Aural tuberculosis at the start of the 21st century. Literature review according to SWiM guidelines. Part 2: Treatment

ObjectivesSystematic review of the scientific literature dedicated to treatment modalities and results for aural tuberculosis published since the start of the 21^st century.Material and methodsSearch of the Medline, Cochrane and Embase databases for the period 2000 - 2020. Selection of articles in English, French and Spanish devoted to clinical cases and series documenting treatment of auricular tuberculosis. Extraction of data on pre-established files documenting treatment modalities and results. Reading of articles by two authors. Analysis performed according to SWiM guidelines, evaluating cure, tuberculosis-related death, treatment-related complications, improvement in facial palsy, and hearing sequelae rates.ResultsOne hundred and twenty eight articles: 118 case reports (159 patients) and 10 cohorts (177 patients) from 42 countries were analyzed. Female/male sex ratio was 1.2 with ages ranging from 1 month to 87 years. Medical treatment consisted in 5 to 24 months’ antitubercular antibiotic treatment using 2 to 8 antibiotics. Mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty and facial nerve decompression were associated to medical treatment in 64.7%, 17.4% and 6.2% of cases, respectively. Overall rates of cure, death, treatment-related complications, facial sequelae and hearing sequelae were 96.8%, 2%, 9.5%, 35.8% and 75.5%. In case reports, BCG vaccination did not appear to protect against facial palsy and severe intracranial complications (P > 0.6). There was no significant correlation (P > 0.3) between death and the clinical variables tested, and facial nerve decompression did not appear to influence outcome for facial function (P = 0.4).ConclusionMedical treatment is very effective but not without risk of death, complications and sequelae. It is the same as for pulmonary tuberculosis. Indications for and benefit of major auricular surgery during medical treatment deserve further studies.     

Patterns of facial fractures in children

Morbidity and mortality among children is usually the result of trauma. Because a child’s face is retruded relative to the protecting skull, has a thicker layer of adipose tissue, more elastic bones, flexible sutures lines, the presence of tooth buds within the jaws, and the lack of pneumatisation of the sinuses, the facial bones fracture less commonly than in adults. Our aim was to assess the patterns of such fractures in children who presented to the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. All 535 eligible children between the ages of 1-16 years who presented during the two years December 2009 - December 2011 were included in the study. Facial fractures were diagnosed by clinical examination, plain radiographs, and computed tomography, and the pattern of fractures of the facial bones including the frontal bone, orbital bones, maxilla, zygoma, naso-orbito-ethmoidal complex, mandible, and dentoalveolar region was documented. The male:female ratio was 2:1 with 369 male (70%) and 166 female (31%) patients. Fall was the cause in 212 (39%), and in 167 (31%) it was road traffic accidents, while sports were the cause in 135 (25%). The naso-orboto-ethmoid complex was fractured in 37 cases (7%) while 104 children (19%) presented with isolated fractures of the zygomatic bone. The maxilla was fractured in 195 cases (36%), the mandible in 380 (71%), and dentoalveolar trauma was the cause in 256 (50%). The mandible was the bone that was most often fractured (mostly in boys and usually as a result of falls during summer vacations), with the peak occurring in those aged 8-12 years.     

Philtrum reconstruction in unilateral cleft lip repair

The philtrum is an important aesthetic structure in the midface. A number of philtrum reconstruction techniques have been advocated for secondary cleft lip revision procedures. Conventional surgical management involves end-to-end orbicularis oris muscle approximation during primary cleft lip repair, often resulting in a flat lip appearance that requires secondary revision surgery at a later stage. A novel modification of the approximation of the orbicularis oris muscle is described that may be implemented with any cleft lip technique in order to create an accentuated philtrum column for a natural looking philtrum. The muscle roll technique results in eversion of the orbicularis oris muscle, successfully recapturing the philtrum column topography. This is achieved by utilizing two inverted horizontal sutures, with an additional philtrum takedown suture placed in the region of the dimple to accentuate the philtrum anatomy and three-dimensional profile. This novel technique in unilateral cleft lip repair addresses philtrum architecture during primary surgery, which may reduce the requirement for secondary surgical intervention. Its application may be particularly suitable in outreach programmes where postoperative follow-up may be compromised.     

