Quantification of Radiation-Induced Fibrosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Using Shear Wave Elastography.

Background Radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) is a common side effect in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with radiotherapy. A validated tool to measure RIF does not currently exist. In this study, we evaluate the ability of shear wave elastography (SWE) to measure RIF in HNC survivors.

Comparing Current Practice Habits for Treatment of Subcondylar Fracture Among Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons.

Study Design: Survey.

Objective: Subcondylar fractures stand out as a particular challenge when treating maxillofacial trauma. The fracture site is often difficult to access and adjacent to critical structures like the facial nerve.

The Impact of Using Intraoperative Computed Tomography on the Number of Surgical Approaches Used for Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Repair.

Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures are repaired using a variety of surgical approaches. Utilization of intraoperative computed tomography (CT) may reduce the number of surgical approaches. To compare the use of intraoperative CT for the operative repair of ZMC fractures, as measured by the number of surgical approaches.

Prognostic significance of hemorrhage requiring embolization in the setting of previously treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and retrospective cohort.

Background: The management of acute hemorrhage in patients with previously treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is challenging due to the lack of substantial evidence to guide clinical decision making.

Methods: A systematic review and retrospective chart review were performed to identify patients with a history of HNSCC who underwent either primary or adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) and presented with hemorrhagic complications requiring embolization. Patient characteristics, history, presentation, and outcomes were reviewed.

Post-operative patient perception of decisional regret in cochlear implant recipients.

Importance: Decision regret post-surgery has has been linked to health outcomes for a number of elective procedures but is understudied in cochlear implantation satisfaction. Theunpredictability in outcomes may lead to unmet expectations by the recipient. This study is the first study to investigate the decision regret concept in cochlear implant recipients.

Inequities Associated With Advanced Stage at Presentation of Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Social determinants of health (SDoH) are defined by a wide range of factors (eg, built environment, economic stability, education level, discrimination, racism, access to health care). Advanced stage at presentation or delayed diagnosis heavily influences health outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). While the drivers of advanced-stage presentation come from a multitude of sources, SDoH plays an outsized role.

Trends in Maxillomandibular Fixation Technique at a Single Academic Institution.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Objective: Restoration of premorbid occlusion is a key goal in the treatment of mandibular fractures. Placement of the patient in maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) is performed during mandibular fracture repair to help establish occlusion.

Communities organizing to promote equity: engaging local communities in public health responses to health inequities exacerbated by COVID-19-protocol paper.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted rural and under-resourced urban communities in Kansas. The state's response to COVID-19 has relied on a highly decentralized and underfunded public health system, with 100 local health departments in the state, few of which had prior experience engaging local community coalitions in a coordinated response to a public health crisis.

Methods: To improve the capacity for local community-driven responses to COVID-19 and other public health needs, the University of Kansas Medical Center, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will launch Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE) in 20 counties across Kansas.

A Novel Electronic Record System for Documentation and Efficient Workflow for Community Health Workers: Development and Usability Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic added to the decades of evidence that public health institutions are routinely stretched beyond their capacity. Community health workers (CHWs) can be a crucial extension of public health resources to address health inequities, but systems to document CHW efforts are often fragmented and prone to unneeded redundancy, errors, and inefficiency.

Objective: We sought to develop a more efficient data collection system for recording the wide range of community-based efforts performed by CHWs.

Six-week postoperative opioid use and pain following a randomized controlled trial evaluating multimodal analgesia for head and neck free flap patients.

Introduction: Head and neck malignancy treatment often involves invasive surgeries, necessitating effective postoperative pain control. However, chronic reliance on opioid medications remains a challenge for many patients after surgery. Multimodal analgesia (MMA) within enhanced recovery after surgery protocols has shown success in limiting narcotic pain medications for other cancer types.

Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy Setting on Quality-of-Life in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: To determine differences in post-treatment QoL across treatment settings in patients receiving adjuvant radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study of patients with HNSCC initially evaluated in a head and neck surgical oncologic and reconstructive clinic at an academic medical center (AMC). Participants were enrolled prior to treatment in a prospective registry collecting demographic, social, and clinical data.

Disparities in Olfactory Dysfunction in African Americans.

Objectives: To examine olfactory performance in African Americans (AA) and Whites by comparing individual scent scores on objective olfactory tests to assess potential racial-ethnic differences of scent detection.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of healthy participants, age 18+ years, and without sinonasal inflammatory disease from June 2021 to April 2022. Included participants self-identified as AA or White.

