Publications by authors named "Mark Urata"

Fronto-orbital retrusion may occur after primary surgical correction of craniosynostosis, particularly in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis. This study investigated reoperation rates and factors contributing to FO relapse among this cohort. A retrospective review evaluated reoperation for FO relapse in patients with syndromic multisuture craniosynostosis who underwent primary fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) + calvarial vault remodeling (CVR) at our institution between 2004 and 2024.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effects of tranexamic acid (TXA) on blood loss and transfusion needs during midface reconstruction surgeries, given the significant risks of bleeding in these procedures.
  • Conducted at Children's Hospital Los Angeles from 2010 to 2023, the retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 80 patients, categorizing them based on whether they received TXA or not.
  • Key outcomes measured included intraoperative blood loss, transfusion requirements, complications, and length of hospital stay, with a focus on determining any statistically significant differences linked to TXA administration.
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Objective: This study analyzes indications and outcomes of premaxillary setback (PS) and presents an algorithm for its use in patients with bilateral cleft lip and/or palate (BCL ± P).

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

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Secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) during mixed dentition is the standard of care for patients with complete cleft of lip and palate. Early SABG (E-SABG; 4 to 7 y) occurs before the eruption of lateral incisors, whereas late SABG (L-SABG; 8 to 12 y) occurs before the eruption of maxillary permanent canines. This study compares outcomes of E-SABG versus L-SABG among patients with unilateral cleft of lip and palate (UCLP).

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Article Synopsis
  • This study focuses on the importance of secondary soft tissue surgeries for improving facial appearance in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis, highlighting that such procedures are often overlooked in medical literature.
  • Researchers conducted a retrospective review of 106 patients treated at a children's hospital from 2003 to 2023, assessing both skeletal and soft tissue surgeries.
  • The findings revealed that a high percentage of patients underwent soft tissue procedures (95.3%), with significant correlations between previous skeletal surgeries and the likelihood of needing additional soft tissue interventions.
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Objective: The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends patient education materials (PEMs) be written at or below a sixth grade reading level. This study seeks to determine the quality, readability, and content of available alveolar bone grafting (ABG) PEMs and determine if artificial intelligence can improve PEM readability.

Design: Review of free online PEMs.

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Background: Craniosynostosis is a common diagnosis requiring early referral to a pediatric plastic surgeon; however, disparities in healthcare may influence presentation timing and affect treatment options and outcomes. This study aimed to explore sociodemographic factors contributing to delay in craniosynostosis surgical consultation.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 694 California-based craniosynostosis patients at a tertiary children's hospital was performed from 2006 to 2023.

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This case report presents a virtual treatment simulation of the orthodontic treatment and surgery-first orthognathic surgery employed to treat a patient with a repaired unilateral cleft lip and alveolus with Class III malocclusion and lower third facial asymmetry. The patient exhibited a negative overjet of 9 mm, a missing lower right second premolar, and a 5 mm gap between the upper right central and lateral incisors with midline discrepancy. The three-dimensional virtual planning began with virtual pre-surgical orthodontics, followed by the positioning of the facial bones and teeth in their ideal aesthetic and functional positions.

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Objective: The influence of different surgical techniques on maxillary growth remains unclear. This study investigates the long-term impact of Furlow double-opposing Z-plasty versus straight-line repair (SLR) techniques on midface growth and subsequent orthognathic surgery.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

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Children born with a cleft palate with or without a cleft lip (CP±L) are at risk for sleep-disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While OSA and CP±L have both been associated with higher risk for psychosocial and academic concerns, their combined risk has been understudied. This paper aimed to describe polysomnography findings and psychosocial and academic concerns among children with isolated (iCP±L) and syndrome-associated (sCP±L) clefts who had undergone primary palatoplasty.

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Surgical treatment of pediatric maxillary and mandibular tumors can cause significant postresection disfigurement, mastication, and speech dysfunction. The need to restore form and function without compromising growth at the recipient and donor sites poses a particular reconstructive dilemma. This study evaluates outcomes of the custom endoprosthesis (CE) compared with noncustom reconstruction (NCR) and introduces an algorithm using CE to optimize available soft tissue reconstructive options.

