Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A L Nastri.
The indications and operative technique of various procedures commonly used to provide or increase access to the central skull base, anterior and middle cranial fossae, nasopharynx, infratemporal fossa and retromaxillary space are discussed with illustrative cases.
This study examined Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS) workforce issues in relation to current training in Australia and New Zealand. Earlier findings identified that there was a requirement of approximately 6 additional OMS specialists per year in Australia and one per year in New Zealand to maintain an adequate level of supply in the profession. It was found in this study that through to the early part of the next decade the number of OMS entering the Australian workforce is appropriate (5.9 per annum), but there would appear to be concerns about the sufficiency of the number entering the New Zealand workforce (0.7 per annum). In addition, the study also found possible maldistribution in the location of intended future practices, with possible shortages outside of the metropolitan areas.
This study examined the demographic characteristics, educational background and attitudes toward training of all recent OMS specialists and all current trainees in Australia and New Zealand in 1996. The early nineties is a key period as it marks the transition from an essentially dentally based speciality (85% dental degree in 1990); to recent specialists with an increasing number with both medical and dental degrees (33% dual degree 1990-1996); to predominantly dual degree training (84.4% dual in 1996). Current trainees had more extensive experience in pathology, preprosthetic and reconstructive surgery. They were also strongly critical of the length and cost of training.
The aim of this pilot study was to develop an experimental model for the assessment of bone augmentation, and in doing so compare the use of various synthetic membranes by relating osteogenesis to their microstructural and physical properties. Calvarial sites in nine Sprague Dawley rats were prepared for bone augmentation and three different membranes were used to cover the healing sites. Specimens were retrieved at sequenced intervals and subjected to macroscopic, histologic and histomorphometric analysis. The results obtained suggest that while current membranes are adequate for the regeneration of bone they may not be ideal for bone augmentation.
A case of supernumerary tooth presenting in the nasal cavity is reported. The literature is reviewed for nasal and other unusual ectopic sites of tooth eruption and other possible diagnoses for calcified intranasal masses are discussed.
Ameloblastoma is uncommon in the maxilla, comprising about 15% of all reported ameloblastomas. Ameloblastomas are locally aggressive and, when involving the maxilla, potentially lethal. The long term outcome of 13 patients with ameloblastoma in the maxilla for whom surgery was the primary treatment between 1951-1990 was studied. Patient records from both private and public practices in Melbourne, Australia were examined as were those cases reported to the Bone Tumour Registry at the University of Bristol, England. The study showed that control of disease was achieved in all patients where the tumour was limited to the confines of the maxilla (10 cases). The mean follow-up period in this group was 7 years (range 2-20 years). In the three cases that recurred all had preoperative radiological evidence of posterior maxillary sinus wall destruction and/or pterygoid plate erosion. Two patients died of extensive local recurrence and one has persistence of the disease. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of ameloblastoma in each case with a variety of histological patterns being noted. It is concluded that notwithstanding histological type, the extent of the tumour at presentation and the adequacy of the surgical approach and removal were the main factors in successfully managing the disease.
The case of an interesting mandibular cyst is presented. The pathogenesis of this cyst may be related to implantation of epithelial remnants in an autogenous graft to the recipient tissues during previous cosmetic surgery. With the proliferation of methods involving tissue transfer to the maxillofacial region, the possibility of the transfer of potentially pathogenic material needs to be considered.