Lead Airgun Projectiles Inside the Maxillary Sinuses—Therapeutic Approaches through the Years: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

Background: Shots from commonly available non-gunpowder weapons are a significant cause of facial injuries, especially in pediatric patients. A consequence of such trauma may be the placement of a projectile within the maxillary sinus, which is a therapeutic need with no guidelines for foreign body removal. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of such cases. Materials and methods: Any cases describing the presence of airgun pellets within the maxillary sinus were included. Animal patients and non-English cases were excluded. The final search using the PubMed, BASE and Google Scholar engines was made on 13 November 2021. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports was used to assess the risk of bias. The collected data are presented in tabular form and were subjected to a comparative assessment. Results: In total, reports of seven cases of lead airgun projectiles in the maxillary sinuses were identified, qualified and analyzed. There were no cases of lead intoxication. The bullets were removed by open surgery in the form of antrostomy of the maxillary sinus or with the use of an endoscope. In none of the described cases were complications observed during surgery or postoperative observation. Discussion: This systematic review was based on case reports that differed significantly in quality. The location of the lead foreign body within the maxillary sinuses may be considered favorable over other craniofacial gunshots. The risk of lead intoxication does exist, but such a location of the bullets does not favor it. The removal of projectiles from the maxillary sinuses appears to be easily achievable and does not predispose one to complications.

Comparative Efficacy of the KTP Laser and Cold Steel in Office-Based Surgery for Oropharyngeal Papilloma

Objective: This study aims to compare the efficacy of the potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser and cold steel surgery in treating oropharyngeal papilloma. Methods: Between 2017 and 2020, we enrolled 242 patients with oropharyngeal papilloma who were treated with either the KTP laser (n = 160) or cold steel surgery (n = 82). Patient charts were reviewed for demographic data (age and gender), pathology, anatomical location of lesions, operative duration, pain rating, residual disease, and recurrence. Results: The oropharyngeal papillomas were successfully removed in all patients, except one with a significant pharyngeal reflex. There was no significant difference in the average time for lesion resection between KTP laser and cold steel group (18.11 ± 13.96 s vs 19.43 ± 16.91 s, P > .05). However, all patients who underwent cold steel surgery experienced bleeding during the operation and required postoperative observation (about 20 min), making the total procedure time longer than that of the KTP laser procedure, which did not cause any intraoperative bleeding or require postoperative observation. After KTP laser treatment, the pain rating was .49 ± .98, whereas after cold steel surgery, it was .74 ± 1.12 ( P = .058). Twenty-five samples were sent for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and one tested positive for both HPV 6 and 11 strains, while another tested positive for HPV 16. No residual disease or recurrence was observed at the treatment sites after a long period of follow-up (M = 15.35 ± 10.79 mo; range = 6-39 mo). Conclusion: The KTP laser provided a better hemostasis effect and a good surgical field of vision during the operation, allowing the surgeon to complete the procedure in less time. No significant difference in terms of pain rating, incision recovery, and postoperative recurrence between the KTP laser treatment and cold steel surgery.

Infectious keratitis after corneal crosslinking for keratoconus caused by levofloxacin-resistant microorganisms

Introduction We present seven cases of infectious keratitis after corneal crosslinking (CXL) to attenuate keratoconus progression. Methods Of 524 consecutive patients who underwent CXL, 7 cases (4 males and 3 females; 21.5 ± 7.1 years) developed postoperative infectious keratitis were retrospectively reviewed. CXL was performed using the Dresden protocol or an accelerated protocol involving epithelial removal. Results All cases appeared normal on the day after surgery, but subsequently developed eye pain, blurred vision, corneal infiltration, inflammation of the anterior chamber, and ciliary injection on day 2 or 3. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from two eyes, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus from two eyes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae from one eye. All detected bacteria were resistant to levofloxacin (LVFX). Five of the seven cases, especially four of the five severe cases with hypopyon, had a history of atopic dermatitis. All cases were observed after 2015. Conclusions Infectious keratitis after CXL caused by microbes resistant to LVFX is increasing. In addition to careful postoperative observation of the cornea, preoperative evaluation of bacteria within the conjunctival sac evident on nasal swab cultures may be useful to identify potentially problematic microbes and inform the selection of appropriate antibiotics.

