Reconstruction of Hard Palatal Defect using Staged Operation of the Prelaminated Radial Forearm Free Flap

PURPOSE: The radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap is currently considered as the ideal free flap for reconstruction of mucosal and soft tissue defects of the palate. But the availability of stably attached oral and nasal mucosal lining is needed. In addition to this, for better operation field, operating convenience and esthetics, we planned a prelaminated radial forearm free flap. METHODS: A 64-year-old male patient was admitted due to a 4x4.5cm full through defect in the middle of the hard palate caused by peripheral T cell lymphoma with actinomycosis. In the first stage, the radial forearm flap was elevated, tailored to fit the hard palate defect, and then it positioned up-side down with split thickness skin graft. Two weeks later, the prelaminated radial forearm free flap was re-elevated and transferred to the palatal defect. One side covered with grafted skin was used to line the nasal cavity, and the other side(the cutaneous portion of the radial forearm flap) was used to line the oral cavity. RESULTS: The prelamination procedure was relatively easy and useful. The skin graft was well taken to the flap. After 2nd stage operation, the flap survived uneventfully. There was no prolapse of the inset flap into the oral cavity and the cutaneous portion of the flap was mucosalized. The procedure was very successful and the patient can enjoy normal rigid diet and speech. CONCLUSION: The use of prelaminated radial forearm free flap for hard palate reconstruction is an excellent method to restore oral function. Based upon the result of this case, microvascular free flap transfer with prelaminated procedure is a valid alternative to the prosthetic obturator for palatal defect that provides an improved quality of life. It should be considered as an integral component of head and neck cancer therapy and rehabilitation.

A Case of Trigger Finger Following Longitudinal Tear of Flexor Digitorum Superficialis after Repeated Closed Injury

PURPOSE: Many causes for triggering or locking of the fingers have been discussed in other literatures. The most common one is known stenosing tenosynovitis, which causes, a mismatch between the volume of the flexor tendon sheath and its contents. However, repeated trauma to the hand is uncommon cause of trigger finger. Therefore, we present a case of a rare condition of stenosing tenosynovitis which developed from a repeated relatively weak superficial flexor tendon injury. METHODS: The patient was a 62-year-old woman who showed a painless, fixed and round mass on her right hand with no particular cause. Active and passive range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger was limited in flexion and extension. Ultrasonographic finding showed injured flexor digitorum superficialis tendon had fibrillar architecture with swelling between hyperechoic synovial membrane and hypoechoic surrounding area. Surgical exploration revealed that a bunched portion of the flexor digitorum superficialis and A1 pulley cause triggering during operation after adhesiolysis of scar tissue. RESULTS: After releasing the A1 pulley, the range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger showed no limitation and histological examination of the subcutaneous tissue revealed fibrous fatty degeneration. In this case, releasing the A1 pulley with adhesiolysis of the subcutaneous scar tissue was successful and we obtained good functional outcome. CONCLUSION: We examined a patient in whom a repetitive impact forces to the palm caused longitudinal tear of the flexor tendon, leading to trigger finger. We experienced a rare case of stenosing tenosynovitis and trigger finger caused after close injury to flexor digitorum superficialis and its degenerative changes that caused mass like effect. To the best of authors' knowledge, our case of close injury to the flexor digitorum superficialis and unique morphologic change before rupture of tendon is rarely to be reported.

