Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem. Even injuries classified as mild, the most common, can result in persistent neurobehavioural impairment. Diffuse axonal injury is a common finding after TBI, and is presumed to contribute to outcomes, but may not always be apparent using standard neuroimaging. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a more recent method of assessing axonal integrity in vivo. The primary objective of the current investigation was to characterize white matter integrity utilizing DTI across the spectrum of chronic TBI of all severities. A secondary objective was to examine the relationship between white matter integrity and cognition. Twenty mild, 17 moderate to severe TBI and 18 controls underwent DTI and neuropsychological testing. Fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity were calculated from the DTI data. Fractional anisotropy was the primary measure of white matter integrity. Region of interest analysis included anterior and posterior corona radiata, cortico-spinal tracts, cingulum fibre bundles, external capsule, forceps minor and major, genu, body and splenium of the corpus callosum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus and sagittal stratum. Cognitive domain scores were calculated from executive, attention and memory testing. Decreased fractional anisotropy was found in all 13 regions of interest for the moderate to severe TBI group, but only in the cortico-spinal tract, sagittal stratum and superior longitudinal fasciculus for the mild TBI group. White Matter Load (a measure of the total number of regions with reduced FA) was negatively correlated with all cognitive domains. Analysis of radial and axial diffusivity values suggested that all severities of TBI can result in a degree of axonal damage, while irreversible myelin damage was only apparent for moderate to severe TBI. The present data emphasize that white matter changes exist on a spectrum, including mild TBI. An index of global white matter neuropathology (White Matter Load) was related to cognitive function, such that greater white matter pathology predicted greater cognitive deficits. Mechanistically, mild TBI white matter changes may be primarily due to axonal damage as opposed to myelin damage. The more severe injuries impact both. DTI provides an objective means for determining the relationship of cognitive deficits to TBI, even in cases where the injury was sustained years prior to the evaluation.

IMPORTANCE Caudal septal extension grafts (CSEGs) can be used to alter and secure nasal projection and length. Graft position and thickness play an important role in terms of both function and aesthetics. The limitations of harvesting cartilage from additional sites necessitate development of a more efficient method for securing CSEGs. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of polydioxanone absorbable plates used in primary and revision septorhinoplasty. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We investigated all patients who underwent primary or revision septorhinoplasty with the use of absorbable plates to secure CSEGs at a tertiary academic medical center from 2010 to 2014. To standardize and objectify the symptoms of nasal obstruction, a validated quality-of-life instrument called the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire, with 5 questions on a scale of 0 to 4, was implemented preoperatively and postoperatively. Preoperative and multiple successive postoperative measurements of nasal length and projection were taken using 3dMDvultus imaging software. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Change in NOSE questionnaire score, change in nasal length and projection, and complications. RESULTS There were no absorbable plate-related complications in the 95 included patients. Comparing preoperative and postoperative NOSE questionnaire scores, there was a statistically significant improvement in all 5 categories: mean (SD) change of −1.42 (1.59) in congestion, −1.56 (1.53) in blockage or obstruction, −1.60 (1.54) in breathing through nose, −0.90 (1.54) in trouble sleeping, and −1.28 (1.46) in breathing during exercise (P < .001 for all) in the 50 patients with available data. In the 24 patients with greater than 180 days of follow-up, follow-up ranged from 183 to 717 days, and mean (SD) change in nasal length and projection was 0.64 (2.19) and 0.26 (0.96) mm, respectively, showing no statistically significant change over time (P = .17 and .21, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In our study population, nasal length and projection maintained position over time when absorbable plates were used to secure CSEGs. Absorbable plates appear safe and effective when used to secure CSEGs and limit the requirement of harvesting additional cartilage. Nasal airway improvement can be obtained when absorbable plates are used to secure CSEGs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging is a relatively new method of objectively evaluating surgical results, allowing the surgeon to accurately measure postsurgical changes with little inconvenience to the patient. Its accuracy and reliability has been consistently demonstrated in the literature. This article describes updated methods that we use with 3D imaging software to assess rhinoplasty results at our institution. The measurements described include the assessment of symmetry, tip projection, rotation, volume, width, and topographic width. We also apply these techniques to assess the surgical changes of patients with unilateral clefts who underwent secondary rhinoplasty performed by the senior author.

In recent years, with the advent of 3-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques, it has become possible to objectively measure rhinoplasty results. However, few studies have used 3D imaging software to assess postoperative rhinoplasty results of the nasal tip.OBJECTIVE To analyze nasal tip volumes of patients with bulbous tips and measure postoperative nasal tip volume changes in patients who have undergone lower lateral cartilage (LLC) repositioning. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSA prospective study of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of bulbous nasal tip and cephalically oriented LLC as measured intraoperatively (with angles less than 30 degrees from the midline) who underwent rhinoplasty by a single surgeon and preoperative and postoperative 3dMD imaging at a university hospital.INTERVENTIONS Rhinoplasty with LLC repositioning and preoperative and postoperative 3dMD system imaging. We also used 3dMD Vultus software for the analysis of nasal tip volume changes. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Changes in nasal tip volume and LLC angle.RESULTS Thirty-one patients met the inclusion criteria (25 women and 6 men; mean age, 33 years). Among these, there were 16 primary and 15 revision cases with a follow-up range of 1 to 19 months. Statistical tests included a paired t test on volume and angle changes as well as correlative and exploratory analyses to gain further insight into the analysis population over time. The change in the LLC angle after repositioning was found to be statistically significant. The mean decrease in volume on the right was 0.0254 mL, and the mean decrease on the left was 0.0249 mL. The mean total volume change was a decrease of 0.0503 mL. An exploratory analysis suggested that subjects with longer follow-up displayed a greater reduction in volume. Using 5 months as a cutoff, we found that the subgroup with longer follow-up displayed a mean total bilateral volume change of −0.07 mL compared with −0.03 mL in the subgroup with shorter follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEWe found that LLC repositioning when used to address bulbous nasal tips and cephalically oriented LLCs leads to significant increase (preoperative to postoperative) in the angle of the LLC (to a more caudal orientation). We also found an overall trend of decreasing nasal tip volume throughout follow-up. Although not statistically significant, the overall decrease in volume is clinically meaningful when paired with favorable positioning of the LLC. Exploratory analyses suggest that treatment effect is consistent across sexes and that greater decrease in total volume might be found with longer follow-up.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.