OBJECTIVES:Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) following radiation therapy (RT) is a serious complication for patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment. Recent literature has found an association between ipsilateral external carotid artery (ECA) diameter and the development of ORN. This study evaluates microvascular free-flap arterial anastomosis diameter and the development of ORN. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Sixty-six patients underwent fibular free-flap reconstruction followed by RT between 2012-2019 at the University of Florida. Anastomosis and ECA diameters pre- and post-RT were measured from computed tomography images. Multivariate regression analysis identified significant factors in the development of ORN. RESULTS:Incidence of ORN was 33.3 % (N = 22/66). Mean post-RT anastomosis diameters were 2.3 and 2.2 for the ORN group and no-ORN group, respectively (p = 0.548). Mean post-RT ipsilateral ECA diameters were 4.7 and 4.2 for the ORN group and no-ORN groups, respectively (p = 0.040). The change in pre-RT versus post-RT ipsilateral ECA diameters was different in patients with RT dose above and below 55 Gy (p = 0.041). Neither post-RT anastomosis (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 0.43, 8.65, p = 0.434), nor ECA (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.78, 2.83, p = 0.250) diameters were associated with development of ORN while controlling RT dose (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.28, p = 0.006), post-operative fistula (OR = 9.11, 95% CI: 1.65, 93.7, p = 0.010), and post-operative infection (OR = 3.48. 95% CI = 1.01, 12.7, p = 0.048), and CCI (OR = 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.36, 0.96, p = 0.031). CONCLUSION:A higher degree of narrowing in ipsilateral ECA following RT may be linked to development of ORN. RT doses ≥ 55 Gy were associated with a high risk of ORN.

OBJECTIVE The authors' objective was to compare the actual cost of a regional pediatric neurosurgery telemedicine clinic (PNTMC) with the estimated cost of a traditional physician-staffed outreach clinic. METHODS The authors' PNTMC was a partnership between the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville and Georgia Children's Medical Services to service the population of Georgia's Southeast Health District. Neurosurgeons based in Jacksonville conducted telemedicine visits with patients located at a remote site in Georgia with the assistance of nursing personnel from Children's Medical Services. The authors determined the actual annual per-patient costs at the Jacksonville and Georgia sites for fiscal years 2018 (FY18) and 2019 (FY19) and estimated the cost of providing traditional physician-staffed outreach clinics. RESULTS During FY18 and FY19, the neurosurgery team conducted an average of 24.5 telemedicine patient encounters per year at a cost of $369 per patient visit. The per-patient cost was 32.5% less than the estimated per-patient cost of $547 at a traditional outreach clinic. CONCLUSIONS The authors provided neurosurgical telehealth visits to appropriate patients, with a substantial cost savings per patient visit compared with traditional physician-staffed outreach clinics.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the socioeconomic benefits to the patients and families attending a regional pediatric neurosurgery telemedicine clinic (PNTMC). METHODS A PNTMC was organized by the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery of the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville based at Wolfson Children's Hospital and by the Children's Medical Services (CMS) to service the Southeast Georgia Health District. Monthly clinics are held with the CMS nursing personnel at the remote location. A retrospective review of the clinic population was performed, socioeconomic data were extracted, and cost savings were calculated. RESULTS Clinic visits from August 2011 through January 2017 were reviewed. Fifty-five patients were seen in a total of 268 initial and follow-up PNTMC appointments. The average round-trip distance for a family from home to the University of Florida Pediatric Neurosurgery (Jacksonville) clinic location versus the PNTMC remote location was 190 versus 56 miles, respectively. The families saved an average of 2.5 hours of travel time and 134 miles of travel distance per visit. The average transportation cost savings for all visits per family and for all families was $180 and $9711, respectively. The average lost work cost savings for all visits per family and for all families was $43 and $2337, respectively. The combined transportation and work cost savings for all visits totaled $223 per family and $12,048 for all families. Average savings of $0.68/mile and $48.50/visit in utilizing the PNTMC were calculated. CONCLUSIONS Managing pediatric neurosurgery patients and their families via telemedicine is feasible and saves families substantial travel time, travel cost, and time away from work.