In the original publication [...].
In the original publication [...].
Background: Rotary instrument fracture during third molar extraction is rare but clinically relevant, presenting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Aim: This scoping review summarizes available evidence on bur breakage and displacement during third molar surgery, focusing on causes, clinical manifestations, and management strategies.
Materials and methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Virtual Health Library, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published from January 2008 to March 2025 reporting rotary instrument fracture during third molar extraction. Extracted data were qualitatively analyzed.
Results: Eight studies reporting eleven clinical cases were included. All fractures occurred during mandibular third molar extractions. Pain was the most frequent symptom (45%), followed by swelling (27%) and trismus (18%). Management varied from immediate surgical retrieval to conservative observation.
Conclusions: Although uncommon, rotary bur fracture during third molar extraction requires preventive attention and accurate reporting. Adherence to manufacturer recommendations, single-use bur policies, and adequate irrigation should be considered. Prospective multicenter and mechanical studies are needed to establish standardized management protocols.
Background: The optimal management of comminuted proximal humerus fractures in the elderly remains controversial. Although hemiarthroplasty is widely used for complex fracture patterns, its functional superiority over reconstruction is not consistently demonstrated. The aim of this study was to compare early functional outcomes following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) versus hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients with three- and four-part proximal humerus fractures. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included elderly patients with comminuted proximal humerus fractures treated between 2020 and 2024 by either ORIF or hemiarthroplasty. Functional outcomes were assessed at 6 months using the Constant-Murley and DASH scores. Secondary outcomes included complication rates, range of motion, and early reintervention. Results: At 6 months, the ORIF group showed a mean Constant-Murley score of 62.1 ± 9.4 compared with 58.0 ± 10.2 in the hemiarthroplasty group. DASH scores were 34.2 ± 10.8 for ORIF and 38.5 ± 11.3 for hemiarthroplasty. Pain levels were similarly low in both groups (VAS 2.6 ± 1.1 vs. 2.9 ± 1.2). Complication rates were comparable, with fixation-related issues occurring in 17% of ORIF cases and tuberosity-related complications in 11% of hemiarthroplasty cases. Conclusions: Hemiarthroplasty should not be regarded as the default treatment strategy for comminuted proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients. When stable anatomic reduction is achievable, ORIF can yield comparable early functional results, emphasizing that patient selection and tuberosity management remain more important than the choice of implant.
Background/Objectives: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remain a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet early-life reproductive factors such as age at menarche have been insufficiently explored in relation to HDP. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between age at menarche and the risk of HDP in a cohort of Mexican pregnant women. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 1344 women with singleton pregnancies receiving care at a tertiary hospital in Mexico City in 2024. Age at menarche was categorized as <12, 12-14, and >14 years. HDP diagnoses were extracted from clinical records. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (RRs). Sensitivity analyses included alternative menarche categorizations and restricted cubic spline models. Counterfactual mediation analyses assessed indirect effects through reconstructed prepregnancy BMI and gestational diabetes. Results: Both early (<12 years) and late (>14 years) menarche were associated with higher HDP risk than the 12-14-year reference (adjusted RR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.42-2.30, and 1.74; 95% CI 1.27-2.38, respectively). Spline models confirmed a U-shaped association. Mediation analyses indicated that prepregnancy BMI did not meaningfully mediate the association for either early or late menarche (<5% mediated). Gestational diabetes explained a modest proportion of the association for early menarche (≈14%), but not for late menarche. Conclusions: Age at menarche showed a robust U-shaped association with HDP, mostly independent of adiposity and gestational diabetes, within the limits of the available measurements. Incorporating pubertal timing into routine reproductive history taking may enhance contextual risk assessment for HDP.
Background/objectives: Third ventricle colloid cysts (TVCCs) are benign lesions that may cause acute hydrocephalus and, rarely, sudden death. Endoscopic resection has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to microsurgical approaches. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic resection of TVCCs.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of major databases was performed to identify studies reporting clinical outcomes of endoscopic resection of TVCCs. Extracted data included the surgical technique, extent of resection, complications, recurrence, and reoperations.
Results: Thirty-four studies comprising 1123 patients were included. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 767 patients (68.3%), with higher rates for the transforaminal (88.4%) and transeptal (86.9%) approaches (z = 0.309; p = 0.76). Capsule removal was performed in 87.4% and coagulation alone in 11.6%. Postoperative remnants occurred in 172 patients (17.1%). Recurrence was observed in 41 cases (3.7%) after a mean follow-up of 46.3 months, with 33 patients (2.9%) requiring reoperation. Preoperative hydrocephalus was present in 51% of cases. Septostomy and external ventricular drainage were performed in 15.7% and 15.5% of patients, respectively. Complications included memory deficits (3.6%), meningitis (3.6%), intraventricular hemorrhage (2.7%), ischemia (1.1%), shunt dependency (2.1%), and seizures (0.6%). Mortality occurred in eight patients (0.7%).
Conclusions: Endoscopic management of TVCCs is associated with a low complication rate and favorable long-term outcomes. Capsule resection reduces the risk of recurrence and the need for reoperation.
