PREVIOUS RESEARCH
Dr Dufresne has contributed to diverse areas of medicine and surgery — from craniofacial surgery and plastic surgery to thoracic surgery and anesthesia. Explore highlights from Dr Dufresne’s major research areas of interest.
Previous Research Contributions to Modern Medical Science
Award-Winning PLASTIC SURGERY RESEARCH Publications and Presentations
Dr Dufresne’s previous research has been widely acclaimed as ground-breaking, garnering him top honors in some of plastic surgery’s most prestigious societies and conferences. While Dr Dufresne has had many publications and presentations, below are some of more notable awards:
- Top Tier Poster for, “Free Dermal Fat Autografts for Complex Craniofacial Wounds: A 3-decade, Retrospective Cohort Study” (ranked in the top 25 of over 1,000 abstracts submitted worldwide), Plastic Surgery: The Meeting, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Honorable Mention for Poster Presentation of, "Reconstruction of Mandibular and Floor of Mouth Defects with the Trapezius Myocutaneous Flaps", Plastic Surgery: The Meeting, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Best Maxillofacial Paper for Presentation of, "Reconstruction of Mandibular and Floor of Mouth Defects with the Trapezius Myocutaneous Flaps", Residents' Night Research Competition, New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons
- First Prize for Presentation of, "Rapid Management of Persistent Seromas by Sclerotherapy", Annual Meeting, Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Highlights from Dr Dufresne's Major Research Areas
Much of Dr Dufresne’s bench and clinical research laid the groundwork for techniques or technologies that are considered part of standard practice today. Although Dr Dufresne’s previous plastic surgery research has traversed diverse areas, much of his work has been concentrated in three areas, each of which he served as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, or project lead. These projects each resulted in several publications and conference exhibits and presentations. A representative selection of these publications is listed below.
Rigid fixation devices and the growing craniofacial skeleton
An initial area of grant-funded clinical research, on which Dr Dufresne was the PI or Co-PI, focused on the effects of rigid fixation devices on the growing craniofacial skeleton. These projects each resulted in several publications and conference exhibits and presentations. Major principles of surgical practice were outlined in a chapter in his textbook, Complex Craniofacial Problems.
- Dufresne CR, Carson BS. Complex Craniofacial Problems: Guide to Analysis and Treatment. Dufresne CR, Carson BS, Zinreich SJ, editors. New York: Churchill Livingstone Publishers; 1992. Chapter 21, Rigid Fixation Techniques; p.427-465.
- Wong L, Dufresne CR, Richtsmeier JT, Manson PN. The effect of rigid fixation on growth of the neurocranium. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1991 Sep;88(3):395-403. PubMed PMID: 1871215.
- Dufresne CR. Rigid fixation: variations in osteotomy design and technique. Clin Plast Surg. 1989 Jan;16(1):165-75. PubMed PMID: 2647342.
Role of multi-dimensional digital imaging acquisition and reprocessing for the craniofacial skeleton
A second area of grant-funded clinical research, on which Dr Dufresne was the PI or Co-PI, focused on early delineation of the role for multi-dimensional digital imaging acquisition and reprocessing for the craniofacial skeleton. These projects each resulted in several publications and conference exhibits and presentations.
- Chalif DJ, Dufresne CR, Ransohoff J, McCarthy JA. Three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstructions of intracranial meningiomas. Neurosurgery. 1988 Nov;23(5):570-5. PubMed PMID: 3059217.
- Dufresne CR, McCarthy JG, Cutting CB, Epstein FJ, Hoffman WY. Volumetric quantification of intracranial and ventricular volume following cranial vault remodeling: a preliminary report. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1987 Jan;79(1):24-32. PubMed PMID: 3797514.
- Grayson BH, Cutting CB, Dufresne CR, Bookstein FL, McCarthy JG, Patnaik S. Three-dimensional computer simulation of craniofacial anatomy. N Y State Dent J. 1986 Oct;52(8):29-31. PubMed PMID: 3464903.
- Dufresne C, Cutting C, Hoffman W, McCarthy J. The use of three-dimensional computer graphic in a plastic surgery center: Custom editing and individualized processing. Plast Surgical Forum. 1985; 7:46.
Orbital reconstruction and management of complications
A third area of emphasis in clinical research, in which Dr Dufresne has also served as project head, has been in developing better and more reproducible modalities of orbital reconstruction and management of complications arising from accidental or surgical trauma, disease, or congenital deformity. Dr Dufresne’s current research is exploring the role of free autologous dermal fat grafting in orbital reconstruction.
