" defects, reconstruction with loco-regional flap eventually associated with cartilage grafts can lead to satisfactory results; in the case of total or partial rhinectomy, a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7 operations have to be performed in the current series to achieve an acceptable end result. We present the case of a total rhinectomy reconstruction in a single-step procedure with an osteocutaneous forearm free flap (RFOFF).
A 50-year-old man underwent total rhinectomy to excise a pathologically proven T4aN0 moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the nose; contemporary single-step reconstruction with an RFOFF was performed. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed.
At 18 months of follow-up, the patient is free of disease and no postirradiation flap damage has been experienced; the flap notably did not appear to be bulky.
We believe that the RFOFF is morphologically and functionally better than other flaps owing to its capability to adapt to the new environments of the nasal cavity, and to avoid, when possible, a three-dimensional reconstruction of the same.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 09/2012; 23(5):e474-6. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Angiolipomas are benign mesenchymal tumors infrequently affecting the head and neck region, manifesting themselves as small (<4 cm), slow-growing mass that are painful or tender to palpation. Ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration biopsy, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging can be used to make a diagnosis. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice in both infiltrating and noninfiltrating forms, even if liposuction can be considered in multiple forms. We describe a case of infiltrating intramasseterin angiolipoma, in which diagnosis was suspected after magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium; then a transoral surgical excision was performed. To the best of our knowledge, only 1 other case of intramasseterin-infiltrating angiolipoma has been previously described.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 07/2012; 23(4):e290-2. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The occurrence of occult cervical metastases due to squamous-cell carcinoma of the hard palate and maxillary alveolar ridge has not been studied systematically. We have observed that many patients return with a delayed cervical metastasis following resection of a primary cancer at these sites. Some of these patients have died as a result of a regional or distant metastasis, despite control of the primary cancer. The literature contains few recommendations to guide the treatment of maxillary squamous-cell carcinoma; prospective studies are difficult due to the rarity of such tumours. The aim of this study is to define the incidence of cervical metastasis and to investigate whether elective neck dissection is justified. We present a retrospective multicentre study of 65 patients with squamous-cell carcinomas of the maxillary alveolar ridge and hard palate and review of the existing literature. The overall incidence of cervical metastases was 21%. We evaluated the significance of primary-site tumours as indicator of regional disease. The maxillary squamous-cell carcinoma cases in our multicentre study and in the literature review exhibited aggressive regional metastatic behaviour, comparable with that of carcinomas of the tongue, mouth floor, and mandibular gingiva. Based on our findings, we recommend selective neck dissection in clinically negative necks as a primary management strategy for patients with maxillary squamous-cell carcinomas involving the palate, maxillary gingiva, or maxillary alveolus.
Oral Oncology 02/2012; 48(2):97-101. · 2.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Free flap reconstruction is the treatment of choice after extensive head and neck tumour resection. When treating a patient with a previous disability, such as lower extremity paralysis secondary to poliomyelitis, it is important to offer the best reconstruction whilst preserving healthy extremities. We report the case of a 51-year-old man with a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the right tongue and a left lower extremity paralysis secondary to an acute poliomyelitis during childhood in which reconstruction was successfully achieved with a left anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap.
Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery: official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery 02/2011; 40(1):e5-7. · 1.25 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to describe the orthognathic surgery techniques for the treatment of occlusal anomalies in those patients who underwent complex maxillomandibular reconstruction with bony free flap.
The authors describe their personal technique developed over years of experience with reconstruction of mandibular defects with bony free flaps.
The outcomes in these patients who were treated according to our surgical planning were completely satisfying, with a 100% stability of the treated bones.
