Lachlan M. Carter

The Leeds method for titanium cranioplasty construction.

raniofacial bone loss from injury, infection, or resection of alignant disease is a considerable clinical problem, particlarly in large defects. Titanium is our current material of hoice for reconstruction of large craniofacial defects. In Leeds we produce between 40 and 50 titanium cranioplasties each year, which are made using the craniectomy bone flap as a template, or using stereolithographic models (Fig. 1A).

Penetrating facial injury from angle grinder use: management and prevention

Injuries resulting from the use of angle grinders are numerous. The most common sites injured are the head and face. The high speed disc of angle grinders does not respect anatomical boundaries or structures and thus the injuries produced can be disfiguring, permanently disabling or even fatal. However, aesthetically pleasing results can be achieved with thorough debridement, resection of wound edges and careful layered functional closure after reduction and fixation of facial bone injuries. A series of penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use are presented and the management and prevention of these injuries discussed.

Lingual infarction in Wegener's Granulomatosis: A case report and review of the literature

Wegeners granulomatosis (WG) is a multi-system disease, characterised by the triad of necrotising granulomata affecting the upper and lower respiratory tracts, disseminated vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. Oral lesions are associated with up to 50% of cases, although are rare as a presenting feature. The most common oral lesions associated with WG are ulceration and strawberry gingivitis. We review the literature regarding oral manifestations of WG and present a case of lingual infarction, an extremely rare oral lesion associated with WG, in a severe, rapidly progressive and ultimately fatal form of the disease.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in open reduction and internal fixation of compound mandibular fractures: a collaborative regional audit of outcome.

We conducted a regional 2-stage prospective audit involving 5 different maxillofacial units in the Yorkshire region of the UK to evaluate the effectiveness of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in the treatment of mandibular fractures. In the first stage (145 patients) we surveyed current practice concerning antimicrobial prophylaxis and found out the current infection rate after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of mandibular fractures. In the second stage (157 patients) we implemented a common antimicrobial protocol in all units and recorded the infection rates using the new regimen. In the first stage a wide range of antimicrobial prophylaxis was used in different units. The agreed perioperative antimicrobial protocol in the second stage was to begin amoxicillin or clarithromycin and metronidazole intravenously on admission and include 2 postoperative doses. The infection rates were 10.3% and 8.9%, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not significant (χ(2)=0.051, df=1, p=0.83). The infection rate in the Yorkshire region was similar to results from other centres. We recommend short perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis with a maximum of 2 postoperative doses after ORIF of mandibular fractures.

Carotid artery injury from an airgun pellet: a case report and review of the literature

Historically airguns were powerful weapons. Modern models, though less lethal, are still capable of inflicting serious or life threatening injuries. Current United Kingdom legislation fails to take into the account the capacity for airguns to maim and kill. We believe that airguns should be governed by the same law that applies to firearms. We present a case of a potentially fatal airgun injury to the neck. The airgun pellet caused a defect in the anterior wall of the external carotid artery, which required rapid access and surgical repair. We discuss the mechanism of airgun injury and review the literature in terms of investigation and management.

Inner table corticectomy of the fronto-orbital bar in correction of metopic and coronal craniosynostoses.

Abstract Fronto-orbital advancement is an established method for correction of metopic and coronal craniosynostoses. Many techniques involve creation of a single fronto-orbital bar that is then shaped with osteotomies with or without bone grafting. We present a technique that minimizes osteotomy of the frontal bar and gives superior lateral brow aesthetics. Standard fronto-orbital bar bone cuts are made without a midline osteotomy. Selective inner table corticectomy of the fronto-orbital bar allows the bone to become malleable without greensticking. The need for osteotomy of the fronto-orbital bar is obviated. An additional bandeau is created from the temporoparietal calvaria. The malleable fronto-orbital bar is then fixed to this bandeau. The frontal bar and bandeau complex is then advanced in a conventional manner. The remaining frontal calvaria is then rotated creating a more vertical forehead. This technique has been used in Leeds for more than 10 years with good cosmetic results. It has become our standard method for management of the fronto-orbital bar in correction of nonsyndromic metopic and coronal craniosynostoses.

Access to the skull base: modular facial disassembly.

Access to the skull base is not new. The different modules of the facial skeleton can be removed to give access to the skull base based on target zones, which were first described by Grime et al in 1991. However, the vertical plane is not considered, and this article adds to the original classification and develops a decision-making algorithm for preferred access to identified lesions of the skull base.