Salvatore Sembronio

Condylar positioning devices for orthognathic surgery: a literature review

In the past few years, many devices have been proposed for preserving the preoperative position of the mandibular condyle during bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. Accurate mandibular condyle repositioning is considered important to obtain a stable skeletal and occlusal result, and to prevent the onset of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Condylar positioning devices (CPDs) have led to longer operating times, the need to keep intermaxillary fixation as stable as possible during their application, and the need for precision in the construction of the splint or intraoperative wax bite. This study reviews the literature concerning the use of CPDs in orthognathic surgery since 1990 and their application to prevent skeletal instability and contain TMD since 1995. From the studies reviewed, we can conclude that there is no scientific evidence to support the routine use of CPDs in orthognathic surgery.

Piezosurgery: a new method for osteotomies in rhinoplasty.

Two basic techniques for lateral osteotomy have been developed to date; the internal (endonasal) continuous technique and the external (percutaneous) perforating method. Numerous investigators have subjectively reported that the application of the two techniques results in less postoperative ecchymosis and edema compared to the use of other techniques, but an alternative and gentle method for performing lateral osteotomy or bony hump removal has not been proposed yet. The authors present a new soft technique to perform nasal osteotomy in rhinoplasty using piezoelectric ultrasonic vibrations, and emphasize the advantages of this method.

Endoscopically assisted enucleation and curettage of large mandibular odontogenic keratocyst

This article reports a case of a mandibular multilocular keratocyst treated with endoscopically assisted enucleation and curettage. An ectopic third molar displaced in the coronoid process area was also removed.Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are known for their propensity to recur. The incomplete removal of the cyst is one of the mechanisms for which it is thought that the keratocyst recurs. The endoscopic assistance allowed us to explore accurately the operative field and the areas of difficult access, improving the complete removal of the cystic lesion. Moreover, it allowed us to monitor closely the separation of the cyst lining from the inferior alveolar nerve and limit the extension of the surgical approach. At 3-year follow-up no evidence of recurrence was evidenced by radiological and clinical controls.

Arthroscopy with open surgery for treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint

We report a case of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint in which both joint compartments were affected. Because of the important involvement of the medial aspect of the joint, arthrotomy was done with arthroscopic assistance.

Endoscopically assisted procedure for removal of a foreign body from the maxillary sinus and contemporary endodontic surgical treatment of the tooth

There have been reports on the migration of teeth or implants into the maxillary sinus. We know of only one report on the migration of a gutta-percha point that had been used to fill a root canal into the ethmoid sinus. We report such a case treated with an endoscopically assisted procedure for removal of the foreign body and contemporary endodontic surgical treatment of the tooth.

Osteogenesis distraction and platelet‐rich plasma: combined use in restoration of severe atrophic mandible. Long‐term results

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this paper is to report long-term results on the use of autologous bone graft and platelet-rich plasma in alveolar distraction osteogenesis (DO) for restoration of severe atrophic mandible. We tested the efficacy as to reabsorption of bone volume, peri-implant reabsorption, implant survival and success rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve patients were treated. The surgical procedure consisted in mixing autologous bone, harvested from the iliac crest, with autologous platelet concentrate (APC) and in filling the distraction gap with this graft. After a latency of 15 days, a distraction rate of 0.5 mm/day was followed. After a 60-day period of consolidation, the distraction device was removed and implants were placed simultaneously. The abutment connection was accomplished after 6 months. In addition, every patient was evaluated clinically and radiographically annually for 5 years. RESULTS Planned alveolar height was reached in 11 out of 12 patients. The total number of implants positioned was 47. At the time of implant positioning, the mean decrease of total bone volume was 2.3%. The mean peri-implant resorption was 0.40 mm at the time of abutment connection, 0.61 mm 1 year after implant loading and 1.51 mm after 5 years. After 5 years of follow-up, the mean rate of vertical bone loss was 18.7%. Instead, the implant survival and success rates were 97.9% and 91.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Long-term results allow us to confirm the combination of autologous bone-platelet gel with alveolar DO as an effective and predictable procedure in restoration of severe atrophic mandible.

Bifunctional Sculpturing of the Bone Graft for 3-Dimensional Augmentation of the Atrophic Posterior Mandible

Short implant procedures may suffer from fixture instability, if incorrectly planned and performed, and from an esthetically compromised rehabilitation, due to increased interarch distance and increased crown-implant ratio. Several procedures have been proposed to achieve alveolar ridge augmentation with different success and complication rates: onlay grafts, alveolar sandwich osteotomies, titanium micromesh, alveolar distraction, and alveolar nerve transposition. The edentulous posterior mandible suffers from the presence of a compact cortical layer, which tends to limit graft osteogenesis, because of a low permeability to the osteogenic elements (microvessels and cells). This report introduces a variant to the endochondral onlay bone graft, in which an external cortical layer is placed above a biologically active core of cancellous bone and platelet-rich plasma. This solution provides easy 3-dimensional conformation of the graft, enhancing its mechanical stability. The presence of the biologically active core provides better vascular support and a valid interface between graft and the osteogenetic cell lines.

Simultaneous Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and Esthetic Rhinoplasty in Orthognathic Patients

PURPOSE Patients treated for dentofacial deformities may be predisposed to aggravated sinonasal disease postoperatively, particularly if concurrent rhinoplasty is performed. The authors present their experience with simultaneous rhinoplasty, maxillary/mandibular osteotomies, and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirteen patients were treated with simultaneous rhinoplasty, maxillary/mandibular osteotomies, and FESS from January 2002 to December 2005. An operative algorithm for patients with dentofacial deformities requiring rhinoplasty was developed. The surgical procedure was performed under general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation and maxillary/mandibular osteotomies first. Nasotracheal intubation was then converted to orotracheal intubation and FESS was performed. The third step was correction of the esthetic deformities of the nose through an open approach. RESULTS In all cases, it was possible to successfully complete the combined operation. Median operation time was: 2 hours and 18 minutes for orthognathic bimaxillary surgery, 54 minutes for rhinoplastic surgery; and 23 minutes for FESS. All the patients had good esthetic and functional results and were free from symptoms consistent with previous rhinosinusitis. CONCLUSION The combination of orthognathic surgery, rhinoplasty, and FESS in selected cases is safe and effective.

Comments on “The Role of Piezoelectric Instrumentation in Rhinoplasty Surgery”

We wish to comment on the interesting article titled “The Role of Piezoelectric Instrumentation in Rhinoplasty Surgery”.1 In the article, Gerbault et al presented a comprehensive review of the literature regarding piezoelectric instrumentation and proposed a new approach called ultrasonic rhinosculpture (URS). Their analysis of the literature is accurate and to the point. However, we offer some observations on the technique presented. URS is not “an important new surgical approach”1 but rather should be defined as a modification of our previous surgical procedure.2,3 Our own ultrasound experience with osteotomies in rhinoplasty began in 2002 with a cadaver study in which a rapid linear cut, minimal or absent internal mucosal damage, minimal periosteal …

Arthroscopic Management of TMJ Dislocation

Dislocation of the temporomandibular joint and repositioning of the dislocated mandible are important topics in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The first surgical techniques for preventing and treating recurrent mandibular dislocation were described in the late 1800s and the early 1900s [1, 2].