Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics

The goals of alveolar cleft repair include (1) stabilization of the maxilla, (2) permitting tooth eruption, (3) eliminating the oronasal fistula, (4) improving aesthetics, and (5) improving speech. Alveolar cleft repair should be considered one of the steps of a larger comprehensive orthodontic management plan. In conjunction with closure of the oronasal fistula, a variety of grafting materials can be used in the alveolar cleft. Autogenous grafts have been found to have greater efficacy compared with allogenic or xenogeneic bone, substitute bone, and alloplasts but with more donor site morbidity.

It is an honor to once again serve as the guest editor for an issue of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America, and I would like to thank the Editor, Mr John Vassallo, for giving me the opportunity to do so. In the field of dentistry, the monthly publication of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America is one of the main sources of information for both new graduates and the already practicing professionals. I hope that the articles in this issue arouse interest in all the possibilities of the intraoral surgical approach.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is a generally safe and widely accepted surgical procedure for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Unfortunately, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty does not always result in success, and patients who initially experienced improvement in the severity of their obstructive sleep apnea may relapse. Proper patient selection and performing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in conjunction with other surgical procedures that are directed at other sites of upper airway collapsibility may yield favorable outcomes.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) has undergone a renaissance/metamorphosis as a specialty and in the technologic innovations that have enhanced the surgical care of patients. This article reviews traditional maximal transoral approaches in the management of common pathologic lesions seen by OMFS, and compares these techniques with a literature review that applies minimally invasive technology and innovative robotic surgery (transoral robotic surgery) to treat similar lesions. The traditional approaches described in this article have transcended generations and future trends are suggested that will improve the training of the OMFS legacy as clinicians move forward in the care of patients.

This article presents an overview of the history of the buccal fat pad flap, its relevant anatomy, and its indications and contraindications. The surgical technique for its harvest is described, as are the postoperative care and possible complications.

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is one choice for cases in which open surgery may be harmful, the deformity is not indicated to correct with open surgery, or in patients who have phobia of general anesthesia or any type of surgery. Autologous fat injection or fillers are most common materials currently available in the market. In this article, we explain the indications, contraindications, methods, and complications of this treatment.

Shahrokh C. Bagheri, Husain Ali Khan and Behnam Bohluli

Cephalic positioning of lateral cruras literally means that the cartilage does not support the nasal rim. Cephalic positioning is a relatively common anatomic variant of lower lateral cartilages that shows an extremely vulnerable rhinoplasty patient. In these patients, any reductive technique, such as cephalic trimming without compensation, worsens the situation and may lead to esthetic failures and airway compromise. True cephalic malpositioning needs to be diagnosed from pseudomalpositions preoperatively. The presence of the pseudomalposition does not mean that it can be ignored. Either malposition or pseudomalposition is best diagnosed and considered in the treatment plan.

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

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA

ELSEVIER

Three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging has found its place in aesthetic surgery globally. The first attempt to use 3D surface imaging technique in clinic was in 1944 by Thalmaan, who used stereo photogrammetry to examine an adult with facial asymmetry and a baby with Pierre Robin syndrome. Three-dimensional photography is becoming more common allowing for a more dynamic facial evaluation, although it is associated with increased cost.

Preservative dorsal hump surgery is an old approach that has revitalized recently. Preservation rhinoplasty aims to shape the existing structures instead of resection/reconstruction approaches. A thorough understanding of the applied anatomy of the nose is the backbone of preservative hump surgery. In preservative hump surgery keystone works as a joint, and by lowering this joint the hump is eliminated.

Cleft lip and palate patients represent one of the most challenging groups of patients for septorhinoplasty, presenting as a complex surgical obstacle for even the most seasoned surgeons. These individuals have undergone several surgeries throughout their lives, resulting in a considerable amount of scar tissue, significant asymmetries and structural deficits. Key factors in successfully treating cleft lip and palate patients are the reconstruction of the absent/asymmetric cartilages and the replacement of bony structures. The use of autogenous rib cartilage allows the surgeon to create various grafts as well as fortify the soft tissue to resist persistent soft tissue deformities.

Advanced Intraoral Surgery

The overly shortened nose can often be the result of previous rhinoplasty. The causes can include weakening or missing cartilage for nasal tip support as well as contraction and scarring of the skin. The purpose of this article was to provide the authors’ approach to this deformity.

Injury to the lingual nerve is a well-recognized risk associated with certain routine dental and oral surgical procedures. The assessment and management of a patient with a traumatic lingual nerve neuropathy requires a logical and stepwise approach. The proper application and interpretation of the various neurosensory tests and maneuvers is critical to establishing an accurate diagnosis. The implementation of a surgical or nonsurgical treatment strategy is based not only on the established diagnosis, but also a multitude of variables including patient age, timing and nature of the injury, and the emotional or psychological impact.

There are 2 types of ranulas: oral ranulas and plunging (cervical) ranulas. The management of the cervical ranula involves surgical excision of the oral portion of the ranula along with the associated sublingual salivary gland. The sublingual gland is easily removed from an intraoral approach. Significant anatomic structures associated with the removal of the sublingual gland are the submandibular duct, lingual nerve, and sublingual artery. Knowledge of the anatomy makes the surgery easier and without complications.

