Evaluation and Classification of Supraorbital Nerve Emerging Patterns.

BACKGROUND: Numerous significant variations in the supraorbital nerve (SON) pass through the notches and foramina. During endoscopic forehead lifting, the passage and the location of the nerve against the frontal bone render it susceptible to injury, resulting in diminished or absent sensation in the corresponding location. We attempted to obtain accurate knowledge of the SON emergence routes. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent an endoscopic forehead lift in a plastic surgery clinic between November 2015 and August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Deep and superficial branch pathways of SONs were identified and compared according to side and gender. We also classified the nerve patterns into six types. RESULTS: Altogether, 942 patients (1884 SON cases) were evaluated. Out of the patients, 86 patients were male, and 856 were female. The overall mean age was 48.6 (± 13.1) years. In the deep branches, 49% came from the notch, and 51% came from the foramen. In the superficial branches, 67% came from the notch, and 33% of superficial branches came from the foramen. Unlike the deep branch, superficial branches from the notch were significant. Deep and superficial branches of male patients were much more notched than those of female patients. Branches emerged together in 56% and separately in 44% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The absolute number of SON notches was higher than that of SON foramina. This study with the largest number of SON cases will help surgeons understand the variation and course of SON. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors 38 assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full 39 description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, 40 please refer to the Table of Contents or the online 41 Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Oral Commissure Lift: A Retrospective Analysis of Complication Rates and Overall Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Downward-turning oral commissures and sagging mouth corners can present an unfavorable impression. We introduced a new oral commissure lift procedure and investigated its effectiveness and complication rates. METHODS: Patients who underwent oral commissure lift in the plastic surgery clinic between January 2010 and December 2017 were enrolled retrospectively. Pre-and postoperative photographs were evaluated to measure oral commissure angles and analyze surgical complications, including visible scarring, unnatural appearance, and asymmetry. Many patients underwent a oral commissure lift with a simultaneous facelift. To exclude potential bias, we compared angular changes between patients receiving both oral commissure lift and facelift, with those receiving only oral commissure lift. Moreover, oral commissure angles of patients only receiving facelift were also measured. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Oral commissure lift was performed in 51 patients. The mean ages and follow-up periods were 46.7 ± 11.9 years, and 25.2 ± 22.9 months, respectively. The preoperative mean angles of the right and left oral commissures measured - 3.1 ± 4.0° and - 3.4 ± 3.7°, respectively, and postoperative mean angles measured 3.6 ± 3.2° and 3.3 ± 3.5°, respectively. Postoperative changes in oral commissure angles were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The low complication rate included undercorrection in one patient, asymmetry in one patient, and visible scarring in three patients. We found no statistically significant differences in the studies excluding bias. CONCLUSIONS: The new oral commissure lift procedure for correcting sagging oral commissures was simple, safe, and effective with a low complication rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Intralymphatic immunotherapy with tyrosine-adsorbed allergens: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most previous studies used aluminum hydroxide-absorbed allergen extracts in evaluating the potential therapeutic roles of intralymphatic allergen-specific immunotherapy (ILAIT). In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of ILAIT with L-tyrosine-adsorbed allergen extracts of Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, cat, dog, or mixtures thereof, in patients with allergic rhinitis induced by these allergens. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, study subjects received three intralymphatic injections of L-tyrosine-adsorbed allergen extracts (active group) or saline (placebo group) at 4-week intervals. RESULTS: Although ILAIT reduced daily medication use and skin reactivity to HDM and cat allergens at 4 months after treatment, overall symptom score on a visual analog scale (VAS), sinonasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20), rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ), daily symptom score (dSS), daily medication score (dMS), daily symptom medication score (dSMS), nasal reactivity to HDM allergen, and basophil activity to HDM, cat, and dog allergens at 4 months and 1 year after treatment were similar between the treatment and control groups. Intralymphatic injection was more painful than a venous puncture, and pain at the injection site was the most frequent local adverse event (12.8%); dyspnea and wheezing were the most common systemic adverse events (5.3%). CONCLUSIONS: ILAIT with L-tyrosine-adsorbed allergen extracts does not exhibit profound therapeutic efficacy in allergic rhinitis and can provoke moderate-to-severe systemic reactions and cause pain at the injection site. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02665754; date of registration: 28 January 2016.