Cervical Ganglioneuroma Associated with Neurofibromatosis Type 1

PURPOSE: Ganglioneuromas are well-differentiated tumors derived from neuroectodermal neural crest cells. Although these tumors can occur anywhere along the sympathetic chain from the base of the skull to the pelvic cavity, they usually develop in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum these tumors are rarely found in the cervical region. METHODS: We report the case of a 16-year-old male patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 who was admitted because of a palpable mass centrally located on the left side of the neck. A preoperative contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography image showed a low-density homogeneous mass on the parapharyngeal space along with marked displacement of the trachea and carotid vessels. Round and soft masses were also detected on both axillae. RESULTS: The patient subsequently underwent complete excision of the neck mass via the transcervical approach. The mass was smooth and well encapsulated between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the trachea. Further, the mass appeared to arise from the cervical sympathetic chain, which was preserved during surgery. Both the axillary masses were also excised. The histopathological findings were ganglioneuroma for the neck mass and neurofibroma for both the axillary masses. CONCLUSION: Cervical ganglioneuromas are rare tumors that present as enlarging parapharyngeal cervical masses in the oropharynx or neck. To our knowledge, a case of cervical ganglioneuroma associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 has never been reported. In patients with neurofibromatosis, multiple tumors may develop, and therefore periodic clinical and radiological follow-up is recommended. Further, repeated imaging analysis should be performed if the presence of another tumor is suspected.

Closed Manual Reduction of Mandibular Condylar Fracture Assisted by C-arm Fluoroscopy

PURPOSE: Mandible fractures are common in maxillofacial trauma and the incidence of condylar fracture is high. The management of mandibular condylar fracture continues to be controversial. Conservative treatment of it may lead to complications such as asymmetry, malocclusion, temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Moreover, open reduction can cause facial nerve injury, parotid gland injury, scarring and hematoma formation. We present a case of mandibular condylar fracture that was treated by manual reduction without incision under C-arm fluoroscopy. METHODS: A 76-year-old female was admitted due to left side mandibular condylar fracture that required surgical intervention. Because of her age, history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, she underwent closed manual reduction under general anesthesia. We adopted C-arm fluoroscopy as a method of identifying the fracture site and a evaluation of reduction state. C-arm fluoroscopy was set up like modified Towne's view. RESULTS: The reduction was successful and didn't result in any complications that could occur in open reduction- facial nerve injury, infection, parotid gland injury, hematoma, avascular necrosis. The mandibular-maxillary fixations were removed after 4 weeks and patients were could open 3.5 cm after 6 weeks with physical therapy. CONCLUSION: We tried closed manual reduction of mandibular condylar fracture due to high risk of complication using C-arm fluoroscopy and did achieve anatomic reduction with avoiding open incision. This is simple, effective, reversible, time saving and fairly attemptable method in condylar fracture cases before open reduction.

Closed Manual Reduction of Mandibular Condylar Fracture Assisted by C-arm Fluoroscopy

PURPOSE: Mandible fractures are common in maxillofacial trauma and the incidence of condylar fracture is high. The management of mandibular condylar fracture continues to be controversial. Conservative treatment of it may lead to complications such as asymmetry, malocclusion, temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Moreover, open reduction can cause facial nerve injury, parotid gland injury, scarring and hematoma formation. We present a case of mandibular condylar fracture that was treated by manual reduction without incision under C-arm fluoroscopy. METHODS: A 76-year-old female was admitted due to left side mandibular condylar fracture that required surgical intervention. Because of her age, history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, she underwent closed manual reduction under general anesthesia. We adopted C-arm fluoroscopy as a method of identifying the fracture site and a evaluation of reduction state. C-arm fluoroscopy was set up like modified Towne's view. RESULTS: The reduction was successful and didn't result in any complications that could occur in open reduction- facial nerve injury, infection, parotid gland injury, hematoma, avascular necrosis. The mandibular-maxillary fixations were removed after 4 weeks and patients were could open 3.5 cm after 6 weeks with physical therapy. CONCLUSION: We tried closed manual reduction of mandibular condylar fracture due to high risk of complication using C-arm fluoroscopy and did achieve anatomic reduction with avoiding open incision. This is simple, effective, reversible, time saving and fairly attemptable method in condylar fracture cases before open reduction.