Long-term clinical and radiological outcomes after total lumbar disc replacement at the lumbosacral junction

The study objective is to analyze long-term clinical and radiological outcomes in patients after performing total lumbar disc replacement at the level of the lumbosacral junction.Materials and methods. A multicenter retrospective observational cohort study was performed. The study included medical records of patients who underwent total lumbar disc replacement at the level of the lumbosacral junction. Both clinical and instrumental parameters were assessed. According to the eligibility criteria, 93 patients were included in the study (38 men, 55 women, mean age 39.9 ± 7.5 years). The average postoperative observation period for the respondents was 33.4 ± 9.5 months.Results. The severity of pain in the lumbar spine on a visual analogue scale significantly decreased (from 7.3 ± 2.5 to 1.9 ± 2.2 cm, p <0.001). The indicators of the quality of life according to the Oswestry Disability Index and according to the Short Form-36 scale (including the mental and physical components) of the studied group of respondents significantly improved (from 43.4 ± 17.6 to 18.9 ± 16.0 %, р <0.001 and from 30.8 ± 8.5 to 52.3 ± 12.4 %, p <0.001, respectively). From the 12th month of observation of the respondents, a significant decrease in the values of the range of motions of the operated segment was noted from 5.3 ± 3.2° to 4.1 ± 3.6° (p <0.009). Also, from the 12th month of postoperative observation, a slight decrease in the values of the range of motions of the adjacent segment from 8.6 ± 4.1° to 7.8 ± 3.8° (p >0.05) was verified. The value of global lumbar lordosis after the installation of a lumbar intervertebral disc prosthesis at the level of the lumbosacral junction significantly increased from 49.1 ± 4.8° to 55.6 ± 5.5° (p <0.001). Intervertebral disc prostheses with a lordotic angle of 10° reliably positively correlate with an increase in the values of segmental lordosis, in contrast to implants with an angle of 6° (rS = 0.86, p = 0.04). The severity of pain in the lumbar spine according to visual analogue scale and the range of motion of the operated segment has a significant negative correlation in the late periods of postoperative follow-up (24 and 36 months, rS = -0.74, p = 0.015).Conclusion. The total lumbar disc replacement technique is an effective method of surgical treatment of patients with degenerative diseases of the intervertebral discs of the lumbosacral spine, including at the level of the lumbosacral junction.

A case of presacral teratoid cyst in an adult patient

Presacral teratoid cyst (PTC) is a congenital structural abnormality located in the pararectal area and containing tissues from different germ layers. Cases of diagnosis and treatment of PTC in adults are extremely rare and there is little information about the treatment tactics and prognosis. We describe a case of PTC in a 28-year-old woman, with a description of the diagnostic process, preoperative and postoperative management, as well as a brief review of the literature on this topic. A reconstructive surgery was performed on the perineum, including: parasacral access, excision of the presacral cyst together with removal of the coccyx and plastic of the opening.&nbsp;The postoperative observation of the patient was without complications.

Laparoscopic ureteroplasty with tubularized buccal graft for extended obliteration of the distal ureter

Introduction. Reconstruction of the distal ureter after exposure to radiation energy on the pelvic organs remains an important problem in modern urology. The use of tissues of the own urinary tract in these cases is not always possible due to their deficiency in this category of patients, and the formation of an anastomosis by intestinal segments is often unjustified due to the high degree of trauma of enteroplastics. Materials and methods. To improve the immediate and long-term results of surgical treatment of extended strictures and obliterations of the distal ureter, we have developed a new method of its reconstruction – laparoscopic ureteroplasty of the distal ureter with tubularized buccal graft. This surgary was performed on a 36-year-old patient after extirpation of the uterus with appendages and the upper third of the vagina due to malignant neoplasm and several courses of radiation therapy. The length of the replaced ureteral defect was 6 cm. Results. The use of a tubularized buccal graft is an affordable alternative to these operations, and the laparoscopic technique allows one to achieve better anastomosis and reduce the number of postoperative complications. The immediate results of this operation are encouraging in terms of the possibility of its use in this category of patients. Conclusion. Laparoscopic ureteroplasty with tubularized buccal graft may be one of the promising options for the reconstruction of the distal ureter in case of its extended obliteration. The possibilities of this operation will be studied as experience is gained and as long-term postoperative observation of patients is observed.