Comparison of Sublingual Immunotherapy in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis Sensitive to House Dust Mites in Korea.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) using 2 kinds of SLIT medications (LAIS and Staloral) in patients with allergic rhinitis for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. We have evaluated the patient's characteristics, safety, and compliance in 293 patients and also analyzed the symptom score, medication score, satisfaction rate, and immunologic measurement in 84 patients who have continued the treatment over 1 year. The symptom scores were significantly improved in both treatment groups, 51% versus 44% (LAIS vs Starloral) at 1 year (P < .05). The medication score was also significantly decreased in both treatment groups (P < .05), 50.8% versus 60%. The subjective improvement score was 44.4% versus 46.1%, and satisfaction rate was 29% versus 40% (P < .05). The serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level was significantly increased in Staloral group (P < .05). The adverse events were 6.2% versus 33.3% and the compliance was 37.7% versus 25.1%. In conclusion, the improvements in symptom score and medication scores were not significant different between 2 SLIT medications at 1 year. LAIS was more compliant, less side effects and Staloral has shown increased satisfaction rate and IgG4 level.

Nasal Stenosis Treated With a Composite Skin Graft.

A 58-year-old female patient was presented, who complained about breathing and aesthetic difficulties due to external nasal valve obstruction and nasal deformity that developed after nasal trauma surgery. Nasal stenosis recurs easily after surgery, especially if internal nasal stenosis is not adequately managed. Nasal stenosis in this case was well treated using a composite skin graft.

Autologous Fat Injection for the Correction of Facial Depression Resulting From Silent Sinus Syndrome.

The case of a 59-year-old woman who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for right maxillary sinusitis 5 years before visiting our otorhinolaryngologic department complaining of right-sided facial depression was described in this study. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed right facial depression and retraction of the orbital floor due to a hypoplastic right maxillary sinus. Symptoms and CT findings corresponded with silent sinus syndrome. Facial depression is a rare symptom in silent sinus syndrome and is well corrected by autologous fat transfer.

ROS Is Involved in Disruption of Tight Junctions of Human Nasal Epithelial Cells Induced by HRV16.

OBJECTIVE: Rhinoviruses (RV), which are responsible for the majority of common colds, induce mucus overproduction, increased vascular permeability, and secondary bacterial infection. These symptoms are primarily caused by barrier function disruption, which is controlled by intercellular junctions. In this study, we investigated whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) are closely involved in tight junction disruption of primary human nasal epithelial (HNE) cells induced by infection of RV . METHODS AND RESULTS: Incubation with RV resulted in disruption of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, E-cadherin, claudin-1, and occludin) in HNE cells. Pretreatment with diphenylene iodonium (DPI) decreased RV-induced disruption of tight junction in HNE cells. RV-induced generation of ROS was diminished by DPI. However, rotenone was not inhibited in HNE cells following incubation with RV. Rhinoviruses resulted in a marked decrease in protein phosphatases activity and an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels in HNE cells. Diphenylene iodonium inhibited the RV-induced inactivation of phosphatases and phosphorylation of protein tyrosine. In addition, inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases with phenylarsine oxide resulted in a marked decrease in protein phosphatase activity and disruption of tight junction proteins in HNE cells. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that ROS-mediated inhibition of phosphatases plays a crucial role in disruption of tight junctions in HNE cells by RV. The data suggest that RV infection may damage nasal epithelial barrier function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 128:E393-E401, 2018.

Retained Eyeglasses in the Orbital Cavity After Penetrating Facial Trauma.

This study describes a 68-year-old man who was presented to the emergency department with left orbital cavity penetration by his eyeglasses. The eyeglasses had entered the orbit and at presentation his eyesight could not be measured. The foreign body was extracted carefully and panfacial bone fractures were then reduced through lateral rhinotomy combined with a lip-splitting incision. When planning removal of an unusual foreign body from the orbital cavity, care should be taken not to injure the optic nerve, periorbital musculatures, or the eyeball.

Frontal Sinus Osteoplastic Flap Surgery Using a Surgical Navigation System.

OBJECTIVE: To report the case of a 38-year-old woman who underwent osteoplastic flap surgery for recurrent frontal sinus mucocele. During surgery, the exact shape of the frontal sinus was duplicated using a surgical navigation system. METHODS: In this case report, the authors suggest intraoperative surgical navigation systems are useful for accurately determining the dimensions of the frontal sinus for osteoplastic flap surgery. RESULTS: The patient underwent successful and safe osteoplastic flap surgery using a surgical navigation system. CONCLUSION: Surgical navigation is useful and safe for frontal sinus osteoplastic flap surgery.

Height Changes of Tutoplast-Processed Fascia Lata Over Time After Dorsal Augmentation During Rhinoplasty.

