Wounds and Injuries Commons^™

Impact Of Intravenous Drug Use On Neck Abscess Outcomes: 30-Day Readmission & 5-Year Survival Rates, Elliott Sina, Bryce Hambach, Eric Mastrolonardo, Sruti Tekumalla, Meghan Crippen, Richard A. Goldman

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Injection drug use (IDU) is a known risk factor for neck abscesses, often requiring urgent surgical intervention by acute-care Otolaryngologists. However, data on the prevalence and long-term outcomes of IDU-related neck abscesses are limited. This study investigates differences in 30-day readmission rates and 5-year all-cause mortality between patients with and without a history of IDU hospitalized for neck abscesses.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing the TriNetX national clinical database. Patients hospitalized for neck abscesses (ICD-10: L02.11) were categorized into two cohorts: IDU (current/previous) and non-IDU. Demographics, 30-day readmission rates, and 5-year survival were analyzed. 1:1 Propensity …

The Impact Of Biomaterial Characteristics On Macrophage Phenotypes In Tissue Engineering: A Review, Julian Jackson, Hani Samarah, William Palmer, Zachary Kaplan, Marianna Nicodem, Parvesh Kumar, Spenser Short, Kelly Bridgham, Larry Harshyne, Joseph Curry

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

Macrophages are highly plastic cells central to pathogen removal, tissue regeneration, and inflammation, making them key targets in biomaterial design for improved clinical outcomes. Foreign body responses (FBRs) to implanted biomaterials often involve excessive macrophage-mediated inflammation, leading to fibrotic encapsulation, infection, and implant failure. Advances in tissue engineering demonstrate that macrophage polarization - the transition from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes - can be influenced by biomaterial properties to mitigate these responses and enhance regeneration. This review synthesizes the relationship between biomaterial properties, such as surface chemistry, structure, and stiffness, and their ability to modulate macrophage behavior. Key innovations, …

Ototoxicity Monitoring: The Evolution Of A Protocol For Head And Neck Cancer Patients, Jena Patel, Jacob Beiriger, Kalena Liu, Zachary Urdang, Julia Croce, Molly Wolfson, Jacob Hulswit, Olivia Giglio, Jacob B. Hunter, Irina L. Middleton

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated an ototoxicity monitoring program (OMP) for improving audiologic follow-up in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: Tertiary academic center.

METHODS: Two hundred and forty patients were recommended for chemotherapy between January 2017 and June 2022. An OMP was implemented in March 2021; every patient received an audiology referral and was contacted to schedule a pretreatment audiogram. Patients were divided into pre-OMP and post-OMP cohorts. Main outcome measures included rates of pretreatment audiograms, posttreatment audiograms, posttreatment otologic symptoms, and hearing aid utilization.

RESULTS: There were 131 patients evaluated pre-OMP and 109 evaluated …