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(1) Background: A decrease in operative time can not only improve patient outcomes through a reduction in the risk of developing complications but can also result in cost savings. The aim of this study is to determine whether there an intraoperative time gain can be achieved by using the preoperative virtual planning of mandibular reconstruction using a free fibula flap compared with freehand plate bending and osteotomies. (2) Methods: A retrospective comparative study was carried out in the Oral and Maxillofacial Department of La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. The study compared 18 patients in the CAD/CAM group with 19 patients in the conventional freehand group. A comparison was made between the total surgical time, the comorbidities, and the hospital stay. The resource consumption was estimated using a cost analysis. (3) Results: Although CAD/CAM was a statistically more expensive procedure in the perioperative phase, no significant differences were observed in total health care costs between the two groups. There was a non-significant trend towards an increase in complications with conventional reconstruction plates compared to patient-specific plates (PSI). (4) Conclusions: CAD/CAM technology and a 3D printed cutting guide offer a significantly shorter surgical time, which is associated with a reduction in hospital days, PACU days, and complications. The cost of CAD/CAM technology is comparable to that of the conventional freehand technique.

(1) Background: Surgical outcomes in free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects in cancer patients have improved steadily in recent years; however, correct anaesthesia management is also important. The aim of this study has been to show whether goal directed therapy can improve flap viability and morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. (2) Methods: we performed an observational case control study to analyse the impact of introducing a semi invasive device (Flo Trac ® ) during anaesthesia management to optimize fluid management. Patients were divided into two groups: one received goal directed therapy (GDT group) and the other conventional fluid management (CFM group). Our objective was to compare surgical outcomes, complications, fluid management, and length of stay between groups. (3) Results: We recruited 140 patients. There were no differences between groups in terms of demographic data. Statistically significant differences were observed in colloid infusion (GDT 53.1% vs. CFM 74.1%, p = 0.023) and also in intraoperative and postoperative infusion of crystalloids (CFM 5.72 (4.2, 6.98) vs. GDT 3.04 (2.29, 4.11), p < 0.001), which reached statistical significance. Vasopressor infusion in the operating room (CFM 25.5% vs. GDT 74.5%, p < 0.001) and during the first postoperative 24h (CFM 40.6% vs. GDT 75%, p > 0.001) also differed. Differences were also found in length of stay in the intensive care unit (hours: CFM 58.5 (40, 110) vs. GDT 40.5 (36, 64.5), p = 0.005) and in the hospital (days: CFM 15.5 (12, 26) vs. GDT 12 (10, 19), p = 0.009). We found differences in free flap necrosis rate (CMF 37.1% vs. GDT 13.6%, p = 0.003). One-year survival did not differ between groups (CFM 95.6% vs. GDT 86.8%, p = 0.08). (4) Conclusions: Goal directed therapy in oncological head and neck surgery improves outcomes in free flap reconstruction and also reduces length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, with their corresponding costs. It also appears to reduce morbidity, although these differences were not significant. Our results have shown that optimizing intraoperative fluid therapy improves postoperative morbidity and mortality.

The vast majority of patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the trunk and bilateral lung metastases at diagnosis are considered incurable. These tumors have poor prognosis as only a palliative therapeutic approach can be offered to patients. We report on an extremely rare case in which bilateral lung metastases disappeared spontaneously following surgical resection of the primary CIC-rearranged sarcoma with no addition of chemotherapy or any other systemic therapy. A 53-year-old female presented with a rapidly swelling mass on her back. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the chest revealed a large soft tissue mass on the posterior chest wall and bilateral lung metastases. Soon after stereotactic core-needle biopsy confirmation of round-cell sarcoma, the patient underwent surgery of the primary tumor as it started to be increasingly symptomatic. The resected specimen was pathologically diagnosed a poorly differentiated grade 3 sarcoma. Approximately 1 month later, a new CT scan revealed that the lung metastases were smaller and some of them had completely disappeared. Shortly afterward, the patient started adjuvant external beam radiotherapy of the tumor bed for 14 months. During the last follow-up visit, the patient confirmed no evidence of disease for 35 months postoperatively. In parallel, a histological study of pulmonary nodules, molecular analyses of the tumor, and a comprehensive study of the patient's immunophenotype were performed to gain some additional insights in the potential causes of this rare phenomenon., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Free flap surgery is the gold standard surgical treatment for head and neck defects in cancer patients. Outcomes have improved considerably, probably due to recent advances in surgical techniques. In this article, we review improvements in the parameters traditionally used to optimize hematocrit levels and body temperature and to prevent vasoconstriction, and describe the use of cardiac output-guided fluid management, a technique that has proved useful in other procedures. Finally, we review other parameters used in free flap surgery, such as clotting/platelet management and nutritional optimization.

