OBJECTIVETo investigate the surgical outcome and its influencing factors in patients of congenital basilar invagination (BI) with atlanto-axial dislocation (AAD).

METHODSFrom May 2004 to August 2010, 120 patients who had BI with AAD were surgically treated with direct posterior intraoperative distraction-reduction and fixation technique, 93 patients were successfully followed up by means of questionnaire survey, telephone and clinical evaluation. Pre- and postoperative dynamic cervical X-rays, computed tomographic scans, 3-dimentional reconstruction views and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Pre- and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, distance between odontoid tip and Chamberlain's line and atlantodental interval were measured to evaluate the surgical result. Statistical analysis was performed by means of paired t test and Pearson Correlation analysis.

RESULTSThere were 93 cases were followed up for 24-99 months with an average of 46.5 months. Until the final follow-up, clinical symptoms were improved in 79 patients (84.9%), and were stable in 7 patients (7.5%) and deteriorated in 4 patients (4.3%). Three patients died postoperatively (3.2%). Patients without intramedullary signal intensity change (ISIC) had better surgical outcome. Patients with compression from anterior odontoid tip and posterior bone margin of occipital foramen had the worst surgical outcome (F = 3.987, P < 0.01). Overall, good decompression and bone fusion were shown on postoperative image in 87 patients (93.5%). There were 3 deaths in this series because of basilar artery thrombosis, posterior fossa hematoma and unknown reasons each.

CONCLUSIONSThe direct posterior intraoperative distraction-reduction and fixation technique is an effective simple and safe method for the treatment of BI with AAD. Anterior compression from odontoid tip and posterior compression from bone margin of occipital foramen-atlantal posterior arch play important roles in its developing mechanism. ISIC on MRI is a predictive factor for the worse surgical outcome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; surgery ; Bone Screws ; Child ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platybasia ; complications ; surgery ; Root Cause Analysis ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the surgical managements for residual or recurrent diseases in the neck after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODSSeventy-eight cases of neck masses (39 cases for unilateral residual diseases, 9 for bilateral residual diseases and 30 for recurrent diseases) after radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated surgically between January 1990 and December 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 56 males and 22 females. Their ages ranged from 28 to 65 years (median 41 years). There were 27 patients with skin involvement. After preoperative imaging assessment, 17 patients whose common carotid arteries or internal carotid arteries were difficult to separate routinely attained the carotid balloon occlusion test which confirmed that 15 cases of cerebral arterial circle open to compensation, however, two cases of poor compensation. Surgical procedures included expanded neck mass resection (21 cases), unilateral radical neck dissection (49 cases) and bilateral radical neck dissection (8 cases). Of them 5 patients were with unilateral internal carotid artery resection. Neck defects were repaired with pectoralis major muscle flaps (15 cases), free anterolateral femoral skin flaps (9 cases) and trapezius muscle flaps (3 cases). Of the 78 patients, 13 with microscopic positive diseases and 2 with residual diseases in internal carotid artery walls underwent postoperative radiotherapy, with the doses of 45 to 50 Gy.

RESULTSAll patients were closely followed-up more than 5 years. Three- and five-year survival rates were 46.2% and 28.3% respectively. Neck defects were successfully repaired with skin flaps immediately after resecting diseases in 27 cases, only one patient with delayed healing. Of 51 patients without skin flap repair, neck wounds healed successfully in 45 patients and with delayed healing in 6 patients. Pathological positive rates of lymph nodes located in the level I, II, III, IV and V were 10.5%, 61.4%, 10.5%, 1.8% and 28.1% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative balloon occlusion test is required to assess the function of Willis' ring before determining ligation or resection of internal carotid artery. Residual or recurrent diseases commonly exist in level II, VA and III, which should be included in neck dissection. Pectoralis major muscle flap and free anterolateral femoral skin flap are recommended for the repair of neck defect.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Neoplasm, Residual ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis and treatments of thyroid goiters invading mediastinum and thoracic cavity.