Orthognathic procedure on bony free flaps for the reconstruction of mandibular defects is nowadays accepted. Patients who underwent major mandibular destruction due to oncologic disease or trauma outcomes can now benefit from this technique.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 07/2010; 21(4):1238-40. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Benign lesions involving the mandibular condyle are rare. Odontogenic keratocyst has been always an interesting subject to debate since Philipsen first described it as a distinct entity in 1956. Nevertheless, the large variability and the lack of homogeneity between patients in the different studies did not allow to develop universally recognized guidelines for the keratocyst odontogenic tumor treatment. The aim of this article was to present a new surgical technique to approach high-dimension benign lesion located at the level of the mandibular ramus and condyle, consisting enucleation and curettage under endoscopic vision.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 07/2010; 21(4):1234-7. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Maxillary cancers include neoplasms arising in both maxillary sinus and oral cavity (upper alveolar ridge, hard palate) according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Although it is universally accepted that the combination of surgery and radiotherapy seems to be the treatment of choice, there is no accordance about the treatment of clinically negative neck. We retrospectively analyzed 20 patients with maxillary sinus cancer and 37 with an upper alveolar ridge or hard palate cancer, evaluating the incidence of N-disease and the recurrence at local site. On the basis of our findings, we can affirm that elective treatment of the neck in maxillary carcinoma is not recommended. Considering only squamous cell carcinoma, cervical node metastases are most frequent in case of tumors staged as T1 o T2. High-grade squamous cell carcinomas seem to be related to a higher incidence of nodal involvement. T recurrence has demonstrated to be the most frequent neoplastic event, so that radical surgery is considered one of the most important prognostic factors. Nevertheless, other prospective studies are necessary.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 05/2010; 21(3):759-62. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Prosthetic rehabilitation in post-oncologic patients after bone reconstruction are not substantially different than those of patients affected by severe atrophia of upper or lower jaw after bone reconstruction.Aim of this paper is to evaluate the possibilities of prosthetic rehabilitation on these patients and to present our method. Prosthesis-based oral rehabilitation of such tumor cases rapresents a challenge.The report analyses two cases of patients who underwent ablative oral surgery. Both have received a fibula free vascularised flap. The first was rehabilitated with a removable prosthesis fixed on the residual teeth, while the second with an implant supported prosthesis.In case of carcinoma resection of the oral mucosa, the removable prosthesis guarantees a simplification in dental care operations. On the other hand, irradiated mucosa is frequentely unable to tolerate the friction created by the acrylic base. However, the fixed prosthesis can limit the view during follow-up controls.In our school, according to all exposed reasons, we consider the implant supported overdenture prosthesis to be the best choice for those patients.
Annali di stomatologia. 01/2010; 1(1):19-25.
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ABSTRACT: Lesions involving the middle cranial base, its underlying volumes, and the first cervical vertebrae can be adequately managed
surgically by means of a series of different approaches. These have the following basic prerequisites: to supply adequate
surgical light, to identify and preserve the neurovascular structures adjacent to the lesion, to restore an adequate barrier
between the neurocranium and the upper aerodigestive tracts, and to preserve both the functionality and the appearance of
the patient.
12/2009: pages 319-329;
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ABSTRACT: Starting from the 1980s, with the advent of microsurgery, microvascular flaps are used for the reconstruction of wide and complex bone defects of the maxillomandibular district. Compared with conventional and implant-supported prostheses, the free flaps allow aesthetic-functional rehabilitations more adapt to answer to problems that these wide disablements involve. The anatomic characteristics of the crest flap make it one of the best available flap in the maxillomandibular bone reconstruction.
The authors introduce a retrospective analysis of their own experience in the reconstruction of wide and complex bone defects of the maxillomandibular district. Specifically, the attention is focused on the use of the iliac crest flap. The surgical technique of flap preparation is discussed. Moreover, a review of results from international studies about the morbidity of the donor site is presented and compared with own experience.
As reported in the literature, the iliac crest flap donor site may encounter several complications. Among these, chronic pain, loss of regional sensibility or paresthesias, hematoma, seroma, walking troubles, unaesthetic scars, abdominal hernia, and loss of the normal bone profile of the hip.
At present, the use of the iliac crest free flap in the microvascular reconstruction of the complex deficits of the maxillomandibular district represents a well-established method in the experience of the maxillofacial surgeon. Several information about results obtained in the maxillomandibular rehabilitation are available from the literature; however, little attention has been addressed to complications and morbidity of the donor site. Such aspect will be discussed in this work.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 08/2009; 20(4):1052-5. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Composite tissue defects of the mandible and maxilla, after resection of head and neck malignancies, osteoradionecrosis, malformations, or traumas, cause functional and aesthetic problems. Nowadays, microvascular free flaps represent the main choice for the reconstruction of these defects. Among the various flaps proposed, the scapula flap has favorable characteristics that make it suitable for bone, soft tissue, or combined defects.