Purpose: We report our experience analysing the risk of fracture amongst allografts in limb-preserving surgery for bone tumours., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with bone allograft and its major complications when used for limb -preserving operations for bone tumours. Forty-one structural allografts were performed in 39 patients between 1992 and 2012. Minimum follow-up was 20 months. Massive allografts have a high complication rate., Results: Excluding infection and nonunion, five acute fractures were found. All fractures occurred after the graft-host junction was united. Local factors-such as graft preservation, weight bearing, fixation to the host or systemic factors such as adjuvant treatments (chemotherapy or radiotherapy)-influence fracture rate. In our study, four patients achieved consolidation with internal fixation and autologous iliac-crest graft, whilst only one required graft exchange., Discussion: There is no general consensus as to when to treat fractures using open reduction and internal fixation or by exchanging the allograft. Higher fracture rate in relation to systemic treatment was found., Conclusions: Massive structural allograft reconstruction still has a place in limb-preserving surgery, with an acceptable fracture rate and a durable solution.

Purpose: To determine the interexaminer and intraexaminer repeatability of the modified Thorington test (TH) for distance vision in young adults and to compare these results with those observed for the heterophoria tests most commonly used in clinical practice. Agreement among tests was also assessed., Methods: Distance heterophoria was quantified on two separate occasions by two examiners in 110 subjects aged 18 to 32 years (mean, 19.74 years; SD, 2.5 years) using four different tests: cover test (CT) Von Graefe, Maddox rod, and modified TH. The repeatability of the tests and agreement between them was estimated by the Bland and Altman method whereby the mean difference and the 95% limits of agreement were determined as the coefficient of repeatability (COR) and coefficient of agreement., Results: The Thorington test showed best interexaminer repeatability (COR = ±1.43Δ), followed closely by CT (COR = ±1.65Δ), whereas best intraexaminer repeatability was observed for CT (COR = ±1.28Δ) followed by TH (COR = ±1.51Δ). Among the different combinations of tests, TH and CT showed best agreement indicated by the lowest coefficient of agreement (±2.23Δ) and a low mean difference (-0.63Δ) between measurements., Conclusions: Good interexaminer and intraexaminer repeatability was observed for both TH and CT, and agreement between the two tests was also good. Given the simple administration of the TH, we recommend its clinical use to quantify distance horizontal heterophoria.

There is a need to study and validate the mechanical behavior of the bone-implant total hip prosthesis and the treatment of its complications with experimental studies due to the limitations showed by numerical methods. Epoxy resin replicas of a femur (stereolithography) and a mechanical validation were performed. We studied three cases: intact femur (Case 1); non-defective femur with non-cemented LD primary stem (Case 2); and femur with a cavitary defect, short cemented stem over an impacted allograft (Case 3). The test pieces were connected to 7 strain gauges. Three assays per piece were carried out with a vertical and oblique load (load-unload curves after a sequence between 0 and 145.9 N). We measured the k coefficient (distance from the natural state of the strains) and stability of the stem (flexion-compression by strain gauges 1, 2, 5, and 7 and transversal lengthening by strain gauges 3, 4, and 6). Results of the strain gauge analysis revealed linearity of results in all cases, and more so in load than in unload. Gauge 7 (proximal) revealed shortening in all cases. Gauges 2 and 5 provided qualitatively similar data due to a significant increase in rigidity. K coefficients were obtained with a nonsignificant difference when each of the test pieces was compared with Case 2. The results were reproducible in all 7 gauges. Observation of the load-unload curves in all the test pieces assayed shows that there are no variations in the pattern of behavior (when comparing the stability of a primary stem and a stem in the simulated reconstructed femoral defect. If these reconstructions are considered theoretically appropriate for giving primary stability to the stem--a sine qua non for the success of replacement surgery--then our study is novel.

