Free autogenous osseous and soft tissue grafts were used for the immediate, one-stage reconstruction of central craniofacial injuries involving the frontal sinus in 95 patients with wounds contaminated by either skin or nasal bacteria. Graft removal and delayed reconstruction were necessary in only one patient who suffered an infection in the first postoperative week. To date, no delayed complications are known to have occurred in any patient. As anticipated, long-term follow-up has been erratic (6 weeks to 5 years) and only suggestions rather than definite guidelines for the management of the sinus component of the injury can be made. However, this group of patients clearly demonstrates that multiple free autogenous grafts can be safely used for the acute reconstruction of contaminated central craniofacial fractures that are intimately related to the intracranial structures.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterium are well-known causes of cervical lymphadenopathy, most often presenting without symptoms of systemic infection. These organisms may also directly involve the parenchyma of the major salivary glands and their periglandular or intraglandular nodes. The diagnosis of mycobacterial infections of the major salivary glands, compared to cervical lymph nodes, is equally--if not more--difficult to make. The differential must include the same spectrum of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases as well as lesions unique to the salivary glands. Selected cases are presented and discussed to show that principles established for the treatment of cervical mycobacterial infections must also be applied to major salivary gland infections. In particular, cutaneous fistulas may result from incisional biopsy or incision and drainage of the involved gland. Partial parotidectomy or submaxillary gland excision may be required, followed by multidrug, antituberculous chemotherapy for one to two years. Culturing of the organisms is extremely difficult, and the diagnosis of either mycobacterium tuberculosis or atypical mycobacterial infection must be based on a combination of history and clinical examination, skin testing, histopathology, acid-fast stains, culture, and response to surgery and antituberculous chemotherapy.
External penetrating injuries of the esophagus are more likely to cause serious morbidity and even mortality than those involving the pharynx. However, the cervical esophagus is extrathoracic in location, and controversy exists regarding the diagnosis and surgical management of penetrating injuries at this level. A retrospective review of 23 such injuries showed that contrast esophagography had only a 62% success rate in identification of cervical esophageal violations, compared to 100% for rigid esophagoscopy. Even large penetrations were successfully treated with limited debridement, primary repair when possible, muscle interposition flaps to separate common injuries of the tracheal wall, and, most important, external drainage of the adjacent neck spaces. Esophageal stricture occurred only when complex esophageal diversion procedures were performed, either as an unnecessary primary operation, or as a lifesaving secondary operation necessitated by infectious complications caused by delayed diagnosis and treatment of the esophageal violation. Penetrating injuries of the cervical esophagus can therefore be managed more as a pharyngeal injury if diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment occur in a timely fashion.
Malignant neoplasms consisting of an epithelial element and 1 or more nesenchymal components are variously termed teratocarcinosarcoma, carcinosarcoma, malignant teratoma, spindle cell carcinoma, and pseudosarcomatous squamous cell carcinoma. Carcinosarcoma, consisting of a malignant epithelial element and a single malignant mesenchymal component, is extremely rare in the sinonasal tract. We report a case of carcinosarcoma involving the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and anterior cranial fossa. Rapid growth and extensive local destruction are prominent features of this tumor, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and prompt institution of aggressive therapy. The clinical presentation, pathologic features, and clinical course are detailed.
To determine the safety and efficacy of using porous high-density polyethylene (PHDPE) in the repair of orbital defects. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Academic tertiary care trauma center. Patients: One hundred seventy patients with orbital defects requiring surgical repair. Intervention: Orbital defect repair with PHDPE. Main Outcome Measure: Our review documents surgical results and complications associated with the use of PHDPE. Results: There was a 6.4% complication rate associated with the use of PHDPE. The infection rate was 1.8%. The persistent orbital malposition rate was 3.5%. The extrusion rate was 0%. Conclusions: This report represents the largest case series in the literature using PHDPE for orbital reconstructions. The use of PHDPE resulted in a low complication rate and excellent functional and cosmetic reconstructive results. Because of our success with the use of PHDPE, we have changed our clinical practice to minimize the use of autologous graft material, thereby eliminating donor site morbidity in cases involving orbital reconstruction.
\s=b\Traditional three-point reduction may not restore proper projection of the malar prominence following a fracture dislocation of the zygoma if two of the three anterior points of realignment are comminuted. In such cases, reconstruction of the fourth or posterior projection, the zygomatic arch, increases the accuracy of the multidimensional reconstruction. Although the extended access approach required to repair the arch increases operative time and possibly length of hospitalization, its use is justified by the improved results in selected patients with severe in-
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