Case Report: Identifying Andersson-Like Lesions in Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis

Andersson lesions (ALs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) pose a severe risk to the stability of ankylosed spine, which might result in significant deterioration of spinal cord function after traumatic or inflammatory causes. Herein, erosive discovertebral lesions in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) presented important clinical similarities to AL in AS, but failed to completely recognize unstable spinal lesions. Therefore, we pioneered to identify spinal discovertebral lesions similar to Andersson-like lesions (ALLs) in DISH, followed by the characterization and summarization of the etiology, radiology, laboratory results, clinical symptoms, and treatment strategies for AL in AS with ALL in DISH. By characterizing the ALL in DISH cases, we showed that the ALL was mainly traumatic and established at the junction of focal stress between two adjacent ossified level arms. Erosive discovertebral ALLs were formed after trivial stress of direct impact and could be subdivided into transdiscal, transvertebral, and discovertebral types radiologically. Patients who presented with ALL frequently suffered from consistent back pain clinically and experienced a decrease in motion ability that could reflect skeletal stability, which received treatment effectiveness after conservative external spinal immobilization or further surgical internal fixation, indicating the significance of recognizing ALL in the ankylosed DISH spine to further maintain spinal stability in order to prevent catastrophic neurologic sequelae. Our work highlighted the clinical relevance of ALL in DISH in comparison with AL in AS, which provided broader insight to identify ALL in DISH, thus facilitating early intervention against DISH deterioration.

Surgery-first approach reduces the overall treatment time without damaging long-term stability in the skeletal class III correction: a preliminary study

Background Compared to the conventional approach, including preoperative orthodontic preparation, the so-called surgery-first approach (SFA) seems to reduce the overall treatment time in the correction of skeletal class III dentofacial deformity. However, there have been controversies about postoperative skeletal stability with SFA. Therefore, we investigated the long-term stability and the overall treatment time after maxillomandibular surgery for skeletal class III correction with or without preoperative orthodontic preparation. Methods This retrospective study included eight patients who underwent maxillomandibular surgery for class III correction with the SFA (SFA group) and 20 patients who underwent the conventional approach (CA group). A comparative study of the change in the maxillary and mandibular position on preoperative (T1), 1-day (T2), 6-month (T3), and 2-year (T4) postoperative lateral cephalograms. We calculated the overall treatment time for each group. Results At the presurgical stage (T1), there was no bias in the skeletal features between the two groups. In the surgical change from T1 to T2, the mandible (point B) of the CA group was significantly moved superiorly. Short-term changes from T2 to T3 revealed that the mandible moved forward in both groups, whereas the maxillary position showed no significant changes. Long-term changes from T3 to T4 demonstrated that none of the measured parameters showed any significant differences. Finally, the average of overall treatment time was 15.1 months in the SFA group and 26.0 months in the CA group. Conclusions These findings suggest that SFA in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery for skeletal class III correction leads to predictable long-term skeletal stability, similar to surgery with CA. Furthermore, SFA reduced the overall treatment time compared to CA.

Management of severe maxillary discrepancy in unilateral cleft lip and palate: six year follow up in a patient with tongue graft

<p class="abstract">The purpose of this original case study was to present the efficiency of combined orthodontic and distraction osteogenesis (DO) in severe maxillary hypoplasia along with importance of tongue graft for closure of large residual palatal defect. DO has been successfully chosen in lengthening and widening the maxilla transversely to relieve anterior dental crowding and transverse discrepancies between the dental arches. A UCLP (unilateral cleft lip and palate), 15 year old male with the chief complaint of esthetic and functional problems because of skeletal class III malocclusion with anterior crossbite and severe midline shift was taken up for this modality of treatment. Considering the severity of malocclusion, combined orthodontic and DO treatment was considered adequate which was likely less invasive and equally stable procedure. RED (rigid external distractor) was used for distraction after initial alignment followed by closure of residual large palatal defect with tongue graft. Result obtained was esthetically good with acceptable occlusion considering the severity with pleasing soft tissue profile. The review was done after six year which showed remarkable skeletal stability with no dehiscence of tongue graft in palate area. The combined use of DO and orthodontic correction in ULCP case had substantial skeletal stability, improving patient esthetic and self-esteem.</p>

Reconstruction methods in chest wall resections

Chest wall defects generally result from resection of primary chest wall tumors, locally-invasive malignancies, or metastatic lesions. After an R0 chest wall resection, first skeletal stability must be established with prosthetic or bioprosthetic materials, or a combination of both. Regardless of the technique used to establish skeletal stability, soft tissue coverage of the prosthesis is necessary. The primary goals of all chest wall reconstructions are to obliterate dead space, restore chest wall rigidity, preserve pulmonary mechanic, protect intrathoracic organs and provide soft tissue coverage. In this article, our aim is to review the basic principles and indications of the chest wall resection and reconstruction, preoperative evaluation of patients, and the materials and methods used for the reconstruction.

Author Correction: One-year postoperative skeletal stability of 3D planned bimaxillary osteotomies: maxilla-first versus mandible-first surgery

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Skeletal Stabilisation

In this chapter we draw upon published evidence and the experience of the authors to provide guidance in stabilisation for open tibial fractures. Most orthopaedic surgeons have, through their training, reached higher levels of proficiency and expertise in methods of internal fixation than with external fixation. The difference reflects the greater number of fractures treated with internal fixation methods. Spanning external fixation should provide skeletal stability without impeding access for plastic surgical procedures. This combination of prerequisites has to be met through a mutual understanding of bony and soft tissue requirements at first debridement and at definitive treatment of the open fracture. Many fixator configurations used currently and even advocated for in external fixator manuals simply fail to meet these requirements. Consequently, we provide a clear rationale for the recommendations made and encourage adoption of the principles described.