Background: The PITX1 gene encodes a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in the development of the lower limbs, pelvis, and structures derived from the first branchial arch. Pathogenic variants in PITX1 are associated with a limited spectrum of rare disorders, including congenital talipes equinovarus with or without long bone anomalies and/or mirror-image polydactyly, and Liebenberg syndrome. In 2020, a novel clinical phenotype, Mandibular-Pelvic-Patellar (MPP) syndrome, resulting PITX1 missense variants, was proposed. Case presentation: We report the fourth documented case of MPP syndrome worldwide, identified in a 17-year-old female patient presenting with congenital lower limb deformities, patellar aplasia, and micrognathia. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a heterozygous PITX1 missense variant NM_002653.5: c.412A>C, p.(Lys138Gln). The clinical phenotype included knee flexion contractures and severe equinovarus and planovalgus foot deformities requiring multiple staged reconstructive surgical procedures. Conclusions: This case supports recognition of MPP syndrome as a clinically and genetically distinct PITX1-related disorder. Our findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of MPP syndrome and suggest that severe congenital foot deformities represent a consistent and clinically relevant feature of this condition.
Background: Auricular carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm arising from the epithelial or adnexal tissues of the external ear, most commonly representing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, or, less frequently, melanoma, characterized by early cartilage invasion and regional spread due to the thin soft-tissue envelope of the ear. Such malignancies involve radical resection, producing wide defects, which require complex reconstructive approach. Case Presentation and Methods: We describe a 45-year-old male patient who presented with a basal cell carcinoma, affecting the lobulus of the ear and the retroauricular and mastoid region. He underwent successful tumor resection with clear resection margins in an ENT department with a subsequent referral to our department for reconstruction. This report presents a successful reconstruction of a large post-excisional defect, 10 × 10 cm in diameter, with mastoid process exposure. Temporal muscle flip flap and skin graft, along with the preservation of the external auditory canal with Z-plasty, were incorporated for reconstruction after subtotal auricular amputation due to BCC. It highlights the importance of a diligent long-term follow-up, the preservation of the canal, preventing meatal stenosis, and the reconstructive potential of the muscle flap in patients with mastoid bone exposure in a single stage. Conclusions: A temporalis muscle flap with skin graft coverage offers a reliable, vascularized solution for large post-oncologic auricular defects while preserving the external auditory canal. Z-plasty remains a critical technique for preventing meatal stenosis.
Background/Objectives: Alopecia areata (AA) and psoriasis are immune-mediated diseases that can coexist, suggesting shared pathogenic mechanisms. While Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are approved for AA treatment, their role in managing concomitant psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) remains unclear. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in patients with severe AA and coexisting psoriasis and/or PsA. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case series of five patients (mean age 53.2 years) with severe AA (SALT > 80) or alopecia universalis (AU) and concomitant psoriasis (n = 2) and/or PsA (n = 3) was conducted in the Dermatology Unit of Policlinico of Tor Vergata, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Patients received baricitinib 4 mg/day and were assessed at weeks 4, 24, and 52 using SALT, PASI, and pVAS scores. Results: At week 52, one patient achieved complete AA remission, while two improved to SALT < 20 (mean SALT 83 to 8.75). Psoriasis remained stable (mean PASI 1.4 to 0.5). However, one PsA patient worsened (pVAS 9) and discontinued the treatment. Conclusions: Baricitinib was effective for AA, with potential benefits for psoriasis, but it may not be optimal for PsA. Further studies are needed to define its role in multiple immune diseases.
Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a prevalent autoimmune disorder, often diagnosed late due to its asymptomatic or nonspecific presentation. Emerging evidence suggests that gut-derived lipopolysaccharides (LPS) may contribute to autoimmune activation. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to assess circulating LPS concentrations and dietary patterns in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis compared to healthy controls. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted involving 105 HT patients and 25 healthy controls. Serum LPS concentrations, thyroid hormone profiles, and autoantibody levels were assessed. Dietary patterns were evaluated using the validated KomPAN questionnaire. Results: HT patients exhibited significantly higher serum LPS levels, particularly those with elevated anti-TPO and TRAB antibodies. A positive correlation was found between LPS and the fT3/fT4 ratio (r = 0.247, p = 0.006), and a negative correlation with fT4 (r = -0.314, p < 0.001). Dietary analysis revealed lower Pro-Healthy Diet Index scores in HT patients (3.94 vs. 5.34, p = 0.001), with increased consumption of processed foods and reduced intake of whole grains and oats. Conclusions: Elevated levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and unhealthy dietary patterns may play a role in the development of thyroid autoimmunity. Taken together, these observations are consistent with a multifactorial model that potentially involves gut barrier dysfunction, endotoxemia, and nutritional factors in HT pathogenesis.
Background: Comprehensive conservative management (CCM) is a possible option in end-stage clinical disease, requiring multidisciplinary support and offering survival comparable to dialysis while improving quality of life in frail patients. Despite its potential benefits, CCM is often underutilized because nephrologists may perceive it as less effective compared to dialysis. We present two case reports of hemodialysis failure and of successful CCM. Case presentation: We present two case reports of elderly female patients-referred to as Patient 1 and Patient 2-who had multiple comorbidities but preserved urine output. Both patients, in accordance with their medical team, chose to discontinue hemodialysis due to poor treatment tolerance and declining overall health. They were successfully managed with CCM, leading to follow-up that revealed survival beyond 24 months, improvements in metabolic complications and quality of life, and a reduction in hospitalizations. Conclusions: These case reports demonstrate the effectiveness of dietary and medical management for end-stage kidney disease, particularly when dialysis negatively affects patients' clinical conditions and quality of life. They also highlight the importance of considering CCM as a preferable option for frail elderly patients facing kidney failure.

