This years IMPT Spring Seminar & AGM took place at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London. Maxillofacial laboratory services transferred to St George’s Hospital from Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton in September 2005 following the relocation and restructuring of Orthodontic, Restorative and Maxillofacial services in the region some months previously. The purpose built laboratory is furnished with the latest Kavo Masterspace benching and now accommodates 1 Orthodontic Technician, 2 Restorative Technicians and 3 Maxillofacial Prosthetists.

The morning session saw presentations from Mr Ali Cobb, SpR Maxillofacial Surgery (St Georges), Mr Jason Watson MIMPT, Consultant MPT (QMC Nottingham), and Mr Nick Hyde, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon (ST Georges).

Ali Cobb presented the case of a maxillary tumour patient which was felt initially to be inoperable due to the extent of the tumour but, after discussion with the MDT, was felt that a team approach including Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgeons would be able to provide the patient with a better quality of life. The title of Ali’s presentation, One Door Closes, Another Door Opens, outlined the benefits of multi-disciplinary approach. He went on to show the reconstruction of the complete maxillectomy site using bone taken from the patient’s scapula. With the placement of bilateral transzygomatic implants and one implant placed in the glabella region the patient was able to have an implant-retained nasal prosthesis.

Jason Watson’s research into the usefulness of surface scanning technology in Maxillofacial Prosthetics was very well received. Jason showed a comparison of three surface scanners and discussed their various merits in producing rapidly prototyped models. He discussed a variety of pros and cons for each scanner and was kind enough to bring several sample models from the surface scanning data to highlight the variety of materials used to provide a 3D rapid prototyped prosthesis. These were passed round the room.

The morning session concluded with Mr Nick Hyde, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, giving a detailed presentation on reconstructive techniques utilising free-flaps and grafts. Several slides illustrated the variety of techniques employed by the surgeon in harvesting free-flaps and skin grafts. The range of sites and graft types employed in the reconstruction of head and neck defects was comprehensively outlined to those present and provided much to talk about during lunch.

The afternoon was given over to the AGM.

St George’s maxillofacial laboratory staff would like to express their thanks to the IMPT Council for allowing them to host the 2007 IMPT Spring Seminar & AGM and hope those that attended enjoyed the day.

Mr Iain Muir-Nelson MIMPT
Consultant MPT
St George’s Maxillofacial Laboratory.