Submental Island Flaps for Lateral Reconstruction: Technical Refinements for Optimal Outcomes and Resource Efficiency

Objective

To describe our modifications to the submental island flap (SMIF) in a case series that demonstrates improved reproducibility, shortened length of stay (LOS), and reduced utilization of hospital resources.

Study Design

This retrospective case series with chart review included adult patients who underwent resection of malignant or benign tumors resulting in lateral facial, parotid, or temporal bone defects, which were reconstructed with SMIF.

Setting

A tertiary-care academic referral center.

Methods

Retrospective case series included all adult patients who underwent SMIF reconstruction between March 2020 and August 2021. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. Primary outcomes were measures of hospital utilization including duration of surgery, LOS, and postoperative outcomes.

Results

Twenty-eight patients were included with a mean age of 71.7 years. Eighty percent were male. All patients underwent parotidectomy, and the mean operative time was 347 minutes. The median LOS was 2.5 days (range 0-16 days). Seventy-five percent of the flaps drained into the internal jugular vein, and 25% drained into the external jugular vein. No patients required reoperation or readmission. All flaps survived.

Conclusion

SMIFs are a safe and effective option for reconstruction of lateral facial, parotid, and temporal bone defects. Compared to free flap reconstruction, SMIFs offer reduced length of surgery, decreased use of health care resources, and lower rate of reoperation. As health care resource allocation is increasingly important, the SMIF offers an excellent alternative to free flap reconstruction of lateral defects.

Stacked fibula flap for unilateral total maxillectomy reconstruction with orbital preservation

Unilateral total maxillectomy is indicated for locally advanced maxillary tumors that require complete removal of the midface bony structure and inferior orbital rim. Reconstruction of this defect is challenging due to aesthetic and functional concerns. A retrospective review of patients at two tertiary-care institutions undergoing unilateral total maxillectomy reconstruction with a stacked fibula flap from 2018 to 2022 was performed. Each patient's clinical course was reviewed, and attention was focused on the demonstration of surgical steps with photos. Twenty patients underwent stacked fibula flap reconstruction for unilateral total maxillectomy orbital preservation defects. Surgical extirpation was performed for malignancy (80%, 16/20) and for osteoradionecrosis or benign tumor in 20% (4/20). The complication rate was 30% (6/20). Most flaps survived (95%, 19/20). We present a modified, reproducible method of fibula flap reconstruction for unilateral total maxillectomy with orbital preservation that only requires two segments and maintains positive aesthetic and functional results.

Imaging of Surgical Free Flaps in Head and Neck Reconstruction

Head and neck surgical reconstruction is complex, and postoperative imaging interpretation is challenging. Surgeons now use microvascular free tissue transfer, also known as free flaps, more frequently in head and neck reconstruction than ever before. Thus, an understanding of free flaps, their expected appearance on cross-sectional imaging, and their associated complications (including tumor recurrence) is crucial for the interpreting radiologist. Despite the complexity and increasing frequency of free flap reconstruction, there is no comprehensive head and neck resource intended for the radiologist. We hope that this image-rich review will fill that void and serve as a go to reference for radiologists interpreting imaging of surgical free flaps in head and neck reconstruction.

Prognostic implications of peritumoral vasculature in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and blood microvessel density (MVD) in the metastasis and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Existing studies are limited to one or two head and neck subsites and/or small sample sizes. A larger study incorporating multiple sub-sites is needed to address the role of peritumoral LVD and MVD in HNSCC metastasis and prognosis.

METHODS

Tissue samples from 200 HNSCC cases were stained simultaneously using immunohistochemistry (IHC) for markers of peritumoral LVD (lymphatic vessel marker D240) and MVD (blood vessel marker CD31). Of the stained slides, 166 and 167 were evaluable for LVD and MVD, respectively. The results were then correlated with clinicopathologic features and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients with metastatic disease were more likely to have high peritumoral MVD. Through multivariable analyses, MVD was not significantly related to DFS and OS, while low LVD was related to higher risk of disease progression and poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Peritumoral MVD was found to be positively associated with metastasis, while LVD was found to be inversely related to both metastasis and progression of HNSCC. These findings may suggest a prognostic role of both peritumoral LVD and MVD in patients with HNSCC.

The importance of margins in head and neck cancer

An estimated 200,000 deaths each year worldwide are due to cancer of the head and neck, mostly mucosal squamous cell carcinoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. The status of surgical margins is important for prognosis and need for adjuvant therapy. We will discuss how margin status impacts outcomes and therapy, and the conundrum of determining margin status.

Tympanometric changes after total maxillary osteotomy

With the frequency of orthognathic surgery increasing each year, more is being learned about this surgical art. Although techniques are improving, more acute and chronic complications are being reported after orthognathic surgery. In our institution, it has been noticed that approximately 25% to 30% of our patients experience unilateral or bilateral otalgia after total (Le Fort I) maxillary osteotomy. Recently, two patients with maxillary osteotomies. In both patients acute otitis media developed postoperatively and myringotomies for relief of symptoms were required. This paper reports changes observed in preoperative and postoperative tympanograms of patients who undergo total maxillary osteotomy and offers a possible explanation for these middle ear changes, which are accompanied by otalgia.

Incontinentia pigmenti: report of case

A case of incontinentia pigmenti in a 14-year-old girl has been presented. The patient showed classic signs including dermatologic, ophthalmologic, central nervous system, and dental changes. This case also presented a previously unreported occurrence of hemorrhagic bone cyst in the mandible along with ectodermal-mesodermal disorder.

Unilateral mydriasis during general anesthesia

A healthy 24-year-old woman was taken to the operating room for surgical removal of impacted third molars while under general anesthesia. During surgery, a local anesthetic was administered, resulting in mydriasis, which was initially mistaken for a central nervous system deficit secondary to a complication from general anesthetic.

Frontal lobe abscess of dental origin. Report of a case

A 52-year-old white man came to our hospital with obscure signs of disease. Multiple laboratory tests, radiographs, and examinations ruled out aseptic meningitis, bacterial endocarditis, cerebral artery aneurysm, and other possibilities. A brain abscess was finally diagnosed. The teeth and their surrounding tissues were implicated as the etiologic factors. The importance of odontogenic sources as potential foci of infection is emphasized. This sequel to odontogenic infection is quite rare, but it can be prevented by removal of chronically carious teeth and periapical pathosis.

Eagle's syndrome. Report of a case

This case report demonstrates an uncommon, symptomatic elongated styloid process that did not conform to the usual clinical features. The patient was under 30 years of age when the symptoms appeared. He experienced the classic symptoms without prior tonsillectomy; he also experienced carotid artery syndrome symptoms. However, the patient did receive the common diagnosis seen in many cases of unexplained chronic head and neck pain. He was simply labeled a psychotic with no just cause for pain.