PURPOSE: Tutoplast (Tutogen Medical, Neunkirchen am Brand, Germany)-processed fascia lata (TPFL) has been used for dorsal augmentation in rhinoplasty in the Republic of Korea for approximately 10 years, but few studies have described changes in TPFL in terms of dorsal height over time. We investigated changes in dorsal height after TPFL use as a dorsal implant material during rhinoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 18 rhinoplasty patients who had undergone dorsal augmentation with TPFL were examined retrospectively. The patients had undergone rhinoplasty from March 2008 to June 2012. Two different ear, nose, and throat doctors analyzed the first follow-up photographs (2 lateral views and 2 oblique views) taken at approximately 1 month postoperatively and the last follow-up photographs taken from 18 to 75 months after surgery. The last follow-up photographs were classified as showing no nasal dorsal height change, slight change, and marked change compared with the first follow-up photographs. RESULTS: Of the 18 patients enrolled, 50% (n = 9) showed no change in the nasal dorsum whereas 33% (n = 6) showed mild depression and 17% (n = 3) showed marked depression of the nasal dorsum at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the patients who had undergone dorsal augmentation using TPFL during rhinoplasty showed mild or marked dorsal depression over time. It is recommended that TPFL be used with another implant during augmentation rhinoplasty or TPFL be used only for a slightly depressed nose. In addition, patients should be informed that TPFL could be resorbed over time.

A Case of Organizing Hematoma in a Maxillary Sinus After Reconstruction of a Blow-Out Fracture.

A 36-year-old man presented because of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and postnasal drip. The patient had undergone reconstruction of a blow-out fracture of the orbital floor 12 years before and had sinusitis that likely had resulted from implant migration into the maxillary sinus. The inflammation was successfully resolved, and the implant was removed through a minimally invasive endoscopic sinus surgery technique. On pathologic examination, an organizing hematoma was identified as the cause of the lesion. Pre- and postoperational paranasal sinus computed tomography images were taken to compare the anatomy of the sinus before and following surgery.

Is Surgical Navigation Useful for Treating Zygomatic Arch Fractures?

OBJECTIVE: To report the case of a 58-year-old man with a zygomatic arch fracture, which was well localized and reduced using a surgical navigation system. METHODS: In this clinical report, the authors suggest intraoperative surgical navigation systems are useful diagnostically and for localizing sites of zygomatic arch fractures. RESULTS: The patient underwent successful closed reduction of zygomatic arch fractures using a surgical navigation system. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical navigation is a useful tool for identifying the locations of zygomatic arch fractures and for guiding closed reduction. Surgical navigation is recommended for localizing the sites of zygomatic fractures.

Is Surgical Navigation Useful During Closed Reduction of Nasal Bone Fractures?

OBJECTIVE: To report the case of a 42-year-old woman with a nasal bone fracture that was easily treated using a surgical navigation system. METHODS: In this clinical report, the authors suggest that intraoperative surgical navigation systems are useful diagnostically and for localizing sites of nasal bone fractures exactly. RESULTS: The patient underwent successful closed reduction of the nasal bone fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical navigation is a useful tool for identifying nasal bone fracture locations and for guiding closed reduction. Surgical navigation is recommended when nasal bone fractures are complicated or not well reduced using the ordinary method.

Salvage of a Necrotic Flap.

OBJECTIVE: To report the case of a 68-year-old woman with a skin basal cell carcinoma on the nasal dorsum. After excision, the soft tissue defect was reconstructed using a rectangular advancement flap. However, 2 days later skin necrosis was observed. This report was issued to advise how to avoid and manage skin necrosis after regional flap placement. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. RESULTS: Superficial skin necrosis recovered completely after proper medical management. CONCLUSIONS: When planning an advancement flap, care should be taken to design the flap properly and not to injure flap blood supply to avoid skin necrosis. In addition, surgeons should be aware of the difference between superficial and total flap necrosis.

Low Concentration PM10 Had No Effect on Nasal Symptoms and Flow in Allergic Rhinitis Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Since Korea is geographically close to China (the origin site for Asian sand dust [ASD]) the health influence of ASD event will be still greater in Korea. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 µm, below 150 µg/m3) on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: We enrolled 47 healthy volunteers (group A) and 108 AR patients sensitized to house dust mites (group B). For 120 consecutive days (from February 1st to May 30th, 2012), all subjects reported their daily nasal symptoms and performed 2 peak flowmeter readings to measure peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). We evaluated the correlation between the daily concentration of PM10, symptoms, and PNIF of patients. We also investigated changes in symptoms and PNIF 2 days before and after 'dusty' days (daily concentration of PM10 >100 µg/m3). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between group A and B in nasal symptoms and PNIF during the 120-day period. Changes in nasal symptoms and PNIF were not statistically significant before or after a PM10 concentration rise above 100 µg/m3. CONCLUSION: Low concentration PM10 does not have significant effect on nasal symptoms and PNIF in AR patients.

