A goal of the newly established Microvascular Reconstruction Program at the Medical University of South Carolina is to become a leader in head and neck microvascular/reconstructive surgery. This goal will be accomplished through the development of innovative clinical and research strategies, faculty dedication to education, and high quality multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art patient care. The primary goal of our program is always outstanding patient care. In pursuit of this goal, a dedicated Microvascular Reconstructive Team recently was assembled. This team of surgeons and dedicated nurses in the OR, Surgical ICU, Neck Step-Down Unit and Otolaryngology-HNS Unit deals exclusively with patients undergoing complex head and neck microvascular reconstructive surgery. The implementation of this dedicated ancillary staff team has resulted in a tremendous improvement in patients’ overall outcomes with decreased OR time, ICU stay and total hospital stay. Close collaborations with physicians and scientists at our institution, as well as allied academic, government and private institutions, help facilitate our program’s success. Always intent on our primary goal, we offer patients the opportunity to participate in novel reconstruction strategies and clinical research projects. Through such investigations, we intend to develop a Functional Outcomes Center for longitudinal pre-and postoperative evaluation of patients’ voice, mastication, swallow, airway, aesthetics and quality-of-life measures. With this data, we can determine the relation of patient outcomes to particular reconstruction techniques and perioperative interventions. We then use the data for future interventions to optimize patient outcomes. Clinical
The Microvascular Reconstructive Program treats all patients requiring complex reconstruction of the head and neck with state-of-the-art reconstructive options. The approach is truly multidisciplinary and incorporates colleagues from nursing, Evelyn Trammell Voice and Swallowing Institute, PT/OT, Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Dentistry, Neurotology, Ophthalmology, Thoracic Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Radiology, Anatomical Pathology, and Oral Pathology. Education
The reconstructive program encompasses medical student teaching and trains resident physicians in all aspects of head and neck reconstructive surgery. In addition, the program works closely with the Head & Neck Oncology Division to train two fellows per year in the technical aspects of microvascular reconstructive surgery. One fellow is predominantly clinical in focus and the other is predominantly research- oriented. This fellowship, which has attracted national and international interest, continues to grow, providing a stimulating environment for a variety of training experiences. Currently, the program is adding a microvascular training facility for resident and fellow training. In addition, microvascular faculty give frequent educational lectures to other specialties and the community to promote awareness of microvascular reconstructive surgery and the impact of head and neck cancer on our population. Key Faculty
Joshua D. Hornig, MD FRCS(C) is the director of Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery. He graduated from the University of Alberta Medical School with Distinction and First Class Honors in Research. After finishing residency, he completed a Head & Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. He then joined the MUSC OtoHNS department to lead the Microvascular and Reconstructive Program. In addition, he is leading efforts to increase the scope of thyroid/parathyroid surgery at MUSC through the establishment of an Endocrine Division and a Center for the Treatment of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease. Dr. Hornig is also on staff at Ralph H. Johnson VA Hospital. Judith M. Skoner, MD completed a residency at Medical University of South Carolina in 2002, and then a fellowship in Microvascular Surgery/Facial Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Oregon with Dr. Mark Wax. She was assistant professor and director of Microvascular Surgery/FPRS at Temple University, Department of OtoHNS, prior to her appointment at MUSC. In addition, Dr. Skoner currently serves as chief of service at Ralph H. Johnson VA Hospital. Terry Day, MD is currently Division Chief of Head and Neck Surgery in the department. He joined MUSC in 2000 after serving as assistant professor at Vanderbilt University. Other key faculty include: Sonny O MD (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery), Patrick O’Neill MD (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery), and Richard Kline MD. In addition, the division has two full-time nurse practitioners, Mary-Beth Chalk and Pamela Diamond, as well as a head and neck nurse coordinator, Margaret Petko. Key Equipment/Resources
The program utilizes the most state-of-the-art instrumentation. We recently have acquired two specialized two-headed Leica microscopes that have the ability for still and video digital image capture. Two complete microvascular instrumentation sets, as well as two Cook-Swartz implantable doppler monitors facilitate real time vessel flow monitoring, which can be used by nurses and surgeons. Equipment is kept with the patient postoperatively in the ICU, step-down units and floors, as needed. Within the research arena, the Microvascular Division has recently collaborated with colleagues in other specialties for the newly created microvascular training lab and research facility. Research
Pending Grants:
PI: Hornig, MUSC University Research Committee New Investigator Grant, “The application of a bioprinting method for mandibular reconstruction: a canine model”, $25,000. |
