Publications by authors named "Sean Pierce"

This case report presents a challenging case of catastrophic failure of a fixed partial denture involving fracture of the prosthesis as well as supporting implants and teeth. The use of robotics facilitated efficient and successful restoration of the patient's dentition. After extraction of 2 fractured teeth and 1 fractured implant, 2 new implants were placed with haptic guidance from robotics, which allowed for stable osteotomies and high initial implant stability quotients.

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Background: Current evaluation of rib fractures focuses almost exclusively on flail chest with little attention on bicortically displaced fractures. Chest trauma that is severe enough to cause fractures leads to worse outcomes. An association between bicortically displaced rib fractures and pulmonary outcomes would potentially change patient care in the setting of trauma.

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Background: Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (ioMRI) has led to significant advancements in neurosurgery with improved accuracy, assessment of the extent of resection, less invasive surgical alternatives, and real-time confirmation of targeting as well delivery of therapies. The costs associated with developing ioMRI units in the surgical suite have been obstacles to the expansion of their use. More recently, the development of hybrid interventional MRI (iMRI) units has become a viable alternative.

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Objective: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to jaw dysfunction, joint and muscle pain, and a decrease in quality of life. A communication network of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators called cytokines maintains the homeostasis of the TMJ. This review will focus on the Interleukin (IL) family of cytokines, which have been quantified in TMJ synovial fluids in a variety of studies.

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Background: Interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) guided deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) has been shown to be effective. The costs of a dedicated intraoperative MRI may be prohibitive. The procedure can also be performed in a diagnostic scanner, however this presents challenges for utilization of time when the scanner is used both as a diagnostic and an interventional unit.

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Purpose: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a cytokine that participates in the regulation of immune responses and inflammatory reactions. It is hypothesized that IL-1 levels may be elevated in patients suffering from temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of IL-1β expression with TMD using an immunohistochemical approach to evaluate the joint disc.

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Condylar hyperplasia (CH) is a rare disorder characterized by excessive bone growth that almost always presents unilaterally, resulting in facial asymmetry. Classification of the different types of CH can differ depending on the authors. Correct diagnosis is critical in determining the proper treatments and timing.

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Adams-Oliver syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that includes congenital scalp and skull defects, variable degrees of terminal transverse limb anomalies, and cardiac malformations. Cutis aplasia occurring in 75% of patients is a potentially life-threatening condition. Large skin defects that cannot be closed primarily present a management dilemma, and may require skin grafting or flaps, or a combination of both operative and conservative modalities.

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Purpose: To assess inter- and intraobserver reproducibility for different techniques of measuring relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) in patients with intracranial mass lesions.

Materials And Methods: Three independent observers (neuroradiology fellows) who were blinded to the histopathologic diagnosis performed rCBV measurements in 50 patients with various intracranial mass lesions. Three different methods were compared.

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