Carlos Moreno-García

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis following dental extraction. Radiological features and surgical treatment considerations

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) following dental extraction is an extremely serious infection with a high mortality rate. Oral infection may rapidly descend into the mediastinum across the retropharyngeal and retrovisceral spaces. Once established, mediastinitis is rapidly followed by sepsis and death. If DNM is suspected cervical and thoracic CT must be carried out urgently. After this, prompt control of the upper airway with tracheostomy, aggressive surgical debridement of the deep cervical spaces and mediastinum, and intravenous broad spectrum antibiotic therapy are mandatory. The present paper reports two new cases of DNM following dental extraction, and focuses on radiological features of abscess progression through the cervical spaces down into the mediastinum.

The rare phenomenon of vascular pedicle ossification of free fibular flap in mandibular reconstruction

Ossification of the vascular pedicle in the vascularized free fibular flap (VFFF) has been only previously described twice for jaw reconstruction. A case of severe trismus secondary to periosteal osteogenesis following VFFF for maxillary reconstruction, and four cases of ossification of the vascular pedicle in VFFF for maxillary and mandibular reconstruction have been respectively described. Etiology remains unclear, although presence of periosteum in continuity with bone seems to play a major role. Hormonal stimuli, stress over the bone, and corticosteroid therapy have been proposed as determinant factors, although no clear correlation has been already established. No histologic studies concerning the generation of new bone around the vascular pedicle in VFFF are nowadays present. We report a new case of vascular pedicle ossification of VFFF following mandibular reconstruction, this being the third report in the literature, and focus on histologic examination of the specimen.

Schwannoma of Tongue

The schwannomas are nervous tissue tumors. We report a case of schwannoma of oral tongue. Because schwannomas are quite rare in the oral cavity, they are often not immediately included in the differential diagnosis of oropharyngeal masses, causing delay in identification and treatment. The definitive diagnosis requires histopathologic examination.

Massive glosso-cervical arteriovenous malformation: The rationale for a challenging surgical resection

Massive arterivenous malformations (AVM) in the cervico-facial area are rare but potentially life-threatening. Treatment protocols are not well-established. A 41-year old man presented large painless rubber-like mass within the entire neck, which also extended intraorally through the floor of the mouth, showing a slow growing pattern for 5 years. Angiography diagnosed it as cervicofacial AVM. Treatment approach consisted on the embolization of the right upper thyroid, lingual and facial arteries under intravenous sedation. Three days later, bilateral radical neck dissection and subtotal glossectomy was performed. A musculo-cutaneous pectoralis major pedicled flap was harvested to reconstruct the floor of the mouth. Treatment of massive AVMs in the cervico-facial area is challenging due to the associated disfigurement and frequent recurrence rate due to incomplete resection. Also, massive bleeding may be present despite pre-operative super-selective embolization. A new case is presented with focus on surgical treatment considerations. Key words:Arteriovenous malformation, high-flow vascular malformation, cervical region, tongue, surgical resection

Closure of the Radial Forearm Free Flap Donor Site Using the Combined Local Triangular Full-Thickness Skin Graft

PURPOSE Traditional donor-site closure has been associated with serious esthetic and functional morbidity. The purpose of this study was to assess morbidity in esthetics and function and measure the postoperative complications of the radial forearm free flap (RFFF) donor site after using combined local triangular full-thickness skin grafting. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study of patients who underwent reconstruction of head and neck defects using an RFFF was conducted from July 2008 through December 2014. The donor site was repaired with a combined local triangular full-thickness skin graft. Quality of the scar, color match, tendon exposure, presence of necrosis, dehiscence of the suture, and presence of dysesthesia were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software. RESULTS One hundred consecutive patients (71 male and 29 female) underwent RFFF harvesting. RFFF donor-site defects ranged from 15 to 70 cm2; partial skin graft loss occurred in 7% of patients. Five patients (5%) had small dehiscences of the forearm skin graft, and 2 cases (2%) presented tendon exposure. In all cases, these sites healed secondarily by conservative management, with no final impairment of function. Esthetic results were considered excellent in 87%, good in 11%, and suboptimal in 2% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS The combined local triangular full-thickness skin graft is a reliable method for closing RFFF donor-site defects because it obviates a second surgical site, it provides excellent color match and pliability, and it can be used for covering large defects of the donor site.

Vagus Nerve Paraganglioma: Radiological Features We Should Be Aware of

IntroductionA rare case of vagal paraganglioma is reported.Material and MethodsThe specific radiological features of this tumor are presented to the clinician in order to make presumptive diagnosis.ConclusionBy CT-scan and/or MRI it must be suspected when a hypervascular tumor in relation to the major cervical vessels displaces the internal and external carotid arteries forward, does not open the carotid bifurcation, and displaces the internal jugular vein backwards.

Double-paddled pectoralis major myocutaneous flap as an alternative to microvascularized free flaps in complex orocervical defects

The authors present the double-paddled pectoralis major myocutaneous flap as a successful alternative for the reconstruction of complex orocervical defects following failure of prior microvascularized free flaps or free flap harvest is not feasible. This method was used for the reconstruction of post-ablative defect in a 36-year-old male with a T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue with laryngeal involvement. The distal paddle was adapted to reconstruct a defect of the floor of the mouth and further sutured in two layers (musclebasal mandible and skin paddle-oral mucosa) while the proximal skin paddle was used to close the cervical skin and the peri-tracheostomy defect. ABSTRACT

Straightforward Method for Coverage of Major Vessels After Modified Radical Neck Dissection

A new method for covering the internal jugular vein and carotid artery after exposure of the cervical vascular axis subsequent to neck dissection is presented. To cover the most caudal part of the vascular axis, a platysma coli muscle flap is harvested from its most medial and inferior part of the neck in a caudally based fashion and is slightly rotated posteriorly up to 45°. In addition, a superiorly based sternocleidomastoid muscle flap involving the posterior half of the muscle after detachment of the clavicle head is harvested and rotated 45° anteriorly to cover the upper two thirds of the vascular axis. This technique seems to be a good alternative to the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for covering cervical major vessels, if no classical radical neck dissection is performed, especially in those oncologic malnourished patients who will undergo adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical treatment.