Dynamic interface printing.

Additive manufacturing is an expanding multidisciplinary field encompassing applications including medical devices, aerospace components, microfabrication strategies and artificial organs. Among additive manufacturing approaches, light-based printing technologies, including two-photon polymerization, projection micro stereolithography and volumetric printing, have garnered significant attention due to their speed, resolution or potential applications for biofabrication. Here we introduce dynamic interface printing, a new 3D printing approach that leverages an acoustically modulated, constrained air-liquid boundary to rapidly generate centimetre-scale 3D structures within tens of seconds.

Unfractionated Heparin Administered Every 8 h Outperforms 12 Hourly Administration for Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Reconstructive Head and Neck Tumor Patients: A 12 Year Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), comprising deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), poses a significant risk of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients, especially those undergoing head and neck cancer surgery with microvascular free flap reconstruction. These patients are at a heightened risk of VTE due to numerous patient and surgical risk factors. VTE chemoprophylaxis guidelines in these patients are limited due to a distinct paucity of research.

Arteriovenous Shunts: Their Location and Role in Physiology, Pathology, and Tissue Transfer. A Preliminary Report in the Upper Limb.

Background: Tiny arteriovenous (AV) shunts of 10-150 µm (0.01-0.15 mm) are documented in the hands and feet.

Optimising Patient Outcomes in Tongue Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

A multidisciplinary approach to the management of tongue cancer is vital for achieving optimal patient outcomes. Nursing and allied health professionals play essential roles within the team. We developed symposia comprising a series of online lectures offering a detailed perspective on the role each discipline and consumer perspective has in the management of patients with tongue cancer.

Cranioplasty is not required in the reconstruction of small combined scalp and calvarial defects.

Background: Treatment of scalp malignancies may include the need for craniectomy. The decision to perform cranioplasty is not straightforward and is frequently subjective. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes after reconstruction of complex scalp and calvarial defects by comparing patients with and without cranioplasty.

The impact of electric scooters in Melbourne: data from a major trauma service.

Background: The proliferation of electric scooters globally has been associated with an increase in related injuries and consequent economic burden. This study aims to assess the injury patterns and the economic impact associated with electric scooter use in Melbourne, Australia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using hospital and registry data from January 2022 to January 2023.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prescribing Practice in Head and Neck Tumor Resection and Free Flap Reconstruction.

Background: Adherence to guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis is often poor and is an important target for antimicrobial stewardship programs. Prescribing audits that suggested poor adherence to guidelines in a plastic surgery department led to a targeted education program to bring antibiotic prescriptions in line with hospital guidelines. We reviewed whether this intervention was associated with changed perioperative prescribing and altered surgical outcomes, including the rate of surgical site infections, specifically looking at clean-contaminated head and neck tumor resections with free flap reconstruction.

Risk factors for surgical site infection in free-flap reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer: Retrospective Australian cohort study.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are common complications of free-flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer defects. This study aimed to identify risk factors for SSI following a significant change in local antibiotic prophylaxis practice.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 325 patients receiving free-flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer defects at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia between 2013 and 2019.

Radiological assessment of facial fractures: a comparative study between surgeon and radiologist.

Background: The authors aimed to examine the differences in CT facial bone interpretation by the faciomaxillary surgeon and the radiologist, in order to improve communication gaps and subsequently, the quality and consistency of patient care.

Methods: This study was conducted at a level I tertiary trauma centre. Patients with facial trauma who were referred to the faciomaxillary unit following a facial CT examination from August 2017 to September 2018 were eligible for inclusion.

Quality-of-life outcomes after operative management of primary and secondary lymphoedema: a systematic review.

Background: Lymphoedema is an incurable and progressive disease that affects not only physical function but overall quality of life. Surgical treatment options for the management of lymphoedema are being increasingly performed. This study aims to review post-operative health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following surgical treatment of lymphoedema.

Rationalizing post-operative prophylactic anticoagulation in reconstructive head and neck cancer patients: a review.

Microsurgical reconstructive head and neck cancer patients are at high risk of venous thromboembolism. The use of anticoagulation can reduce their risk; however, this also increases their bleeding risk. It is not clear whether the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks, and whether a specific post-operative anticoagulation regime is superior.

Chest keloids: effect of surgical excision and adjuvant radiotherapy on recurrence, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chest keloids are a difficult sub-group of scars to treat, likely secondary to the high wound tension in the area that promotes excessive fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. Excision and adjuvant radiotherapy has been demonstrated as an efficacious treatment for keloids in general, but no meta-analysis exists to support the claims for chest keloids. This study aims to identify the rate of recurrence after surgical resection and radiotherapy on patients with chest keloids.

Virtual surgical planning in fibula free flap head and neck reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The traditional approach to head and neck reconstruction is considered challenging, requiring a subjective assessment of an often-complex defect followed by careful modelling of a bony flap to match this. The introduction of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) has provided the surgeon with a means to increase efficiency, precision and overall patient outcomes. This study aims to compare VSP and traditional head and neck reconstructions utilising fibula free flaps with regards surgical efficiency and patient outcomes.

Comparative osteoradionecrosis rates in bony reconstructions for head and neck malignancy.

Background: Bony free flaps are used to reconstruct head and neck cancer defects. The most commonly used flaps are the free fibula flap and the deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flap. Radiotherapy may be given post-operatively to prevent cancer recurrence.

A quantitative, surface plasmon resonance-based approach to evaluating DNA binding by the c-Myc oncoprotein and its disruption by small molecule inhibitors.

The use of small molecules to interfere with protein-protein interactions has tremendous therapeutic appeal and is an area of intense interest. Numerous techniques exist to assess these interactions and their disruption. Many, however, require large amounts of protein, do not allow interactions to be followed in real time, are technically demanding or require large capital expenditures and high levels of expertise.

Achieving adequate margins in ameloblastoma resection: the role for intra-operative specimen imaging. Clinical report and systematic review.

Background: Ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive odontogenic neoplasm. With local recurrence rates reaching 90%, only completeness of excision can facilitate cure. Surgical clearance has widely been based on pre-operative imaging to guide operative excision margins, however use of intra-operative specimen x-ray or frozen-section has been sought to improve clearance rates, and advanced imaging technologies in this role have been proposed.