Simulation of the occipital transtentorial approach incorporating visualization of the cerebellar tentorium using three-dimensional computed tomography angiography and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: technical note.

The occipital transtentorial approach (OTA) is one of the useful approaches to the lesions of the pineal region, dorsal brainstem, and supracerebellar region. However, a wide operative field is sometimes difficult to obtain due to the tentorial sinus and bridging veins. This study evaluated the usefulness of preoperative simulation of OTA, specifically including the cerebellar tentorium in 9 patients. All patients underwent computed tomography angiography and venography and gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (Gd-3D-T1WI). The images were fused, and the cerebellar tentorium, vessels, and tumor were manually extracted from Gd-3D-T1WI to obtain the simulation images. Visualization of the cerebellar tentorium could discriminate between bridging veins from the occipital lobe and cerebellum, and recognize the site of bridging to the tentorial sinus and variants which may interfere with the tentorial incision. Simulation of the tentorial incision was also possible based on the relationships between the tumor, tentorial sinus, bridging vein, and cerebellar tentorium. The simulation suggested that safe tentorial incision was difficult in two sides because of the crossed tentorial sinus draining the left basal vein and draining veins from the glioblastoma. The OTA was performed in eight cases, and no difficulty was experienced in the tentorial incision in all cases. The simulation findings of the bridging vein and tentorial sinus were consistent with the intraoperative findings. Preoperative simulation including the cerebellar tentorium is useful for determining the optimum and safe side and required extent of the tentorial incision necessary for tumor resection with the OTA.

Prospective comparison study of a 550 picosecond 755 nm laser vs a 50 ns 755 nm laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota.

Since the introduction of selective photothermolysis, Q-switched nanosecond lasers have been used for the treatment of dermal pigmented lesions. Over the past several years, picosecond lasers have been introduced to the cosmetic community. We recently performed a study comparing a 550 picosecond 755 nm laser versus a 50 ns 755 nm laser, with the purpose of evaluating the clinical efficacy and complications of each laser when treating nevus of Ota. Ten Asian patients with nevus of Ota were enrolled in the study. Each lesion was split into 2 parts, and patients were treated with a 755 nm picosecond laser (PSL) and a 755 nm nanosecond laser (NSL). The clinical endpoint for fluence choice was immediate whitening (PSL: 2.33 ~ 3.36 J/cm2, NSL: 5.5 ~ 7 J/cm2) of the treated area. The pulse duration was fixed at 550 picoseconds (PSL) and 50 ns (NSL). The spot size of each laser was 2.5-3 mm. Laser treatments were performed until excellent clinical improvement was observed. Patients were examined 1 week after the first treatment, at each follow-up visit, and 6 months after the last laser treatment. The average number of treatment sessions to achieve excellent clinical improvement was 4.2 treatments using PSL and 5.4 treatments using NSL. One case of hyperpigmentation and one case of hypopigmentation were observed in the NSL treatment group. There were no complications in the PSL treatment group. The 755 nm 550 picosecond laser is significantly more effective than the 755 nm 50 ns laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota. The PSL treatment group also had minimum side effects.

Mechanism of crescent-shaped and ring-shaped epidermal damage from laser hair removal with cryogen spray cooling.

The safety and efficacy of laser hair removal have been well established through many clinical studies and through clinical use over the past 25 years. A laser hair removal device that protects the epidermis by utilizing cryogen spray cooling (CSC) is widely used internationally. In darker skin types, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) can occur after laser hair removal. In particular, laser hair removal with CSC is known to cause crescent-shaped or ring-shaped PIH. In this experiment, we report a visualization of this PIH mechanism. The laser used in this experiment is a 755-nm-long-pulsed alexandrite laser. Graph paper was treated with this laser to assess for thermal damage. We investigated changes in thermal damage due to differences in laser spot size, fluence output, and laser beam angle in relation to the graph paper. When using a spot size of 18 mm, we observed that higher fluences caused crescent-shaped thermal damage on the margins of the treated graph paper. It was also confirmed that when the hand piece is not held perpendicular to the skin, the laser-treated area is expanded and the CSC range is narrowed. These factors caused the area of thermal damage to widen. This widening causes ring-shaped thermal injury, leading to PIH. We treated graph paper using a hair removal laser with CSC to investigate the mechanism of crescent or ring-shaped thermal damage. Laser treatment on graph paper is effective as a test for defects in the CSC device. Factors that cause inadequate cooling, which leads to PIH, are large spot size, high fluence, not holding the laser hand piece perpendicular to the skin, and malfunctioning of CSC device.

