A second chance for Bentley and his encephalocele
Sierra Yoder was having a normal pregnancy, but the 20-week prenatal ultrasound seemed to tell another story. The Yoders learned that their child — a boy to be named Bentley — had something called an encephalocele. Brain tissue was bulging out of an abnormal opening in his skull, unprotected by bone.
“They said he had zero chance of survival — ‘incompatible with life,’ they told us,” recalls Sierra. “I specifically remember asking is there any chance he could survive? They said no, that in the best-case scenario, he’s going to be a vegetable. They made it out like I was going to lose him at any point.”
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Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - June 20, 2016 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Nancy Fliesler Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Cleft and Craniofacial Center Dr. John Meara Dr. Mark Proctor Dr. Susan Goobie encephalocele Simulation Program Source Type: news
Paul Krebsbach named new dean of UCLA Dentistry
University of Michigan
Dr. Paul Krebsbach
Dr. Paul Krebsbach, one of the nation’s leading researchers in tissue engineering and stem cell biology and a respected academic leader, has been appointed dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh announced today that Krebsbach will become the eighth dean of UCLA Dentistry, effective June 30. He will succeed Dr. No-Hee Park, who has served as dean since 1998 and is returning to teaching and research.
Krebsbach has been a member of the faculty at the University of Michigan since 1996. He is the Roy H. Roberts Professor of Dentistry a...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - May 18, 2016 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
Ultrasonic surgery reduces pain and swelling after chin surgery
(Wolters Kluwer Health) For patients undergoing plastic surgery of the chin (genioplasty), the use of ultrasonic 'piezosurgery' equipment reduces trauma, pain, and swelling, compared to traditional surgical drills, reports a study in the The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - March 11, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Stratification of risk to the surgical team in removal of small arms ammunition implanted in the craniofacial region: case report - Forbes JA, Laughlin I, Newberry S, Ryhn M, Pasley J, Newberry T.
In cases of penetrating injury with implantation of small arms ammunition, it can often be difficult to tell the difference between simple ballistics and ballistics associated with unexploded ordnances (UXOs). In the operative environment, where highly fla... (Source: SafetyLit)
Source: SafetyLit - February 19, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Burns, Electricity, Explosions, Fire, Scalds Source Type: news
Protein combination improves bone regeneration, UCLA study shows
A UCLA research team has found a combination of proteins that could significantly improve clinical bone restoration. The findings may be a big step toward developing effective therapeutic treatments for bone skeletal defects, bone loss and osteoporosis.
The study, led by Dr. Kang Ting, professor and chair of the section of orthodontics at the UCLA School of Dentistry; Dr. Chia Soo, professor of plastic surgery and vice chair for research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; and Dr. Aaron James, a fellow in surgical pathology, will appear as the lead article in the February print edition of the American Journal ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - January 29, 2016 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
A fighting chance for Eva
Violet and Vincent with their new sister
Early in 2015, Jennifer and Vincent Ramirez had everything they wanted — two healthy children: Violet, 5, and Vincent, 3, and they had just bought a new home in Salt Lake City. The couple decided to try for a third child.
Jennifer learned she was pregnant in a few weeks.
“Everything was going according to plan,” recalls Vincent. In July of 2015, the entire family packed into an exam room for Jennifer’s five-month ultrasound.
“The doctor wasn’t talking much, and the ultrasound seemed to be taking longer than usual,” says Jennifer. After the ultrasound was done, the doct...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - January 25, 2016 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Lisa Fratt Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Craniofacial Program encephalocele John Meara Mark Proctor microcephaly Source Type: news
Formerly conjoined twins reunite with their hospital team
Maria de Jesus and Maria Teresa Alvarez, the formerly conjoined Guatemalan twins who were separated in 2002 at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA in a landmark 23-hour surgery that was followed around the world, returned to UCLA today to visit with pediatric patients and the medical staff who cared for them for many months.
The girls, who were nicknamed the “two Marias” by hospital staff, are now 14 and live near each other in Southern California with two adoptive families. Maria de Jesus, now called Josie, spent the holidays back in 2002, in the hospital with her sister Maria Teresa, now known as Teresita. To bring che...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - December 15, 2015 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
FDA OKs StimRelieve chronic migraine trial
StimRelieve said today it won FDA investigational device exemption to launch a trial of its percutaneously implantable Halo CFNS device for treating chronic migraines.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based StimRelieve said its Halo CFNS device, using wirelessly-powered, nanotech neurostimulators, is 95% smaller than other implantable treatment options. The wireless device, powered by an external transmitter in the ear, is implanted with a standard-gauge needle, the company said.
“To date, treatments for chronic migraines have had limited and inconsistent results. Chronic migraine headache pain is a crippling condition, disabl...
Source: Mass Device - December 11, 2015 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation Clinical Trials StimRelieve Source Type: news
Blanket forts, healthy hearts and life: What our families are thankful for
When parents and children first arrive at our front door — no matter why or from where they come — they forever become part of our extended family.
