Camillo Azzuni

Long Term Follow-Up in Inferior Alveolar Nerve Transposition: Our Experience

Introduction. Inferior alveolar nerve transposition (IANT) is a surgical technique used in implantoprosthetic rehabilitation of the atrophic lower jaw which has not been well embraced because of the high risk of damage to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). There are cases in which this method is essential to obtain good morphologic and functional rebalancing of the jaw. In this paper, the authors present their experience with IANT, analyzing the various situations in which IANT is the only surgical preprosthetic option. Methods. Between 2003 and 2011, 35 patients underwent surgical IANT at our center. Thermal and physical sensitivity were evaluated in each patient during follow-up. The follow-up ranged from 14 to 101 months. Results and Conclusion. Based on our experience, absolute indications of IANT are as follows: (1) class IV, V, or VI of Cawood and Howell with extrusion of the antagonist tooth and reduced prosthetic free space; (2) class V or VI of Cawood and Howell with presence of interforaminal teeth; (3) class V or VI of Cawood and Howell if patient desires fast implantoprosthetic rehabilitation with predictable outcomes; (4) class VI of Cawood and Howell when mandibular height increase with inlay grafts is advisable.

Giant neglected desmoplastic ameloblastoma: reconstruction with free fibula flap

Abstract The desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) is a rare variant of the conventional ameloblastoma. It accounts for only 4% to 13% of all ameloblastomas. In this article, we describe the case of a young child affected by a giant neglected DA of the jaw. Preoperative biopsy demonstrated the extremely rare osteoplastic variant of DA. The patient was submitted to segmental mandibulectomy and immediate reconstruction with a free fibula osseous flap. The postoperative period was uneventful. The patient was very satisfied with the functional and aesthetic results of the procedure. In case of such rare variants of ameloblastoma, it is mandatory to preoperatively recognize them to allow the adequate treatment modality to be provided.

Three-Dimensional Analysis and Treatment Planning of Hemimandibular Hyperplasia

IntroductionThe advent of computed tomography (CT) provided a useful instrument for diagnosis and surgical treatment of patients with craniofacial malformations. The development of software for three-dimensional graphic simulation applied to CT scan has made possible the three-dimensional computerized analysis, surgical planning, and simulation. This kind of analysis is particularly useful in case of complex facial malformations, making reliable a surgical treatment in 1 step. The purpose of this report was to present the diagnosis and treatment planning on a patient with hemimandibular hyperplasia by three-dimensional cephalometric analysis. MethodsA 20-year-old young woman who presented with hemimandibular hyperplasia was investigated with CT scan and plaster cast mounted on an articulator; a two-dimensional manual and computerized cephalometric analysis was also developed on frontal and lateral cephalograms. Images in DICOM format were processed on a PC by means of commercial software, thus obtaining the three-dimensional reconstruction of the skeletal structures. ResultsThree-dimensional CT permits to program skeletal corrections and to foresee surgical outcomes with adequate realism. Surgical planning based on three-dimensional CT makes it easy and reliable to achieve the correction of the malformation in a single surgical intervention. ConclusionsThe virtual three-dimensional CT model, a versatile diagnostic aid, has proven to be effective in the exact reproduction of bone and soft tissue anatomy, thus helping in the diagnosis, surgical planning, and simulations. Three-dimensional analysis is particularly indicated in case of complex asymmetric malformations, in which the more accurate reproduction of the individual anatomy can be very useful in implementing surgical results.

OSAS surgery and postoperative discomfort: phase I surgery versus phase II surgery.

Introduction. This study aims to investigate the reasons that discourage the patients affected by OSAS to undergo orthognathic surgery and compares the postoperative discomfort of phase I (soft tissue surgery) and phase II (orthognathic surgery) procedures for treatment of OSAS. Material and Methods. A pool of 46 patients affected by OSAS was divided into two groups: “surgery patients” who accepted surgical treatments of their condition and “no surgery patients” who refused surgical procedures. The “surgery patients” group was further subdivided into two arms: patients who accepted phase I procedures (IP) and those who accepted phase II (IIP). To better understand the motivations behind the refusal of II phase procedures, we asked the patients belonging to both the IP group and “no surgery” group to indicate the main reason that influenced their decision to avoid II phase procedures. We also monitored and compared five parameters of postoperative discomfort: pain, painkiller assumption, length of hospitalization, foreign body sensation, and diet assumption following IP and IIP procedures. Results. The main reason to avoid IIP procedures was the concern of a more severe postoperative discomfort. Comparison of the postoperative discomfort following IP versus IIP procedures showed that the former scored worse in 4 out of 5 parameters analyzed. Conclusion. IIP procedures produce less postoperative discomfort. IIP procedures, namely, orthognathic surgery, should be the first choice intervention in patients affected by OSAS and dentoskeletal malformation.

Anterior retrograde approach to the myofascial temporalis muscle for orbital reconstruction: series of 9 consecutive cases.

BackgroundAmong the reconstructive options after orbital exenteration, the temporalis myofascial flap (TMF) has been widely recognized as the one of the best available solutions. We think that the hemicoronal approach to harvest the TMF represents a disadvantage so we adopted a modified approach that we named the anterior retrograde approach to the TMF. MethodsNine patients with malignant orbital tumors underwent orbital exenteration and primary reconstruction with TMF harvested with the anterior retrograde approach. The temporalis muscle was widely exposed through the anterior incision used to perform the orbital exenteration. The harvested flap was then rotated and insetted to fill the orbital cavity. ResultsNeither cases of total/partial flap failure nor local/regional recurrence of tumor were recorded. The technique showed a significant reduction of morbidity, surgical time, and blood loss compared with the traditional technique. ConclusionsWe think that the anterior retrograde approach should be considered as a valid alternative to the traditional hemicoronal approach.

Autologous fat transplantation for the temporalis muscle flap donor site: our experience with 45 cases.

Temporal depression after temporalis muscle flap transposition is characterized by a concavity of the soft tissue and associated with the relief of the orbital rim and zygomatic arch. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of autologous fat grafting for the treatment of postsurgical temporal contour deformities.

Evaluation of Soft Tissue Profile Change Following Bi-maxillary Surgery in Dento-skeletal Class III by Photogrammetric Analysis

3D analysis allows for simulation of orthognathic surgery and prediction of aesthetic and functional outcomes. Our study aims to find common and repeatable parameters on the behaviour of soft tissues following bone movement by preand post-treatment by photogrammetric analysis. Three representative patients who underwent bimaxillary surgery of advancement/retrusion of the jaws for correction of class III dento-skeletal malformation were presented. By overlapping pre-operative and post-operative 3D photos we obtained colour and millimetric maps that allowed the objective appreciation of facial soft tissues modification in all planes of the space after orthognathic surgery. Original Research Article Torroni et al.; BJMMR, 15(2): 1-11, 2016; Article no.BJMMR.25350 2 The study disclosed interesting insight into the soft tissue behaviour following orthognathic surgery and highlighted the possibility to draw reliable dissipation curves of facial skin after orthognathic surgery. This study also provided the base for future development of 3D images analysis (3D VTO) to plan and predict aesthetic outcomes of patients with dento-skeletal malformation.