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Background: Antiresorptive targeted cancer therapies, such as denosumab and bisphosphonates, are used in adults, but their application in pediatric cancer is more recent. Side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) observed in adults have curtailed use of these medications in the pediatric population.

Purpose: This study assesses the frequency of ONJ, other side effects, and the indications for use of denosumab versus bisphosphonates in pediatric subjects.

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The pathogenesis of craniosynostosis, characterized by the premature fusion of calvarial sutures, is multifaceted and often the result of an amalgamation of contributing factors. The current study seeks examine the possible contributors to craniosynostosis development and its surgical trends over time. A multicenter/national retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients who underwent surgical repair of craniosynostosis (n=11,279) between 2012 and 2021 identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric Data File.

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Objective: To compare postoperative outcomes and costs between inpatient and outpatient ABG in the United States.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Multi-institutional/national.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aims to improve awareness and perioperative care for patients with cleft palate (CP) who also have heart and lung issues.
  • It analyzed data from surgeries between 2012-2020, finding that a notable percentage of CP patients also had congenital heart (CHD) and pulmonary defects (CPD), leading to more complications and longer hospital stays.
  • The results suggest that healthcare providers should be vigilant for these coexisting conditions in CP patients and ensure thorough evaluations and optimizations before surgery.
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Submucous cleft palate (SMCP) is a common congenital anomaly characterized by a diastasis of the levator veli palitini muscle. The subtlety of SMCP on physical examination can contribute to diagnostic delays. This study aims to analyze the factors contributing to delays in care and subsequent postoperative outcomes in patients with SMCP.

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Background: Alveolar bone grafting (ABG) using iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) is best practice for children with complete cleft lip and palate. With the advent of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) and demineralized bone matrix (DBM), excellent results can still be achieved while avoiding donor-site morbidity. This study aims to determine the critical-sized defects by analyzing graft failure rates for ICBG and rhBMP-2/DBM to guide surgeons performing ABG.

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Objective: This study aims to compare patients' speech correcting surgery and fistula rates between the Furlow and Straight Line (SLR) palatoplasty techniques when combined with greater palatine flaps for complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) repair.

Design: This was a single-center IRB approved retrospective cohort study.

Setting: This study took place at an urban tertiary academic center.

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Objective: To investigate risk factors for readmission and the implications of same-day discharge for surgical management of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Multi-institutional/national.

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Background: Cleft lip (CL) is one of the most common congenital anomalies and has traditionally been repaired surgically when the patient is between 3 and 6 months of age. However, recent single-institutional studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of early CL repairs (ECLRs) during the neonatal period. This study seeks to evaluate the outcomes of ECLR (repair <1 month) versus traditional lip repair (TLR) by comparing outcomes on a national scale.

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Class III malocclusion for individuals with cleft lip and palate has historically been managed with surgery. Orthodontic protraction is a noninvasive alternative that may be associated with lower costs. This analysis investigated the budget impact of protraction versus surgery from an institutional perspective.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the use of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (h-UCMSCs) as an alternative graft material for alveolar cleft repair (ACR), comparing it with traditional methods using PLGA scaffolds.
  • In a controlled mouse model, the researchers created bone defects and analyzed the effects of various treatments on bone regeneration over 4 weeks.
  • Results showed that h-UCMSCs combined with PLGA significantly improved bone fill compared to no treatment or PLGA alone, suggesting potential for future clinical applications in bone repair.
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Craniosynostosis (CS) occurs 1 in 2500 births and surgical intervention is indicated partly due to risk for elevated intracranial pressure (EICP). Ophthalmological examinations help identify EICP and additional vision concerns. This study describes preoperative and postoperative ophthalmic findings in CS patients (N=314) from chart review.

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Nonsyndromic unilateral coronal craniosynostosis (UCS) is a rare congenital disorder that results from premature fusion of either coronal suture. The result is growth restriction across the suture, between the ipsilateral frontal and parietal bones, leading to bony dysmorphogenesis affecting the calvarium, orbit, and skull base. Prior studies have reported associations between UCS and visual abnormalities.

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