On this Thanksgiving, just like the 47 million others who are traveling to see loved ones, we too packed up the car and drove to visit 11 of the families who have stayed with us at Boston Children’s over the years. We wanted to find out what they were most thankful for and what makes this season special to them.
Thank you to the families of Ella S., Julian, Ella D., Addison, Callum, Nora, Avery, Jace, Molly, Charlotte, Murphy and Robbie for welcoming us into your hom...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - November 26, 2015 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jenny Fernandez Tags: All posts Thanksgving Source Type: news
Catching up with Violet: At home in Oregon
Early in 2015, Violet, an Oregon toddler with an impish grin and halo of dark curls, inched her way into hearts all over the world. Violet was born with a Tessier cleft — an extremely rare and serious craniofacial anomaly. It’s a highly complex condition requiring specialty care.
Her parents found what their daughter needed at Boston Children’s Hospital. They traveled from Oregon to Boston, where a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. John Meara, Plastic Surgeon-in-Chief, and Dr. Mark Proctor, vice-chair of neurosurgery, undertook a life-changing transformation.
The nine-hour surgery that changed Violet’s face and lif...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - November 12, 2015 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Lisa Fratt Tags: Our patients’ stories 3-D printing craniofacial anomaly Dr. John Meara Tessier cleft Source Type: news
Surgical treatment of upper and middle facial zone traumas in progress of concomitant traumatic craniofacial injuries - Lagvilava G, Gvenetadze Z, Toradze G, Devidze I, Gvenetadze G.
In 2012-2015, 207 patients with concomitant craniofacial injuries, who underwent surgical treatment, were observed; among them 176 were men and 31- women. Age of the patients ranged from 16 to 60 years. According to localization and severity of trauma and ... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - September 19, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Economics of Injury and Safety, PTSD, Injury Outcomes Source Type: news
July highlights: Mother’s intuition, music therapy & more
Catch up on what you may have missed on Thriving last month. Our staff takes a look back at a few of this month’s favorite posts.
A mother’s intuition—and a fall down the stairs—save a little girl’s life
Liz Beaulieu is likely the only person in the world who can say she saved her child by falling down the stairs.
Her daughter, Arielle, was just 4 days old. Liz was carrying her downstairs when she slipped. Not sure whether Arielle had hit her head, she whisked her to her local ER.
“She seemed fine, and they said that she looked fine,” Liz says. Still concerned, though, Liz kept a close e...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - August 4, 2015 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Boston Children's Hospital staff Tags: All posts Our patients’ stories Chiari Malformation concussion congenital heart defect Dr. Alex Taylor Dr. Ben Warf Dr. Bonnie Padwa Dr. Lawrence Karlin Dr. Michael O'brien Dr. Michael Scott Dr. Roger Nuss hemifacial microsomia Source Type: news
Kyle Cooper waits 18 years for oral surgery
Monday through Saturday, Kyle Cooper wakes up at 5:40 in the morning to get to his construction job by 7:00. On his only day off, he shoots trap at the local sportsman’s club with his grandfather. Things that would bother a typical teen—a long commute, arduous work, little time off for friends—barely faze Kyle. This 18-year-old has the quiet confidence and patience of someone twice his age.
Kyle’s demeanor may be due in part to having had to wait a lifetime for something he wanted so badly. He was born with hemifacial microsomia (HFM), a craniofacial anomaly that resulted in the left side of this face being underde...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - July 27, 2015 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jenny Fernandez Tags: All posts Our patients’ stories Bonnie Padwa Craniofacial Anomalies Program plastic and oral surgery department Source Type: news
Life with ‘the little warrior’ 19 months after encephalocele surgery
Photo courtesy of Lorrin Sell
Nearly every morning in the quiet, early light, 19-month-old Owen Sheridan awakens not with a cry but with a steady, strong-willed yell, just to tell his parents he’s ready to begin the day.
“We will change his diaper and bring him into bed with us,” says Owen’s mom Jen Sheridan. “He will babble happily. And when he smiles, it is the sweetest thing.”
For the Sheridans, the smile is just one of the many miracles since Owen, the little warrior as they call him, returned home from Boston Children’s Hospital on Jan. 11, 2014.
Born with a rare growth called an encephalocele, Owen was ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - July 14, 2015 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Emily Williams Tags: Our patients’ stories Source Type: news
UCLA study reveals bone-building protein’s impact on bone stem cells
A new study by UCLA researchers shows that administering the protein NELL-1 intravenously stimulates significant bone formation through the regenerative ability of stem cells.
These preclinical results could one day have an impact on the development of a treatment for osteoporosis, which affects more than 200 million people worldwide, as well as potentially help those with traumatic bone injuries, such as members of the military or even astronauts who lose bone density while in space.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was led by co-senior authors Dr. Kang Ting, chair of orthodontics and the divisio...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - June 29, 2015 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