甲状腺激素对小鼠面神经损伤轴突再生及神经电生理功能的影响

目的： 探讨甲状腺激素对小鼠面神经损伤轴突再生及神经电生理功能的影响。方法： 将64只小鼠随机分为4组,即假手术组、模型组、甲状腺素组、甲状腺素+LY组,每组16只。除假手术组外,其余组均建立面神经损伤模型。术后苏醒开始干预,甲状腺素组于损伤处皮下注射50 μg/kg中性甲状腺素溶液,甲状腺素+LY组在甲状腺素组基础上腹腔注射600 μg/kg PI3K/AKT通路抑制剂LY294002,假手术组和模型组于损伤处注射生理盐水,每天1次,持续2周。干预结束后进行神经电生理检测,锇酸染色进行再生轴突计数,Western免疫印迹法检测面神经组织中p-AKT、NGF、BDNF蛋白的表达。采用SPSS 21.0软件包对数据进行统计学分析。结果： 假手术组正常神经髓鞘外未见新生轴突。与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组再生轴突数均升高,甲状腺素组显著高于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）。与假手术组相比,模型组运动神经传导速度（MNCV）和波幅降低,潜伏期延长（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组MNCV、波幅升高,甲状腺素组显著高于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组潜伏期缩短,甲状腺素组显著短于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）。与假手术组相比,模型组p-AKT、NGF、BDNF蛋白相对表达量显著升高（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组p-AKT蛋白相对表达量显著升高,甲状腺素+LY组显著降低（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组NGF、BDNF蛋白相对表达量升高,甲状腺素组显著高于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）。结论： 甲状腺激素可有效促进小鼠面神经损伤轴突再生,改善神经电生理功能,其机制可能是通过促进AKT磷酸化而发挥调控作用。     

Quality of life after hemifacial spasm surgery: French versions of the HFS-8 and HFS-30 questionnaires

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to assess quality of life before and after surgery for hemifacial spasm, in order to validate two specific quality of life scales translated in French. Surgical results and complications were reported.Material and methodsTwenty-three patients with hemifacial spasm treated by microvascular decompression were retrospectively included. The HFS-8 and HFS-30 quality of life scales were translated from English into French using a forward-backward method and implemented on patients at least one year after surgery.ResultsMedian HFS-8 and HFS-30 values were respectively 16 ± 12.5 (range: 8–20.5) and 38 ± 38.5 (range: 23–61.5) before surgery and 0.5 ± 4.5 (range: 0–4.5) and 5 ± 17.5 (range: 1–18.5) after surgery, showing significant improvement in quality of life (P < 0.001). The internal consistency of both scales was excellent (Cronbach's alpha > 0.9), and they were significantly correlated (Pearson coefficient = 0.95; 95% CI [0.91; 0.98]; P < 0.0001). Success rates were 83% and 91%, respectively, after primary and revision surgeries. Complications were transient with minor consequences in 80% of cases, but could impact quality of life when lasting.ConclusionsThese results support the validity of the French versions of HFS-8 and HFS-30. Microvascular decompression is a safe and effective treatment for hemifacial spasm, and these scales are reliable tools to assess postoperative quality of life.     

Minimally invasive temporalis tendon transposition and upper lid lipofilling for immediate and secondary facial reanimation in patients treated for malignant tumors of the parotid gland

Treatment for facial nerve-invading parotid malignancies usually results in complete facial palsy. The authors present a novel technique to treat facial palsy following radical parotid surgery and retrospectively evaluate results in terms of soft tissue symmetry at rest and during smiling and eyelid closure using the eFACE system.9 patients with facial palsy following parotid malignancies resection or undergoing parotidectomy with planned facial nerve resection for tumor invasion were treated with the association of mini-invasive temporalis flap rotation and upper lid lipofilling to restore symmetry of the middle facial third at rest and during smiling and eyelid closure. The technique was employed during the same surgical session as the tumor removal or for secondary facial reanimation.Systematic eFACE evaluation demonstrated significant improvement in static nasolabial fold depth orientation and oral commissure position, palpebral fissure narrowing during eye closure, and oral commissure movement and nasolabial fold depth and orientation with smile (p respectively .008, .011, 0.008, 0.035, 0.011, 0.008, and 0.011, Wilcoxon's test). Furthermore, all patients described subjective improvement of corneal discomfort.The presented technique appears promising in treating facial palsy in oncological patients, representing a potential alternative to other more complex reconstructive techniques.