Reduction in Recurrence Rate by Combining Modified Hotz Procedure With Epicanthoplasty to Treat Congenital Epiblepharon.

AIM: To determine whether patients with congenital lower lid epiblepharon treated with a modified Hotz procedure combined with epicanthoplasty have a decreased recurrence rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with epiblepharon of the lower eyelid corrected using a modified Hotz method between 2007 and 2017 were evaluated retrospectively by chart review to determine rates of complications and recurrence as well as whether the Hotz method was combined with epicanthoplasty. The recurrence rates for patients treated with the Hotz method alone or in combination with epicanthoplasty were compared. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients (mean age, 13.6 years) and 115 eyelids were evaluated. All patients showed improvement in their symptoms and had no complications. Across the entire group, the recurrence rate for entropion was 23.5% (27 eyes). A modified Hotz procedure combined with epicanthoplasty was performed on 43 (37.4%) eyes. The recurrence rate for the group treated with a modified Hotz procedure combined with epicanthoplasty was significantly lower than that for patients who underwent the Hotz procedure alone (7.0% vs 33.3% P = 0.0012). There was no relationship between epicanthus severity and recurrence rate (P = 0.345). CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed that patients who underwent a modified Hotz procedure combined with epicanthoplasty had a decreased recurrence rate. This improved outcome could be due to the simpler approach to the nasal side of the lower eyelid in epicanthoplasty, and epicanthoplasty can facilitate detachment of the upper eyelid from the lower eyelid.

[Distortion Reduction Effect of View Angle Tilting (VAT) in Large Field of View Magnetic Resonance Imaging].

With shortening of the gantry of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, large field-of-view (FOV) imaging has become difficult because static magnetic field nonuniformity and gradient magnetic field nonlinearity exacerbate geometric distortion of MR images. However, results of earlier studies have demonstrated that view angle tilting (VAT) can reduce severe image distortion attributable to local susceptibility effects of metals. Although VAT is usually applied to local magnetic field nonuniformity, in principle VAT is expected to correct distortion also for peripheral images in large-FOV MRI. Results from this phantom experiment using VAT with large-FOV verified the effectiveness of distortion correction. The experiment using VAT showed reduction of maximum distortion from 23.6 to -1.9 mm. Furthermore, results of a volunteer study confirmed the distortion correction capability of VAT: it reduced distortion and improved visibility of the anatomical structure. In conclusion, experimentally obtained results underscore VAT effectiveness for improving distortion in large-FOV MRI.

The efficacy of a multidisciplinary team approach in critical limb ischemia.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the characteristics of Japanese critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients and analyze the rates of real-world mortality and amputation-free survival (AFS) in all patients with Fontaine stage IV CLI who were treated with/without revascularization therapy by an intra-hospital multidisciplinary care team. All consecutive patients who presented with CLI at Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital between April 2008 and March 2014 were prospectively registered. The intra-hospital committee consisted of cardiologists, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, diabetologists, nephrologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and vascular technologists. The primary endpoint of this study was all-cause mortality and AFS during the follow-up period. The present study included 145 patients with Fontaine stage IV CLI. The mean age was 76.5 ± 10.2 years. The all-cause mortality rate during the follow-up period (15.5 ± 16.1 months) was 21.4 %. The AFS rate during the follow-up period (14.1 ± 16.4 months) was 58.6 %. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis found that age >75 years and hemodialysis were significantly associated with all-cause mortality; and that age >75 years, Rutherford 6, and wound infection were significantly associated with AFS. A multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive care may improve the outcomes and optimize the collaborative treatment of CLI patients. However, all-cause mortality remained high in patients with Fontaine stage IV CLI and early referral to a hospital that can provide specialized treatment for CLI, before the occurrence of major tissue loss or infection, is necessary to avoid primary amputation.

Orbital floor reconstruction with ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate.

The orbital floor is one of the most frequently broken bones in maxillofacial fracture, and orbital reconstruction is needed in many cases. Various materials are used for orbital floor reconstruction. We report here orbital reconstruction using autologous orbital bone with cyanoacrylate. Entrapped soft tissues were freed and repositioned intraorbitally and bone fragments were gathered with a microscope simultaneously. The bone fragments were fixed to a board of bone with ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate and returned to the orbital fracture site. Of 96 fresh orbital floor fractures, this method was used for 31 (32.3%) patients. Simple reduction was performed in 48 patients. Bone graft with iliac crest was performed in the other 12 patients. Reconstruction with alloplastic materials was performed in 5 patients. Diplopia was corrected in 26 patients on whom this method was performed. The reconstructed bone collapsed into the maxillary sinus in 1 patient who underwent iliac bone graft on reoperation. Another 4 patients did not show diplopia preoperatively. None of the patients showed enophthalmos, foreign body reaction, or infection postoperatively. We were able to perform orbital bone reconstruction with autologous orbital bone without another donor site in 30 (62.5%) of 48 cases that required grafting. The indications for this method are that a sufficient quantity of bone fragments can be obtained and returned on a board of bone which can be stabilized in the orbit without collapsing into the maxillary sinus. Good results were obtained, and we consider this to be a safe and useful method.