- Vincent MP, Dufresne CR. Complex Craniofacial Problems: Guide to Analysis and Treatment. Dufresne CR, Carson BS, Zinreich SJ, editors. New York: Churchill Livingstone Publishers; 1992. Chapter 13, Oculoplastic Reconstruction; p.251-280.
- Glassman RD, Manson PN, Vanderkolk CA, Iliff NT, Yaremchuk MJ, Petty P, Defresne CR, Markowitz BL. Rigid fixation of internal orbital fractures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1990 Dec;86(6):1103-9; discussion 1110-1. PubMed PMID: 2243852.
- Dufresne C, Manson P, Iliff N. Early and late complications of orbital fractures. Seminars in Ophthalmology. 1989; 9:176.
- Dufresne CR, Manson PN, Iliff NT. Early and late complications of orbital fractures. Clin Plast Surg. 1988 Apr;15(2):239-53. PubMed PMID: 3280216.
Biology, treatment, and classification of Freeman-Burian syndrome
A fourth area of emphasis in Dr Dufresne’s clinical research, in which he has also served as project head, has been on the biology, treatment, and classification of Freeman-Burian syndrome (FBS), formerly referred to as Freeman-Sheldon syndrome (FSS). FBS is a very rare and poorly understood congenital craniofacial condition affecting the muscles. Emerging molecular genetics research indicated the defect in embryonic myosin played a role in the development of observed features but that progression did not occur, as in many myopathies. Because it was so rare and presented very challenging therapeutic problems, suboptimal and sometimes very poor outcomes for patients were common. Work, on which he served as project lead, focused on improving outcomes for patients by creating a body of knowledge that could serve as a reference for diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment decisions. This effort has included a meta-analysis, and two systematic reviews, and produced a comprehensive biopsychosocial clinical practice guideline summarizing the core areas necessary for optimal patient care. Much of this decade-long project has been published, but a minority of it, including the clinical practice guideline, has remained in development or under review at various journals. These contributions have already impacted patients and changed the informational landscape and will hopefully improve referral, encourage insurance payments for needed care, improve patient outcomes, and encourage further study.
- Poling MI, Dufresne CR, Portillo AL. Identification and Recent Approaches for Evaluation, Operative Counseling, and Management in Patients With Freeman-Burian Syndrome: Principles for Global Treatment. J Craniofac Surg. 2019 Nov-Dec;30(8):2502-2508. PubMed PMID: 31567769.
- Poling MI, Dufresne CR, Chamberlain RL. Freeman-Burian syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2019 Jan 10;14(1):14. PubMed PMID: 30630514; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6327538.
- Poling MI, Dufresne CR. Identification and recent approaches for evaluation and management of dentofacial and otolaryngologic concerns for patients with Freeman-Burian syndrome: principles for global treatment. J Craniofac Surg. 2019. DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000006155.
- Poling MI, Dufresne CR. Revisiting the Many Names of Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Nov;29(8):2176-2178. PubMed PMID: 30400128.
Anesthetic management in complex traumatic and congenital craniofacial and arthrogrypotic conditions
A fifth area of emphasis in clinical research, in which Dr Dufresne has also served as project head, has been on the varied clinical problems of anesthetic management in complex traumatic and congenital craniofacial conditions and arthrogrypotic conditions. Each condition presents with a unique set of challenges, complicated by highly heterogeneous patient populations. To improve the care for these patients, Dr Dufresne’s textbook, Complex Craniofacial Problems (1992), includes a chapter on anaesthetic management, and he has presented his experience of difficult airway management in peer-reviewed journal publications. In an effort to disseminate (1) early findings from a meta-analysis and (2) collected clinical experience of he and his colleagues, Dr Dufresne partnered with OrphanAnesthesia to produce clinical recommendations for Freeman-Burian syndrome (formerly, Freeman-Sheldon syndrome) and distal arthrogryposis types 1, 2B, and 3, which he ensures remain up-to-date.
- Poling MI, Dufresne CR. Freeman-Burian syndrome. Anästh Intensivmed. 2019 January 15; 60(1):S8-S17.
- Poling MI, Dufresne CR. Distal arthrogryposis type 3. Anästh Intensivmed. 2019 October 11;60(13):S536-S543. DOI: 10.19224/ai2019.s536.
- Kim KF, Doriot R, Morse MA, Al-Attar A, Dufresne CR. Alternative to tracheostomy: submental intubation in craniomaxillofacial trauma. J Craniofac Surg. 2005 May;16(3):498-500. PubMed PMID: 15915126.