NCOG-30. ADJUVANT VERSUS SALVAGE MANAGEMENT FOR IDH-MUTANT LOW GRADE GLIOMA

PURPOSE Timing of postoperative treatment in low-grade glioma (LGG) remains controversial. We sought to evaluate outcomes between adjuvant versus salvage management among patients with IDH-mutant molecularly-defined LGG. METHODS We analyzed a single-institutional database of adults diagnosed with LGG (grade II) with an IDH-mutation and either 1p19q-codeletion (oligodendroglioma) or 1p19q-intact (astrocytoma). Cox multivariable analysis (MVA) accounting for age, sex, and extent-of-resection, was used to compare adjuvant versus salvage approaches on overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), next-intervention free survival (NIFS, defined as intervention subsequent to either adjuvant or salvage treatment), and malignant-transformation free survival (MTFS). Adjuvant treatment was defined as immediate postoperative treatment with radiotherapy (RT) and/or temozolomide (TMZ) prior to progression. Salvage management was defined as postoperative observation followed by surgery or RT and/or TMZ at progression. RESULTS Of 162 patients with oligodendroglioma, median follow-up was 8.5 years (range, 0.03-25.7). Adjuvant treatment was given to 97 (59.9%) patients, with 65 (40.1%) undergoing a salvage approach. On MVA, adjuvant treatment was not associated with OS, PFS, NIFS, or MTFS (p &gt; 0.05 each). Among 82 patients with astrocytoma, median follow-up was 6.1 years (range, 0.5–25.7), and adjuvant treatment was administered to 41 (50.0%) patients, while 41 (50.0%) received salvage management. On MVA, adjuvant treatment was associated with improved PFS (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24-0.73, p &lt; 0.001) and NIFS (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18–0.65, p &lt; 0.001), but was not associated with OS or MTFS (p &gt; 0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS Among grade II, IDH-mutant oligodendrogliomas, initial postoperative observation followed by salvage treatment at progression may be appropriate, as immediate adjuvant therapy was not associated improved outcomes. However, a more individualized postoperative management approach is required for grade II, IDH-mutant astrocytomas, as adjuvant treatment was associated with improved PFS and NIFS, but not OS. Further validation and prospective studies are required.

The effects of preoperative imaging stability studies on intraoperative correction, postoperative observation, and clinical efficacy of adult lumbar spondylolisthesis treatment

Background The aim of this study is to explore the use of preoperative imaging stability studies of adult lumbar spondylolisthesis and it's effects on intraoperative correction, postoperative observation, and clinical efficacy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed a total of 104 patients diagnosed with lumbar spondylolisthesis who underwent Posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery between 2011 and 2014. The qualified patients were divided into two groups; group A (study/unstable group: 52 cases) and group B (control/stable group: 52 cases). Group A was further divided into group A1 (slip instability: 27 cases) and group A2 (angular instability: 25 cases). The preoperative lumbar sagittal plane translation distances and segmental angle of the preoperative lateral X-rays, hyperflexion X-rays, and hyperextension X-rays were measured and compared with their third-day postoperative lateral X-ray, and slip rate. The occurrences of intraoperative or postoperative complications, one-month postoperative follow-up data, including JOA, and VAS scores were access to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the treatment. Results Satisfactory postoperative radiographic correction was recorded in all groups. Better correction and correction was observed in group A1 patients and group B patients who used puller screws compared to those who used normal screws (P < 0.05). However, patients in group A2 who used normal pedicle screws had similar correction as those who used puller screws. The preoperative VAS scores showed that low back and lower extremity pain were higher in A1 and A2 groups compared to group B. However, they were lower one month postoperative. The preoperative JOA scores for the unstable groups (group A1 and A2) were lower than their stable counterpart but higher during the first month postoperative. Our analysis of postoperative complications also revealed no statistically significant difference between groups A1 and B, and groups A2, and B. Conclusions Preoperative imaging stability for adult lumbar spondylolisthesis does not affect intraoperative correction. The use of puller pedicle screws in patients with unstable or stable segmental slippage could achieve better correction and correction than with normal pedicle screws. The preoperative symptoms of patients with unstable segments were worse than their stable counterparts; however, their postoperative recovery was quicker in the first month postoperative.