Nuclear Factor-κB Decoy Oligodeoxynucleotide Attenuates Cartilage Resorption In Vitro.

BACKGROUND: Cartilage harvest and transplantation is a common surgery using costal, auricular, and septal cartilage for craniofacial reconstruction. However, absorption and warping of the cartilage grafts can occur due to inflammatory factors associated with wound healing. Transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is activated by the various stimulation such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), and plays a central role in the transactivation of this inflammatory cytokine gene. Inhibition of NF-κB may have anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of an NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (Decoy) as a chondroprotective agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Safe and efficacious concentrations of Decoy were assessed using rabbit nasal septal chondrocytes (rNSChs) and assays for cytotoxicity, proteoglycan (PG) synthesis, and PG turnover were carried out. The efficacious concentration of Decoy determined from the rNSChs was then applied to human nasal septal cartilage (hNSC) in vitro and analyzed for PG turnover, the levels of inflammatory markers, and catabolic enzymes in explant-conditioned culture medium. RESULTS: Over the range of Decoy conditions and concentrations, no inhibition of PG synthesis or cytotoxicity was observed. Decoy at 10 µM effectively inhibited PG degradation in the hNSC explant, prolonging PG half-life by 63% and decreasing matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP-3) by 70.7% (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Decoy may be considered a novel chondroprotective therapeutic agent in cartilage transplantation due to its ability to inhibit cartilage degradation due to inflammation cytokines.

Long-term results of nail correction with double wires for pincer nail deformity: A retrospective cohort study.

There is no consensus on the best treatment for pincer nail deformity. We developed a novel procedure that uses double wires to treat pincer nail deformity on the great toe. This study aimed to describe this technique for pincer nail deformity treatment and present the long-term findings/observations. After injecting a local anesthetic, a mini router was used to make holes on both sides of the nail plate edge, and the wire was inserted in two places, one proximal and the other distal to the great toenail. The wire was removed when it moved to the tip of the great toe as the nail grew. Patients who underwent this method were evaluated retrospectively from 2014 to 2020. Patients with less than 24 months of follow-up were excluded. If pain occurred again, it was deemed as a recurrence. A total of 27 patients (36 toes, mean age: 69.5 years) were evaluated. In all cases, the pain disappeared 1 week after the procedure. In the correction period (mean 2.7 months), six toes had complications (nail break, four toes and nail hold pain, two toes), while recurrence occurred in four toes within 2 years. Curvature (nail tip height/width of nail tip × 100%) improved significantly up to 1-year post-procedure (37.7 ± 14.4%, p < 0.05) as compared to pre-correction (53.8 ± 24.7%). The procedure time was short (approximately 10 minutes), and the treatment was completed with a single procedure. In addition, the recurrence rate was low.

The Dynamic Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis for Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema without Compression: Salvaging Lymphedema Patients Who Lost Conservative Treatment Opportunity.

In conservative treatment for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), compression therapy has a crucial role. However, some BCRL patients are unable to use compression, and then their lymphedema continues to worsen as they miss treatment opportunity. Although lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is an effective and minimally invasive surgical treatment for BCRL, compression therapy is still important to enhance lymphatic fluid flow in LVA. The authors previously reported the dynamic LVA method for BCRL, in which patient's natural hand movements theoretically propel lymph to the anastomosed vein. This study is conducted to clarify whether dynamic LVA can salvage BCRL patients without pre- and postoperative compression therapy. Methods: The study involved 17 BCRL patients, 18 limbs. All patients had International Society of Lymphology stage-2 lymphedema, but they had no compression: six patients had difficulty by other diseases to undergo compression, and other 11 patients refused any compression usage because of the burden of the treatment itself. Three dynamic LVAs were performed in each patient. Results: Patients' mean age was 60.4 ± 10.1, and mean body mass index was 24.0 ± 3.3. The mean follow-up period was 25.5 ± 9.2 months. The volume of the lymphedematous limb, according to the upper extremity lymphedema (UEL) index, was reduced in all 18 limbs postoperatively (postoperative UEL index 101.8 ± 9.4 versus preoperative UEL index 116.0 ± 20.1; P < 0.01). Twelve of the 18 limbs were cured without edema. Conclusion: Even without compression therapy, International Society of Lymphology stage-2 BCRL patients can be treated by the dynamic LVA method.

