Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics

Oral and maxillofacial surgery emerged as a specialty in the first decade of the twentieth century and, sparked by scientific and technological developments, while being buffeted by social, economic, and political forces, has followed a winding path to its current robust status. Despite the specialty’s many successes, diversity concerns have remained a perennial challenge. Ingrained traditions within professional education continue to inhibit progress toward equality among ethnic groups, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities.

The author explores gender issues related to oral and maxillofacial training programs and the role that accreditation should have to ensure gender equity, antidiscrimination, and support of women in the profession of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Women emerged against significant obstacles in the nineteenth century to claim a right to participate in the health professions. Women were excluded from many areas of medical and dental practice until well after the 1964 Civil Rights Act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex. Their entry has been, and continues to be, blocked by discrimination, misogyny, and harassment both personal and institutional. The formation of women-specific surgical subspecialty organizations has improved access to mentoring, sponsorship, and acceptance. This article reviews the history of some of the older organizations with recommendations for OMFS women’s action.

The diversity bonus theorem developed by Scott Page postulates that in specific environments, diversity is an absolute necessity to creating the most successful team. The theorem dispels the myth that institutions must choose between diversity and excellence. Within oral and maxillofacial surgery, this bonus is captured through expanded access to care, more equitable and relevant research, and attracting the best and brightest to the specialty. To capture the bonus, oral and maxillofacial surgery must invest in policy changes to admissions and hiring practices, and offer training in communication, cultural competency, and implicit bias.

The role of a mentor has metamorphosed from the traditional Halsteadian model to a more “mosaic mentor” with innovative strategies specific to the mentee. The contemporary mentor continues to be faced with the challenges of a new breed of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. This article accompanies the reader on an “odyssey” of surgical mentorship beginning with historic origins, followed by a series of definitions of what a mentor is and is not, the dynamics of evolutionary change with respect to style of surgical mentoring, and evidence-based studies in the tools now applied to mentor our future oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons experience high levels of stress and work–home conflict, which predispose them to burnout. There is emerging evidence in support of work–life integration to prevent burnout; interventional strategies exist on an individual and organizational level. This article explores the current evidence on promoting work–life integration for improved surgeon satisfaction, performance, and efficiency. Work–life integration initiatives can help promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse surgical workforce in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Research is crucial to train the next generation of academic surgeons. Formal training builds research skills, starting with the ability to generate hypotheses, formulate questions, and address gaps in knowledge. Essential factors that are important to a research pathway include a supportive environment, experienced mentorship team, work-life balance, and a source of funding. Oral and maxillofacial surgery must make diversity a top priority, and protocols must be implemented to retain members of underrepresented groups throughout their careers.

Facial trauma often involves injuries to the eyelid and periorbital region. Management of these injuries can be challenging due to the involvement of multiple complex anatomic structures that are in close proximity. Restoration of normal anatomic relationships of the eyelids and periocular structures is essential for optimum functional and aesthetic outcome after trauma. This review provides an overview of the current literature involving soft tissue trauma of the eyelid and periorbital tissue, and highlights key steps in patient evaluation and management with various types of injuries.

RUI P. FERNANDES, MD, DMD, FACS, FRCS(Ed)

Gender and Diversity in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

ELSEVIER

This article includes updates in the management of mandibular trauma and reconstruction as they relate to maxillomandibular fixation screws, custom hardware, virtual surgical planning, and protocols for use of computer-aided surgery and navigation when managing composite defects from gunshot injuries to the face.

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA

Rui P. Fernandes

Men and women receive unequal pay for equal work, a gap of approximately 20% to 30% in income across most professions, including medicine and surgery. Inequality also exists in academic advancement, with far fewer women holding positions as full professors, program directors, or department heads. Women may be discouraged from pursuing surgery as a career, and they face unique challenges related to gender expectations in their role as surgeons. Steps to identifying gender bias and correcting the pay gap are important to ensure the growth and vitality of the specialty.

Although a rare sequala of soft tissue injury, salivary gland trauma may result in significant morbidity. Salivary gland injury can involve the major as well as the minor glands. Because of the proximity of adjacent vital structures, a thorough history and physical examination are mandatory during patient evaluation. Trauma to the major salivary glands may involve the parenchyma, duct, or neural injury. Treatment requires adherence to primary principles of soft tissue management. Ductal and neural injury should be repaired primarily. Sialocele and fistula are potential complications of repaired and unrepaired salivary gland injury.