Disentangling Social Determinants of Health and Rurality in Head and Neck Cancer 2-Year Mortality.

Social determinants of health (SDoH) and rurality are known factors that may influence outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Patients residing in remote locations or those with multiple SDoH may encounter barriers to initial diagnosis, adherence to multidisciplinary treatments, and posttreatment surveillance, which may impact their overall survival. However, previous studies have shown mixed results associated with rural residence.

Forecasting Rural and Urban Otolaryngologists, Radiation Oncologists, and Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

Objective: To forecast oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) incidence with otolaryngologist and radiation oncologist numbers per population by rural and urban counties through 2030.

Methods: Incident OPC cases were abstracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 19 database, and otolaryngologists and radiation oncologists from the Area Health Resources File by county from 2000 to 2018. Variables were analyzed by metropolitan counties with over 1,000,000 people (large metros), rural counties adjacent to a metro (rural adjacent), and rural counties not adjacent to a metro (rural not adjacent).

Adjuvant radiotherapy mitigates impact of perineural invasion on oncologic outcomes in early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. A multi-institutional analysis of 557 patients.

Objectives: Understand the prognostic impact of perineural invasion (PNI) in early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). Assess the influence of adjuvant radiotherapy on outcomes of patients with PNI-positive early-stage OCSCC.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective seven-institution cohort study including patients with pathologic T1-2 N0-1 OCSCC who underwent primary surgery with negative margins.

Quantifying Faculty Perception of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Within Academic Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Departments.

Objective: Investigating faculty perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) among academic otolaryngology programs.

Study Design: Quantitative survey.

Setting: Academic otolaryngology departments.

Association of Social-Ecological Factors With Delay in Time to Initiation of Postoperative Radiation Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Importance: Timely initiation of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) is associated with reduced recurrence rates and improved overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Measurement of the association of social-ecological variables with PORT delays is lacking.

Objective: To assess individual and community-level factors associated with PORT delay among patients with HNSCC.

The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic Policy on Social Needs Across the State of Kansas and Western Missouri: Paired Survey Response Testing.

Background: Studying patients' social needs is critical to the understanding of health conditions and disparities, and to inform strategies for improving health outcomes. Studies have shown that people of color, low-income families, and those with lower educational attainment experience greater hardships related to social needs. The COVID-19 pandemic represents an event that severely impacted people's social needs.

Assessing the Risk of Adjuvant Radiotherapy Initiation Delays With Social Support Surveys.

Objective: In patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), initiating postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) greater than 42 days after surgery is associated with a higher risk of poor survival outcomes. Social support has been shown to modulate behaviors related to care-seeking and treatment adherence. In this study, we sought to determine the relationship between social support metrics and PORT delays.

Integrating HPV Vaccination Within PrEP care Delivery for Underserved Populations: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is effective at preventing anal cancer, which disproportionally impacts gay/bisexual men (GBM) and transgender women (TGW). Vaccine coverage among GBM/TGW is insufficient to reduce anal cancer disparities. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) can increase reach and uptake of HPV vaccination by integrating and promoting HPV vaccination in ongoing HIV preventive care (e.

Factors affecting adherence to intranasal treatment for allergic rhinitis: A qualitative study.

Objective: To determine the facilitators of and barriers to adherence to use of intranasal pharmacotherapy (daily intranasal corticosteroids and/or antihistamine, and nasal saline irrigation [NSI]), for allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: Patients were recruited from an academic tertiary care rhinology and allergy clinic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the initial visit and/or 4-6 weeks following treatment.

Investigation of a Novel Activity-Based Checks (ABC) Functional Pain Scale in the Post-Operative Urologic Surgery Patient.

Introduction: The authors investigated a novel functional pain scale, the Activity-Based Checks (ABCs) of Pain, following open urologic surgery. The primary objectives were to establish the strength of the correlation between the ABCs and the numeric rating scale (NRS) and determine the impact of functional pain on the patient's opioid requirements. We hypothesized that ABC score would correlate strongly with NRS and that the ABC score during hospitalization would be more closely correlated with the number of opioids prescribed and used.

Long-term trends in body mass index throughout upper airway stimulation treatment: does body mass index matter?

Study Objectives: Upper airway stimulation is a surgical option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who fail other forms of noninvasive treatment. Current guidelines recommend a baseline body mass index (BMI) below 32 kg/m for eligibility. In this study, we identify trends in BMI before and after upper airway stimulation to characterize the influence of BMI on treatment success.