Treatment of Ecchymosis with a Pulsed Dye Laser.

Ecchymosis is a common side effect after injury and surgery. A pulsed dye laser (PDL) is the gold standard for vascular lesions and can minimize ecchymosis. Heating induces hemoglobin modification due to oxidative and heat reactions with the formation of bilirubin and methemoglobin, resulting in color changes to brown-yellow. Therefore, downtime following cosmetic procedures can be shortened.

Myositis ossificans traumatica of the masticatory muscles.

Myositis ossificans traumatica (MOT) is a disease in which muscular ossification develops following trauma. Almost all cases of MOT are found in skeletal muscle. The authors report in a 39-year-old man MOT involving several muscles in the head and neck, namely, bilateral masseter muscles, the left temporal muscle, the left lateral pterygoid muscle, and the left frontal muscle. Involvement of the lateral pterygoid muscle is especially rare.

Efficacy of ultra-high-resolution computed tomographic angiography for postoperative evaluation of intracranial aneurysm after clipping surgery: A case report.

Background: Following clipping surgery for intracranial aneurysm, computed tomography angiography (CTA) is often used to confirm complete aneurysm obliteration. However, artifacts from the titanium clips usually degrade the images around them. The ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (UHR-CT) system recently became available in clinical practice. Here, we report a case in which CTA using the UHR-CT system successfully pointed out a small aneurysmal remnant after the clipping surgery, which was validated by digital subtraction angiography. Case Description: A patient underwent clipping surgery for an unruptured aneurysm using two titanium alloy clips. CTA using the UHR-CT system demonstrated a small remnant aneurysm. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed the minor remnant. The UHR-CTA images were comparable to three-dimensional reconstructed images from the rotational angiography. Conclusion: We propose that UHR-CTA is a reliable postoperative assessment method for intracranial clipping surgeries.

Two-Layer Palatal Reconstruction Reduces Postoperative Intraoral Complications in Head and Neck Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although microvascular free flaps are commonly performed and have high success rates, postoperative oronasal fistulas or infections do occur. The authors hypothesized that a two-layer closure is effective for prevention of intraoral complications. METHODS: Patients who underwent palatal reconstruction with a microvascular free flap were evaluated retrospectively. The cases were divided into two groups (palatal reconstruction with or without a two-layer closure). A two-layer closure involves unilateral reconstruction with a free flap, then reconstruction of the nasal lining with a local flap or folding free flap. The postoperative complication rates between these two groups were compared. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five cases were evaluated. A two-layer closure was performed in 65 cases (41.9 percent). The incidence of infections, dehiscence of the recipient site, and oronasal fistula were significantly higher in the single-layer closure group than in the two-layer closure group [10.0 percent versus 0 percent (p = 0.011); 15.6 percent versus 4.6 percent (p = 0.036); and 17.8 percent versus 4.6 percent (p = 0.013), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: A two-layer closure in palatal reconstruction was shown to reduce the rate of infection, intraoral wound dehiscence, and oronasal fistula in the current study. A two-layer closure provides greater support and stability and reduces the risk of failure in reconstruction of the palate with a microvascular free flap. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Comparison between ultra-high-resolution computed tomographic angiography and conventional computed tomographic angiography in the visualization of the subcallosal artery.

BACKGROUND: The subcallosal artery (ScA) is a single dominant artery arising from the anterior communicating artery. Its injury causes amnesia and cognitive disturbance. The conventional computed tomographic angiography (C-CTA) is a common evaluation method of the intracranial artery. However, to image tinny perforating arteries such as the ScA is technically demanding for C-CTA. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the ultra-high-resolution CTA (UHR-CTA) could image the ScA better than C-CTA. UHR-CTA became available in clinical practice in 2017. Its novel features are the improvement of the detector system and a small X-ray focus. METHODS: Between April 2019 and May 2020, 77 and 49 patients who underwent intracranial UHR-CTA and C-CTA, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Two board-certified neurosurgeons participated as observers to identify the ScA based on UHR-CTA and C-CTA images. RESULTS: UHR-CTA and C-CTA detected the ScA in 56-58% and 30-40% of the patients, respectively. In visualization of the ScA, UHR-CTA was better than C-CTA (P < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Between the two observers, the Cohen's kappa coefficient was 0.77 for UHR-CTA and 0.78 for C-CTA. CONCLUSIONS: UHR-CTA is a simple and accessible method to evaluate intracranial vasculature. Visualization of the ScA with UHR-CTA was better than that with C-CTA. The high quality of UHR-CTA could provide useful information in the neurosurgery field.

