This retrospective study of 142 consecutive males operated on, including the learning-curve period, is aimed at evaluating the long-term outcome (>3 years) of Lichtenstein hernia repair. The response rate was 95%. One recurrence (0.7%) and one femoral hernia occurred. Pain persisted more than 2 weeks in 26% of patients, more than 3 months in 8%, and after 3 years in 4%. The corresponding figures for discomfort without need for analgesics are 49, 14, and 11%. Paresthesia persisted over 1 year in 9%. Morbidity due to extensive section of the cremaster muscle and shooting nuisance during ejaculation occurred in four patients. The mean social inactivity period was 3.2 weeks, the time to work resumption 5.4 weeks. The Lichtenstein hernioplasty proved to have a low recurrence rate and immediate morbidity, but the prevalence of chronic pain or discomfort are not to be underestimated.

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Orthognathic surgery involving the mandible can lead to remodelling of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides an easily accessible three-dimensional (3D) approach to study this entity. A systematic review of the literature was performed with the aim of identifying condylar remodelling analysis protocols using CBCT-derived 3D models. The search yielded 10 eligible studies. The systematic review identified three pillars of a condylar remodelling analysis protocol that were retrievable from each of the included studies:(1) registration, (2) segmentation, and (3) analysis. The studies lacked consensus on how these pillars should be transferred to their respective protocol. Through critical assessment, criteria for a universal condylar remodelling analysis are suggested: (1) performance of a regional voxel-based registration of baseline and postoperative CBCT scans using an anatomical region not prone to postoperative changes, (2) application of a (semi-)automated 3D segmentation algorithm, (3) performance of a combination of both volumetric and surface-based 3D condylar analysis, and (4) extensive validation of each step of the protocol. The homogenization of condylar remodelling analysis protocols and their incorporation into virtual planning software suites raises the potential for the inclusion of larger numbers of patients in future prospective studies in order to gain evidence-based data.

Automatic craniomaxillofacial (CMF) three dimensional (3D) dense phenotyping promises quantification of the complete CMF shape compared to the limiting use of sparse landmarks in classical phenotyping. This study assesses the accuracy and reliability of this new approach on the human mandible. Classic and automatic phenotyping techniques were applied on 30 unaltered and 20 operated human mandibles. Seven observers indicated 26 anatomical landmarks on each mandible three times. All mandibles were subjected to three rounds of automatic phenotyping using Meshmonk. The toolbox performed non-rigid surface registration of a template mandibular mesh consisting of 17,415 quasi landmarks on each target mandible and the quasi landmarks corresponding to the 26 anatomical locations of interest were identified. Repeated-measures reliability was assessed using root mean square (RMS) distances of repeated landmark indications to their centroid. Automatic phenotyping showed very low RMS distances confirming excellent repeated-measures reliability. The average Euclidean distance between manual and corresponding automatic landmarks was 1.40 mm for the unaltered and 1.76 mm for the operated sample. Centroid sizes from the automatic and manual shape configurations were highly similar with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of > 0.99. Reproducibility coefficients for centroid size were < 2 mm, accounting for < 1% of the total variability of the centroid size of the mandibles in this sample. ICC’s for the multivariate set of 325 interlandmark distances were all > 0.90 indicating again high similarity between shapes quantified by classic or automatic phenotyping. Combined, these findings established high accuracy and repeated-measures reliability of the automatic approach. 3D dense CMF phenotyping of the human mandible using the Meshmonk toolbox introduces a novel improvement in quantifying CMF shape.

After Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair, LA results in beneficial effects beyond the immediate postoperative period.

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The need for secondary orthognathic surgery (OS) after a high condylectomy (HC) in patients with active unilateral condylar hyperplasia was assessed in 25 patients, reviewing patient characteristics and treatment planning. At 6-12 months after HC, 13 patients (52%) required secondary OS. The amount of mandibular dental midline shift before the HC (P = 0.037), and a dental crossbite that was present before the HC (P = 0.017) were significantly associated with the need for secondary OS. Overall, the mandibular dental midline coincided with the facial midline in eight patients (32%) at 2 weeks after HC. In 16% of the patients, no additional OS was needed despite this being the initial treatment plan. Additionally, the initially planned type of secondary OS was modified in six other patients. Early HC in skeletally immature patients provided very good results, both aesthetic and functional, with only two of them needing supplementary OS at 6-12 months after HC. The HC remains a valuable treatment in patients with active unilateral condylar hyperplasia, as it can eliminate the need for secondary OS and is very well tolerated by most patients.

No abstract