Laser therapy has been delivering good results for more than 30 years. Therapeutic effects are seen due to its ability to stimulate cell proliferation, revascularization, cell regeneration, local microcirculation, and vascular permeability; leading to edema reduction and analgesic effects. The piezoelectric system has been used in several surgeries recently, following the trend of minimally invasive surgery. The system consists of crystals undergoing deformation when exposed to electric current, resulting in an oscillating movement with ultrasound frequency. In oral surgery it is used in orthognathic and temporomandibular joint procedures, alveolar corticotomies, tumor excision, bone grafts, third molars, and dental implants.

Transoral parotidectomy allows for the management of parapharyngeal space tumors and accessory parotid gland tumors without the need for a transfacial/transparotid or mandible splitting procedure. It is a minimally invasive approach that permits a faster recovery and with a lesser risk of facial palsy.

Dorsal augmentation is commonly indicated in many primary and secondary aesthetic nose surgeries. Throughout the history, various synthetic and autogenous materials have been used for dorsal augmentation. In this article, we give an overview of basic concepts of cartilage grafting, review new concepts of dorsal augmentation, and discuss some emerging engineering modalities.

Current basic principles of surgery are ever changing. The remarkable discoveries in antisepsis, anesthesiology, physiology, and pharmacology are few dramatic changes that have forever turned surgery into a relatively safe and predictable profession. In the early part of the nineteenth century, the vast majority of surgical interventions had extremely high morbidity and mortality, such that surgery was only a last resort for life-saving interventions. There is clearly an evolutionary force behind the continuously changing trends and enhanced techniques that aim to improve the safety, outcome, and predictability of surgical interventions.

Piezoelectric tools are the novel ultrasonic methods for effective and safe osteoplasty or osteotomy in comparison with traditional soft and hard tissue approaches using rotating instruments due to lack of microvibrations, ease of control and use, and safer cutting, mainly in complex anatomic areas. Piezoelectric indicates favorable and valuable outcomes based on the immediate postoperative morbidities, even though long-term results have not been investigated. It could be indicated that the piezosurgery in rhinoplasty can be considered as a reliable and safe method and should be taken into account as a part of the surgeon’s repertoire for rhinoplasty.

Cosmetic rhinoplasty involves surgical manipulation of the nasal cartilages, nasal bones, lining mucosa and extracartilaginous soft. The nasal tip is a complex composite arrangement of tissues. These structures are responsible for creating individuality and asymmetries and for controlling nasal air entry and valving. Medical aesthetics involves filling relevant areas of the tip with hyaluronic acid to disguise grooves or soft defect contour defects. Standard tip surgery involves an open or closed approach. Manipulation of the flexible alar cartilage using intracartilaginous and interartilaginous sutures is preferable to resection, and alar base reduction is becoming more prevalent.

Dorsal hump modification is a commonly performed procedure in most rhinoplasties. Specifically, hump reductions play a significant role in aesthetic rhinoplasty when the surgeon and patient wish to have a “smaller” and less projected nasal complex. There are several techniques available in order to perform a hump reduction. The purpose of this article is to review some of the surgical options available for dorsal hump reduction and management of the dorsum following this procedure.

Rhinoplasty is a double-edged sword regarding the functional nasal airway; it can enhance and improve the nasal airway if done properly, and can severely compromise the nasal airway if not done properly. The composition of the nasal airway includes the internal and external nasal valves, nasal septum, and inferior turbinates. Each of these areas can be addressed by several techniques, described in the body of the text. Nasal septal perforation is another potential complication that may result from septal surgery, which has nonsurgical and surgical methods to treat, and is also described in the body of the text.

Rhinoplasty is considered one of the most technically difficult surgical procedures because of the limited access and requirement for three-dimensional visual perception and manipulation. Grafting is an essential part of primary and secondary rhinoplasties and forms the foundation for a successful functional and aesthetic outcome. Septal cartilage is the most commonly used grafting material, although many reliable alternatives exist. No randomized clinical trials have been conducted comparing graft materials and techniques for specific indications. In this review, the authors discuss the most common grafting materials and configurations used in the modern rhinoplasty.

Nasal tip deformities after primary rhinoplasty may occur, including the formation of bossae, a pinched nasal tip, and nasal tip ischemia. Because of the central location in the midface, even minimal nasal tip deformities (small bossa) may be noticed and upsetting to the patient. This is in addition to more severe nasal tip deformities, including nasal tip ischemia, that are easily visible to any viewer. Prevention, early recognition, and, depending on the case, intervention are critical in minimizing these complications. If complications do occur, regular communication with the patient and follow-up are crucial.

By performing a preservation rhinoplasty, the surgeon can achieve natural and stable results by intraoperative replacement of resection with preservation and excision with manipulation of ligaments, cartilages, soft tissues, and the osseocartilaginous dorsum. In this article, the authors explain step by step the dorsal preservation rhinoplasty with low septal strip and a combination of nasal bones osteoplasty and osteotomies, the tip preservation rhinoplasty based on nose tip polygons, and the authors’ technique for modify the nasal tip projection and rotation with a posterior strut or anterior septal strip.