METHODSSeventy-eight cases of thyroid goiters invading mediastinum and thoracic cavity and undergoing surgery from 1995 to 2005 were reviewed. There were 22 males and 56 females and their age ranged from 45 years to 78 years with a median age of 59 years. According to the classification of intrathoracic thyroid goiters, there were 50 cases in Class I, 20 cases in Class II and 8 cases in Class III. In these patients, 38 cases suffered from dyspnea at degree I and 20 cases at degree II. Of the patients, 71 underwent thyroidectomy through neck approach and 7 underwent thyroidectomy by a combined approach of neck incision plus sternotomy or lateral thoracotomy. Tracheal defects in 4 cases and esophageal defects in 3 cases were repaired. Postoperative residual diseases were found in tracheoesophageal wall (5 cases) and mediastinum (6 cases). Eleven patients received postoperative radiotherapy and 18 underwent (131)I treatment. No case died of operation and no case with wound infection.

RESULTSThe time of follow-up was 60 - 180 months with a median of 110 months. Three patients lost follow-up. Dyspnea in 58 cases were improved after operation. Three of 49 patients with nodular goiters died from cardiocerebrovascular diseases. Of 29 patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma, 2 died from lung metastasis and 3 died from neck relapse. Five-year survival rate was 75.0% in the patients with thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSIONSMost of thyroid goiters invading mediastinum and thoracic cavity can be completely resected via neck approach, but a combined approach of neck incision plus sternotomy or lateral thoracotomy may be used in some cases with malignant goiters to dissect the diseases completely. Postoperative external beam radiotherapy are required for the residual diseases. (131)I may be considered in high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma cases.

Aged ; Female ; Goiter, Nodular ; pathology ; Goiter, Substernal ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Cavity ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the outcomes following the tumor resection of oral cavity and maxillofacial and reconstruction with free anterolateral thigh flaps (ALT).

METHODSThirty one patients underwent ALT reconstruction following the tumor resection from Dec. 2004 to Dec. 2005. Among them, 17 cases were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of tongue, 6 cases of buccal SCC and 8 other malignant. The size of the ALT flaps ranged from 4 to 8 cm in width and 6 to 23 cm in length. Tracheotomy were performed for 4 cases intraoperatively.

RESULTSThe overall successful rate was 96.8%. Thirty cases survival no cancer, 1 case died of recurrent and no-controlled of lymph-node in 8 months after operation. Postoperative vessel thrombosis occurred in 3 flaps between 12 hours to 4 days after operation. Two of them were saved. The necrosis area of the third flap was 25%.

CONCLUSIONSThe ALT was benefit to repair the defects of oral cavity and maxillofacial, and the donor place was more easily hidden and didn't not influence the outlook and function; the important normal functional framing such as teeth and bone should be preserved; the pedicle of vessel could't be twisted during the procedure of reconstruction to avoid vein oppressed; the size of flap should be suitable to defects in order to avoid flaps being crowd and blood clot; tracheotomy was safe while repairing the defect of hard and soft palate. Reconstructive surgical procedures;

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; surgery ; Mouth Neoplasms ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Thigh ; surgery

Objective:To investigate the effect of early postoperative enteral nutrition (EEN) on laparoscopic and open radical gastrectomy.Methods:From January 2015 to December 2016,68 patients with gastric cancer admited in Anqing Hospital,Anhui Medical University,were randomized into laparoscopic group (33 cases) and open group (35 cases).The following parameters were collected:(1) Surgical outcomes and complications;(2) EEN tolerance;(3) postoperative nutritional status;(4) starting time of postoperative chemotherapy.Results:There was no significant difference between groups in terms of operation time,number of lymph node,postoperative complications such as anastomotic fistula,pulmonary infection,incision infection (P ＞ 0.05);whereas the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in laparoscopic group (P ＜ 0.01).(2) EEN tolerance:Postoperative discomforts,such as abdominal distension,diarrhea and other symptoms occurred significantly less in laparoscopic group (P ＜ 0.01),and time for TEN is significantly shorter (P ＜ 0.01).(3) Postoperative nutritional status:On the 7th day after operation,the nutrition status of the laparoscopic group improved earlier.There was significant difference regarding the detected blood level of prealbumin and C-reactive protein between the two groups (P ＜ 0.01).On the 14th day after operation,the nutritional status of the laparoscopic group improved significantly.The body weight,the right upper arm muscle circumference and the albumin were significantly different between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).(4) The number of cases receiving chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer was significantly higher in laparotomy group than that with open distal gastrectomy.Conclusion:Laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer reduces surgical trauma,and leads to better EEN tolerance and earlier achieved TEN,which is conducive to improving postoperative nutritional status,as well as providing good conditions for adjuvant chemotherapy.