We report 7 cases of reconstruction of complex maxillofacial defects with subscapular system flaps. The patients treated had Romberg syndrome (1 case), malignant tumors (5 cases), and result of previous trauma (1 case).Location of deficit was the maxilla (3 cases), the mandible (2 case), the ethmoidal-maxillary region (1 case) and the upper and middle thirds of the face in the last case.
In 2 cases, a parascapular system flap was used; in 5 cases, a composite flap with latissimus dorsi muscle and scapular bone.
Neither failure of the harvested flaps nor complications in the donor site were evidenced. A good aesthetic and functional outcome was obtained in all cases.
: Many free flaps have been proposed for the reconstruction of defects in the maxillofacial region such as fibula, deep circumflex iliac artery, scapula, among the bone flaps; and forearm, rectus abdominis, and anterolateral thigh, among the soft tissue flaps. The choice of the flap to use depends on the length of the bone defect and the amount of soft tissues required. The subscapular system has the advantage of providing different flaps based on the same pedicle. The osteofasciocutaneous scapular free flap, in particular, allows wide mobility of soft tissues (parascapular flap) with respect to its bone component (scapular bone), resulting suitable for defects of large size involving both the soft tissues and the bone.
Although the fibula flap and the deep circumflex iliac artery flap remain the first choice for bone reconstructions of the mandible and maxilla, the scapula flap has some features that make its use extremely advantageous in some circumstances. In particular, we advocate the use of the osteomuscular latissimus dorsi-scapula flap for reconstruction of large-volume defects involving the bone and soft tissues, whereas fasciocutaneous parascapular flaps represent a valid alternative to forearm flap and anterolateral thigh flap in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 07/2009; 20(4):1125-31. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Fibrous dysplasia is a benign bone lesion characterized by replacement of normal bone with fibro-osseous connective tissue. The surgical treatment of fibrous dysplasia is based on one of two different approaches, conservative or radical.
From January of 1980 to December of 2002, 95 patients with fibrous dysplasia located in the craniomaxillofacial area presented to the authors' department. Twenty-one had the polyostotic type (22 percent), two had McCune-Albright syndrome (2 percent), and 72 had the monostotic type (76 percent). Of 95 patients, 68 underwent surgery; the remaining 27 refused. Among the 68 patients who underwent surgery, 61 had radical excision, six received conservative treatment, and a patient with mandibular involvement received radical excision and immediate reconstruction with a free fibula flap after a recurrence experienced 2 years after primary remodeling surgery
No disease recurrence was observed in cases treated with complete excision, whereas a case of mandibular involvement treated with remodeling required further surgery. Infection, resolved with antibiotics, was seen in one case, and palatal fistula was seen in two cases. In one case with cranial base involvement liquorrhea was observed.
In most cases of monostotic or monofocal fibrous dysplasia of the craniofacial region, modern surgical techniques allow an aggressive but definitive treatment with good functional and aesthetic results. The authors perform radical treatment even in cases involving the maxilla and mandible, and prefer a conservative approach only in polyostotic cases and McCune-Albright syndrome.
