Journal Reviews archive for December 2016
Hypertrophic burn scar-associated pruritus treated with a cooling nanoemulsion-enhanced novel hydrogel
Intractable pruritus is a challenging symptom of burn-induced hypertrophic scars. The exact pathogenesis of itch is unknown and conventional management with anti-histamines is often insufficient. Proposed treatments for pruritus include exposure to a cooling surface and maintenance of a well-hydrated...
All about velopharyngeal dysfunction
The velopharynx functionally separates the oral from the nasal cavities. Inadequate or abnormal function of this muscular valve affects speech and swallow. Velopharyngeal dysfunction can be subdivided into insufficiency, incompetence and mislearning. This is a review paper and indeed a...
Submental island flap to reconstruct the lower lip
The lips are necessary for oral competence, cosmesis, speech and feeding. Non melanoma cancers can affect the lips, and the lower lips are about 80% more likely to be affected. A large number of these cancers are squamous cell carcinomas....
Bad splits
This is a meta-analysis of reported risk factors of a ‘bad split’ in a sagittal split mandibular osteotomy. They identified 30 observational articles and therefore acknowledged it is based on low quality studies. It is compounded by the definition of...
Carnoy’s and the KOT
This is a retrospective review of 105 patients with keratocystic odontogenic tumours treated over a 23-year period with a mean follow-up of 86 months. The recurrence rate was 11.4%. Permanent neuro-sensory deficit of the inferior alveolar nerve was 16%. Younger...
Risks and benefits of sunlight exposure
The author provides a timely summary of recently published National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) (2016) guidance regarding the risks and benefits of sunlight exposure and capturing the challenges which face healthcare professionals in communicating key messages focusing...
Managing photodamage
The authors explore components of skin ageing, discussing extrinsic as well as intrinsic factors, with the focus upon the process of photoageing. The anatomy of the epidermis is discussed, supported by diagrams, in relation to extrinsic factors inducing photodamage, in...
Do implants assist rehabilitation following mandibular reconstruction?
The gold standard for the reconstruction of the mandible is a free bony flap, the fibula being commonly used. Following reconstruction optimal function and aesthetic rehabilitation is the goal. There is no doubt that patients consider chewing, swallowing and speech...
Money saving using CAD-CAM in mandibular reconstruction
Computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) are an exciting dimension in the functional and accurate reconstruction of the oral cavity. The fibula is commonly used for mandibular reconstruction as a free flap. This straight bone needs to be...
Contralateral breast symmetrisation in unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction
This paper is focused on whether an immediate breast symmetrisation procedure is beneficial when a patient undergoes contralateral breast resection plus an immediate free flap reconstruction for breast cancer. Free abdominal perforator flaps (DIEP) generally offer the highest postoperative satisfaction...
The use of platelet-rich plasma in skin flap grafts
This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of platelet rich plasma (PRP) to stimulate angiogenesis following skin flaps graft surgery, and its effect on flap survival rate. The use of PRP to improve the quality of bone regeneration and...
Retroauricular vs. inguinal donor site for full-thickness skin grafts in syndactyly repair
Most surgeons recommend the use of full thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) for syndactyly repair in order to achieve a tension free reconstruction and prevent web creep. The inguinal region, cubital fossa and wrist are all well recognised donor sites for...