Failed septal extension graft in a patient with a history of radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: This report describes the authors' experience of "melting" septal cartilage after placement of a septal extension graft in a nasopharyngeal cancer patient that had been previously undergone radiation therapy, and provides a review of the literature. METHODS: Electronic medical records were used to obtain details of the patient's clinical history. RESULTS: A 32-year-old woman, who had previously undergone radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer, visited our department to for rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty was performed using a septal extension graft to raise the nasal tip (first operation). Five days after surgery, it was found that the septal extension graft was melting without any signs of infection, that is, the graft had softened, lost elasticity, thinned, and partially disappeared without any sign of infection at 5 days, and thus, the nasal tip was reconstructed with conchal cartilage (second operation). Five months after surgery, it was found that almost all septal cartilage had disappeared without any sign of infection, and thus, the entire nasal septum was reconstructed using 2-mm costal cartilage and an onlay graft was used for tip augmentation (third operation). CONCLUSIONS: After cartilage has been exposed to radiotherapy, its patency should be viewed with suspicion. Further studies are needed for determine the mechanism responsible for cartilage damage after radiotherapy.

Comparison of Component-Resolved Diagnosis by Using Allergen Microarray With the Conventional Tests in Allergic Rhinitis Patients: The First Using in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the component-resolved diagnosis using a microarray allergen chip (Immuno Solid-phase Allergen Chip, ImmunoCAP ISAC) and to compare this new diagnostic tool with the established ImmunoCAP methods for allergen-specific IgE detection in allergic rhinitis patients. METHODS: One hundred sixty-eight allergic rhinitis patients were included in this study. All the patients were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis according to their clinical symptoms, physical examination and a positive skin prick test. We analyzed their specific IgEs for house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farine [DF] and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [DP]), Alternaria alternata, birch, and mugwort using ImmunoCAP and ImmunoCAP ISAC in the same patient sample. We compared the sensitivity and correlation between the two tests. RESULTS: In cases of allergies to DP and DF, the sensitivity of the specific IgE was 80% and that of the allergen microarray was 78.9%. The correlation between the two tests was significant for both DP and DF (P<0.001). For the A. alternata, birch and mugwort allergens, the sensitivity of ImmunoCAP ISAC was slightly lower than that of ImmunoCAP. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the allergen microarray chip method is a reliable new method to diagnose the components of an allergen in patients with allergic rhinitis sensitive to house dust mites. Further study about the utility of the allergen microarray is needed.

Clinical characteristics of biofilms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective case-control study.

Recent studies have indicated that biofilms are involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent and recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The present study was performed to evaluate the presence of biofilms and to evaluate the relationships between the presence of biofilms and clinical features of CRS. A total of 33 patients were included in this study. Maxillary sinus mucosa from 26 CRS patients and the ethmoid mucosa from 7 patients undergoing septoplasty were collected. Biofilms were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Preoperative symptom scores, preoperative and intraoperative nasoendoscopic findings, and postoperative healing period were compared between the groups. Biofilms were detected in 14 (42.4 %) of the 33 patients. Biofilms were present in 13 (50 %) of the 26 patients in the CRS group, but in only one (14.3 %) of the seven patients in the control group. There were no significant differences in preoperative symptom scores or preoperative nasal Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scores between the groups. However, the average Lund-Mackay and intraoperative sinus Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scores were significantly higher in biofilm-positive than biofilm-negative patients (P < 0.05). In the follow-up period, the healing time was significantly longer in biofilm-positive than biofilm-negative patients (P < 0.05). This study suggested that the presence of bacterial biofilms may contribute to the pathogenesis of CRS and the clinical characteristics of CRS patients after endoscopic sinus surgery.

The effect of PM10 on allergy symptoms in allergic rhinitis patients during spring season.

BACKGROUND: Asian sand dust (ASD) that originates in the Mongolian Desert in the spring induces serious respiratory health problems throughout East Asia (China, Korea, Japan). PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 µm) is a major air pollutant component in ASD. We studied the effects of PM10 on allergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis during the spring season, when ASD frequently develops. METHODS: We investigated the changes in allergic symptoms in 108 allergic patients and 47 healthy subjects by comparing their 120-day symptom scores from February to May 2012. At the same time, the contributions of pollen count and PM10 concentration were also assessed. We also compared symptom scores before and 2 days after the daily PM10 concentration was >100 µg/m3. RESULTS: The PM10 concentration during the 120 days was <150 µg/m3. No significant correlations were observed between changes in the PM10 concentration and allergic symptom scores (p > 0.05). However, allergic symptoms were significantly correlated with outdoor activity time (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that a PM10 concentration <150 µg/m3 did not influence allergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis during the 2012 ASD season.