Plastic and reconstructive surgery 03/2009; 123(2):653-60. · 2.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Maxillofacial district osteomas are benign lesions with very slow growth. The most frequent localization is the frontal sinus, about 57% of all paranasal cavity osteomas; less frequently, they can be located in the ethmoidal sinus or sphenoidal and maxillary. Etiology has not completely clarified yet; nevertheless, there are 3 main pathogenetic theories: osteogenic, traumatic, and infective. Open procedures represent the gold standard, but there is still an unsolved debate for the best treatment option. Endoscopic techniques offer an alternative approach, enabling closer and more direct visualization of the anatomy as well as avoiding damage to surrounding structures. In our study, we analyzed all patients treated with endoscopic approach for paranasal sinus osteomas in the ENT unit of the University of Varese and compared them with patients treated for the same pathology with open surgery in the Maxillo-facial Department of the University of Rome "La Sapienza." The purpose of the work was to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the 2 procedures. In conclusion, this study underlines the importance of flexibility in surgical approach decision, which must fit the different issues of the pathology and of the patient.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 12/2008; 19(6):1446-52. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Intraosseous hemangiomas are classified as benign tumors of vascular nature. Some authors describe them as hamartomas. They originate and expand inside bone structures. They are usually congenital, rarely of posttraumatic origin. In the Maxillo-Facial Surgery departments of the Universities of Rome "La Sapienza" and "Tor Vergata," from 1990 to 2004, 11 cases of intraosseous hemangioma have been diagnosed. In 6 cases, the neoplasm localized in the zygomatic region; in 3 cases, at the mandible level; in 1 patient, in the maxillary site; and in 1 patient, in the frontal bone. Literature review and the case of a male patient affected by left orbitozygomatic hemangioma are described.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 12/2008; 19(6):1459-64. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Several reconstructive methods have been proposed for complex clinical cases. These methods are based on composite graft tissue flaps which allow to obtain modest aesthetic-functional results. Only recently, revascularized flaps (fasciocutaneous free flap of radial) have been used. In this work, the authors present a clinical report of cheek mucosal carcinoma extended to the omolateral lip commissure, which has required the full thickness removal of the cheek, the lip commissure, and part of both lips; the use of a bileft free fasciocutaneous flap of radial (to reconstruct with a single flap both the cutaneous and mucosal deficits) has allowed for adequate reconstruction with good aesthetic and functional results.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 12/2008; 19(6):1508-11. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This paper presents our clinical experience with head and neck reconstruction using radial forearm flap and our preliminary experience with anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. We analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these 2 flaps from the complications we have encountered. From 1993 to 2006, the radial forearm flap has been used in 75 patients, whereas we began using the ALT flap in 2006. Since this time, we have used the ALT flap in 10 patients. One flap partial loss was observed in a patient who underwent reconstruction of the ethmoid region and nasal bones with an osteofasciocutaneous radial flap. In one patient who underwent reconstruction with ALT flap, inadequate venous outflow was discovered, and the flap was salvaged with reexploration, removing of the cutaneous component of the flap and using antithrombotic agents. Donor-site complications were experienced in 8 of 75 patients who underwent reconstruction with radial forearm flap, whereas all donor thighs healed uneventfully. Anterolateral thigh flap gives optimal results either at the donor site or at the accepting site, being easy to harvest and providing an ideal reconstructive option. Nevertheless, radial forearm flap remains a valuable alternative in case of a thin soft tissue reconstruction because of its thinness and versatility; furthermore, it can provide a long and constant pedicle of large caliber. However, since we began using the ALT flap, we had only performed this flap with respect to radial forearm flap because of its lower donor-site morbidity.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 07/2008; 19(4):1148-53. · 0.81 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of our study was to demonstrate the role of certain risk factors in reconstructive head and neck surgery with free flaps. The data taken from the charts of all patients who received free flap for head and neck reconstruction in our department between January 2001 and December 2004 were analyzed. We evaluated the association of preexisting risk factors with the onset of surgical complications such as orocutaneous fistulae, flap infections, hematomas, thrombosis, and necrosis. One hundred and twenty-two free flaps have been used for the reconstruction of head and neck area in 118 patients. Preoperative risk factors included smoking habit (77 patients), alcohol use (6 patients), hypertension (9 patients), diabetes mellitus (8 patients), family history positive for vascular disorders (27 patients), and hypercholesterolemia/hypertriglyceridemia (5 patients). The percentage of full flap survival was 95.08%. Statistical analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (P < 0.01) is significantly associated with a negative prognosis for free flap reconstructive operation, whereas a smoking habit seemed to be at the verge of statistical significance. Therefore, our current practice is to prefer as much as possible the use of local flaps as opposed to free flaps in the reconstruction of head and neck defects in diabetic patients.
The Journal of craniofacial surgery 07/2008; 19(4):1080-4. · 0.81 Impact Factor