Repair of soft tissue trauma to the lips requires careful attention to both function and esthetics. This article outlines basic lip anatomy, goals in managing lip injury, and appropriate workup and ultimate treatment of various types of trauma to the lips.

Dogs are the animal most frequently implicated in causing bite injuries to the human face. Dog bite injuries are most prevalent in younger patients. Pasteurella species are commensals of the oral microbiome of dogs and cats and are frequently implicated in infections resulting from dog and cat bite injuries. HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C need to be considered in bites inflicted by humans. All animal bite wounds should be washed out. Most animal bite injuries can be managed in an outpatient setting. Given the cosmetically sensitive nature of the face, bite wounds generally merit suturing, even in delayed presentations.

Facial trauma remains a common reason for visits to the emergency department or urgent care facility. The ear remains susceptible to trauma given its delicate anatomy and position in the maxillofacial region. Understanding the anatomy and recognizing the circumstances regarding the mechanism of injury help dictate treatment. The goals of treatment should remain to restore the physiologic form and function of the ear. Middle ear injuries should also be addressed during the process. Although primary repair remains feasible in most cases, there are instances when delayed and staged reconstruction is necessary to achieve successful results.

In the area of craniomaxillofacial trauma, neurosensory disturbances are encountered commonly, especially with regard to the trigeminal and facial nerve systems. This article reviews the specific microanatomy of both cranial nerves V and VII, and evaluates contemporary neurosensory testing, current imaging modalities, and available nerve injury classification systems. In addition, the article proposes treatment paradigms for management of trigeminal and facial nerve injuries, specifically with regard to the craniomaxillofacial trauma setting.

The COVID-19 pandemic altered all facets of society on a fundamental level, impacting work, mental health, and family life. Female surgeons experienced gender inequity and bias before COVID; therefore, women in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) were affected disproportionately by the repercussions of the pandemic. Well-established inequalities are intensified during times of crisis. This article enlightens readers regarding the preexisting inequalities in the OMS specialty, how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these ubiquitous issues, and how the specialty should accommodate these inequities moving forward.

The larynx is a complex anatomic structure and a properly functioning larynx is essential for breathing, voice, and swallowing. Laryngeal trauma is often associated with other injuries, including intracranial injuries, penetrating neck injuries, cervical spine fractures, and facial fractures. Although uncommon, laryngotracheal injuries may lead to life-threatening airway emergencies. Because laryngeal injuries are rare, even surgeons with a great deal of experience in managing maxillofacial trauma have limited exposure to management of laryngeal and tracheal injury. This article reviews a protocol for the evaluation, management, and treatment of these injuries in the trauma patient.

Trauma management remains one of the cornerstones of the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Often, the emphasis tends to be on the management of the bony fractures, whereas the management of soft tissue injuries arguably does not receive the same attention. In this issue, we have sought to rectify this neglect. Dr Dyalram has brought together a group of craniomaxillofacial experts to share their approaches toward the management of this important area in craniofacial trauma.

Soft tissue wounds in the scalp are a common occurrence after trauma or resection of a malignancy. The reconstructive surgeon should strive to use the simplest reconstructive technique while optimizing aesthetic outcomes. In general, large defects with infection, previous irradiation (or require postoperative radiation), or with calvarial defects usually require reconstruction with vascularized tissue (ie, microvascular free tissue transfer). Smaller defects greater than 3 cm that are not amenable to primary closure can be treated with local flap reconstruction. In all cases, the reconstruction method will need be tailored to the patient’s health status, desires, and aesthetic considerations.

Facial trauma can have long-lasting physical and mental consequences. Trauma to the nose is commonly seen in the emergency department. Nasal lacerations account for 7% of all facial lacerations. Thorough examination and documentation including photographs is important for documentation and creating a reconstruction plan. Underlying damage to cartilage or bone must be reconstructed initially or in a delayed fashion to recreate the pretrauma anatomy and function. There are several options for soft tissue nasal reconstruction, including local flaps, skin grafts, pedicle flaps, and free flaps. At present there is no standard of care for postoperative facial trauma wound care.