Background and Purpose: This study was designed to compare heterophoria measurements obtained using the methods: prisms cover test (prism alternate cover test), von Graefe technique, Maddox rod test and modified Thorington test. Given the different methodological features of these tests, our working hypothesis was that these tests would not be interchangeable and repeatability would vary., Methods: Horizontal deviation measurements were made at: far distance (six meters) and near distance (40 centimeters) on two occasions in 61 young subjects of mean age 19.7 years (range 18 -32 years), with essentially normal eyes and vision, who were not familiar with the methods used. Statistical repeatability and agreement were determined using the Bland and Altman method., Results: Repeatability: No difference between the results of the various heterophoria tests was statistically significant. Coefficients of repeatability were always best when the tests were conducted at far, the cover test being the most repeatable. Agreement: Mean differences between absolute values ranged from 1.7 prism diopters to 5.1 prism diopters for measurements at far and from 2.1 prism diopters to 3.4 prism diopters at near., Conclusions: The alternating prism cover test was the most repeatable test for measuring latent horizontal deviations. Among the subjective tests, the modified Thorington test was the most repeatable. The low level of agreement observed between the different tests makes their interchangeable use in clinical practice not recommended.

Studies investigating whether osteoporosis is a risk factor for using implants have revealed no correlation between possible implant failure and the severity of osteoporosis. However, osteoporotic patients frequently require bone regeneration techniques, because they do not fulfil optimum conditions for implant placement owing to the diminished bone structure and rapid resorption of the alveolar bone. We present a successful case of advanced implant therapy using platelet-rich plasma in a patient with severe osteoporosis who had been previously treated with bisphosphonates. We are not aware that this technique has been previously described in literature.

A retrospective clinical review was done on 54 revision hip patients. Radiological analysis examined the Gross and AAOS classifications, stem position, cement mantles, allograft and evolution (subsidence, resorption and remodelling). The Harris Hip score was used for clinical assessment. We used bone bank allograft and a polished non-collared stem LD. The follow-up period was 60.5 months (19.4-152.4), and the average age 68.5 (range: 22-85). There were 21 females and 33 males. The surgical approach was: lateral (5.56%) posterior (91.4%); trochanteric osteotomy: 25.9%; associated acetabular revision: 59.3%; previous operations: 1.9. The preoperative Harris score was 35 (28-40) and rose to 81 (50-99) postoperatively. The stem alignment was neutral (44.44%), varus (38.89%) and valgus (16.67%). The femur/stem diameter relationship was 1.8 (1.2-2.7). There were no changes in stem alignment in 94.4%. An adequate cement mantle was: proximal zone (61.1%), medium zone (27.8%) and distal zone (16.7%). The rate of any subsidence was 38.9% (progressive: 12.96%). The rate of complications was 40.7% and included periprosthetic fracture: 14.8%; superficial infection: 1.9%; deep late infection: 1.9%; dislocation: 3.7%; heterotopic ossification: 13%. The rate of new stem revision was 16.6%. The clinical and radiological success rate was 77.78%. A greater incidence of revisions has been found in stem malalignment, progressive subsidence, a Harris increase of <20 points, allograft resorption, small diameter stems and inadequate cement mantle. We recommend hard impaction and a cement mantle of at least 2 mm. Non-progressive subsidence does not increase stem loosening. The technique has been useful in recovering bone stock in a severely defective femur and achieves a stable reconstruction. The level of evidence was therapeutic study level III-2 (retrospective cohort study; see the instructions to the authors for a complete description of the levels of evidence).