published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-39)

Background Maxillary defects subsequent to hemimaxillectomy have long been restored with a pedicled temporalis flap. Recently,the trend towards maxillary reconstruction using vascularized bone free flaps and soft tissue free flaps has been gaining popularity. However, the value in terms of functional rehabilitation of these surgical modalities remains unconclusive. Objective To ascertain and compare masticatory performance and quality-of-life in patients with surgically reconstructed maxillectomy Class 2 (subtype A) defects by vascularized bone free flaps, vascularized soft tissue free flaps and pedicled soft tissue flaps. Methods Eighteen patients divided into 3 groups (4 vascularized bone flap, 5 vascularized soft tissue flap, 9 pedicled soft tissue flaps) were evaluated for functional outcome and qualityof-life (QoL). All patients were objectively assessed using masticatory comminution test. Subjective evaluation was conducted using functional outcomes questionnaire and patient reported speech perception. Self image and body perception were assessed using Body Esteem Scale. Overall quality-of-life was assessed using University of Washington QoL questionnaires. Results Patients reconstructed with vascularized bone flaps and vascularized soft tissue flaps showed superior masticatory performance compared to patients reconstructed with pedicled soft tissue flaps. Speech, facial attractiveness and overall QoL were similar for all three groups. Conclusions Maxillectomy class 2 (subtype A) patients show comparable speech, facial attractiveness and quality-of-life levels after reconstruction with vascularized bone flaps, vascularized soft tissue flaps and pedicled soft tissue flaps. However, those reconstructed with pedicled soft tissue flaps achieved lowest masticatory performances amongst the three surgical reconstruction modalities. Thus, the choice of recontruction for maxillectomy class 2 (subtype A) defects should be guided by minimizing surgical time and long term morbidity given the apparent similarity in functional outcomes. / published_or_final_version / Dental Surgery / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

En pratique clinique, les résultats de l’Anesthésie Loco-Régionale diffèrent parfois notablement de ceux prévus par les traités d’anatomie. Le but de notre travail a été de montrer que les nerfs musculocutané (MC) et cutanémédial de l’avant-bras (CMAB) participent fréquemment à l’innervation cutanée de la paume de la main. L’analyse multivariée de 551 patients opérés du canal carpien a révélé que l’absence de bloc du nerf MC était associée aux échecs de l’ALR. Pourtant, ce résultat était en partie masqué par une fréquente diffusion d’anesthésique local du nerf médian vers le nerf MC au bras, comme le prouve l’étude échographique de l’anatomie des nerfs au creux axillaire chez 387 autres patients. Une cartographie du territoire cutané des nerfs MC (N=28) et CMAB (N=2l) à la face antérieure de la main et du poignet a révélé des territoires bien plus étendus que ceux décrits dans la littérature. Les microdissections de ces 2 nerfs sur 23 membres supérieurs ont permis d’associer les différents types de territoires décrits lors des cartographies à diverses configurations anatomiques. Il convient donc d’anesthésier ces deux nerfs pour toute chirurgie de la paume de la main. / In daily practice, the extent of peripheral nerve blockade often differs from the one predicted by referencetextbooks. In this work, we strived to demonstrate that musculocutaneous (MC) and medial antebrachialcutaneous (MABC) nerves participate frequently in the palm innervation. A multivariate analysis of 551 patients operated from carpal tunnel release showed that the absence of MC nerve block was associated with anesthesia failure. Yet, these results were minimized by frequent local anesthetic diffusion from the median nerve to the MC one at the arm, as demonstrated by our anatomical study of the nerves in 387 ultrasound guided axillary blocks. Cutaneous territory mapping of MC (N28) and MABC (N=2 1) nerves revealed their territories were far more extended than the ones described in reference textbooks. Microdissections of these nerves on 23 upper limbs allow to associate the different types of territories with several anatomical patterns. Therefore, MC and MABC nerve should be blocked when considering any palm surgery.