The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Jul 2009
ReviewPostoperative monitoring of microsurgical free tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction: a systematic review of current techniques--part I. Non-invasive techniques.
A systematic review of the literature relating to methods of monitoring viability of microvascular free tissue transfers in the head and neck region was conducted. The aim of this review is to identify the best method of monitoring that would allow timely salvage of potentially failing free flaps. An analysis and description of the various studied techniques is also given. In this first part, non-invasive modalities are covered.
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Jul 2009
Case ReportsPlacement of mandibular nerve block using computed tomography to locate the foramen ovale in a patient with severe dislocation after segmental mandiblectomy.
Operations to the face and skull can obscure the landmarks that are required to locate the position of the foramen ovale. We describe the use of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) to guide the approach to the foramen ovale to block the mandibular nerve in a patient with a mandibular deformity that had been caused by segmental mandiblectomy. Successful blockage of the mandibular nerve controlled the pain, contributed to the relief of physical and mental stress, and avoided the side effects of analgesics and pain from inserting the blocking needle.