The Clinical Analysis of Two Layer Vasovasostomy Using Silicone Tube

PURPOSE: Because of the volume of elective sterilizations performed in the world during the past decade, the vasectomy was a popular method for male sterilization in Korea and this, in turn, had been followed by an increase in the number of patient requiring vasectomy reversal with the high rate of subsequent divorce and remarriage. Recently, many authors have reported high success rates of vasovasostomy using microsurgical techniques and we performed modified two layer vasovasostomy with intravasal silicone tube to increase postoperative patency and pregnacy rate. METHODS: Microscopic vasovasostomy was performed in 9 patients at our department using modified two layer vasovasostomy with silicone tube insertion. Their ages ranged from 28 to 44 with an average of 35.78+/-1.36 years. Standard Guibor silicone tube, consisting of two 17.7cm, 0.064cm diameter, malleable, stainless steel probes connected by 29cm of silicone tubing wedged onto disposable probes, were used in all cases. RESULTS: Success rates were 88.8% for patency and pregnancy 44.4% for pregnancy in modified two layer vasovasostomy with silicone tube insertion. The patency rates were higher in cases of long postoperative day and in cases of short duration of vasectomy and vasovasostomy. CONCLUSION: We used a modified method to correspond the patency and pregnancy rate in microscopical modified two layer vasovasostomy using the intravasal silicone tube permanently. This method brings normal patency in microsurgical vasovasostomy because the silicone tube prevent obstruction of anastomosed site of the vas permanently.

Correction of Blepharoptosis using Posterior Check Ligament Sling

There are various options on proper surgical repair for blepharoptosis. We have treated 7 patients with posterior check ligament sling and evaluated the advantages of this method from September 2006 to July 2009. These patients were blepharoptosis with moderate to severe ptosis with poor levator function. Through the blepharoplasty incision, the upper half of tarsal plate was exposed and the orbital septum was opened to show the levator aponeurosis. The M?ller's muscle was dissected from the upper border of the tarsal plate and from the posteriorly located conjunctiva. We exposed the posterior check ligament and fixed it on approximately upper one third of the tarsal plate. We obtained satisfactory result for more than 18 months with blepharoptosis corrected with all cases with no significant complications: among satisfactory degrees of all blepharoptosis patients, 4 were "Excellent" and 3 were "Good". The correction of blepharoptosis using posterior check ligament sling showed less traumatic to levator and The M?ller's muscle and more naturally correcting vector, compared with other methods. Especially in patients who had insufficient correction of blepharoptsis, the correction of blepharoptosis using posterior check ligament sling appears to be a good alternative method.

Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma Arising in Old Burn Scar on the Anterior Chest

PURPOSE: Malignant changes of Marjolin's ulcer arising from chronic burn scar are rare. The majority of them are squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a deep seated pleomorphic sarcoma, which occurs principally as a mass of the extremities, abdominal cavity, or retroperitoneum in adults. METHODS: We report a 58-year-old male patient who was admitted due to 3.5x5cm chronic ulceration of anterior chest wall on the center of old burn scar. His scar had been occurred by boiling oil and treated with conservative treatment 45 years ago. Preoperative punch biopsy showed suspicious malignant changes and contrast enhanced chest CT showed well-defined, irregular shape enhancing lesion on anterior chest wall without intrathoracic metastasis. RESULTS: The tumor was widely excised and defect was covered with skin graft without infection, necrosis and any other complication. The pathologic findings are compatible with malignant fibrous histiocytoma(storiform - pleomorphic type). The patient underwent 3 cycles of chemotheraphy. Although distant metastasis to the lung developed 6 months later and the patient died 9 month later, there was no local reoccurrence. CONCLUSION: Aggressive and early excision is needed because malignant fibrous histiocytoma has characteristics of high malignancy with a propensity for early and distant spread. Furthermore, the patient's education about disease entity and postoperative regular follow-up for local recurrence or metastasis is very important. To prevent malignancy from secondly healing burn scar, early skin graft is recommended for patients with deep second degree burn.