Reconstruction of a Pharyngeal Cutaneous Fistula Using a Bi-Paddled Pectoralis Major Flap for a Patient with a Possibility of Future Postoperative Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND Pharyngocutaneous fistulas are often difficult to treat because pharyngeal contents tend to leak into the cervical layer causing wound infections or abscesses. If reconstruction with free flaps is difficult, pedicled pectoralis major flaps are an option. CASE REPORT A 51-year-old male patient who had undergone radiation and chemotherapy for laryngeal cancer was scheduled for total laryngectomy with combined skin resection for local tumor recurrence. Reconstruction with a left deltopectoral (DP) flap was performed. However, a pharyngocutaneous fistula constructed due to cervical soft-tissue infection required reconstruction using a right bi-paddled pectoralis major muscle. The anterior pharyngeal wall was reconstructed with the medial skin island, and the lateral skin island was folded back to reconstruct the soft tissues. Since this was the patient's third recurrence, the possibility of subsequent local recurrences, and hence of the need for radiation therapy, were high. In such cases, the pedicle of the pectoralis major muscle flap is normally closed using a DP flap. However, in the present case, the DP flap had already been used on both sides. We therefore utilized a right bi-paddled pectoralis major flap for cervical reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS We successfully reconstructed the cervical skin and soft tissue thickly, and primarily-closed the donor site, by creating a second skin island from surplus areas of the existing skin island. This method is particularly useful for the reconstruction of cervical skin and soft tissues due to the possible need for future radiation therapy, when the use of free flaps and DP flap is unfeasible.

Skin ligation and argon beam coagulation for giant pachydermatocele resection.

Resection of giant neurofibroma in neurofibromatosis type 1 has a high risk of perioperative bleeding because the tumors are enriched in blood vessels, which are weakened due to the loss and thinning of vascular smooth muscle. Therefore, we combined skin ligation around the tumor and use of an argon beam coagulator (ABC) for hemostasis during resecting the giant neurofibroma. The ABC is a non-contact-type hemostasis device employing argon gas as a medium. We examined the usefulness of our method by retrospectively comparing the outcomes of the ABC-use group with those of the non-use group (7 patients, 9 tumors). Although there was no difference in resected tumor weight between the two groups, the operation time was slightly shorter and the volume of blood loss was smaller in ABC-use group than in the non-use group. Our method for hemostasis is easy and safe and is considered to be a useful method.

Orbicularis oculi muscle tightening for involutional entropion.

AIMS: To describe a novel technique for involutional entropion (IE) correction and present a retrospective case study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The entropion eyelid was corrected by repairing the thin preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM) of the lower eyelid. Patients underwent correction with this method from 2005 to 2014 and were followed up for 2 years postoperatively. They were evaluated retrospectively with chart review (operation time, recurrence rate, operator years of experience as a plastic surgeon, etc.). Risk factors for recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients (70 eyelids) were evaluated. The mean operation time was 37.6 min. Postoperative ectropion (over-correction) was observed in 1 patient (1.4%); a local skin flap was performed for this patient. There was recurrence of entropion in 4 patients (5.7%). These 4 patients with recurrent entropion underwent repeat surgery with the same method and achieved good eyelid position. No risk factors were found in this study. CONCLUSION: We consider IE to be mainly caused by the protrusion of orbital fat. The aim of this procedure was to reduce the orbital fat protrusion with OOM tightening. Advantages of this method are that it is technically easy, it is minimally invasive, operative times are short, recurrence rates are low, and esthetic outcomes are good.

Transplantation of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage in an Animal Model (Xenograft and Autograft): Construct Validation.

Tissue engineering holds great promise for cartilage repair with minimal donor-site morbidity. The in vivo maturation of a tissue-engineered construct can be tested in the subcutaneous tissues of the same species for autografts or of immunocompromised animals for allografts or xenografts. This section describes detailed protocols for the surgical transplantation of a tissue-engineered construct into an animal model to assess construct validity.

Intraosseous venous malformation of the zygoma: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Venous malformations of the zygoma are rare. Historically, venous malformations have been misrepresented as "hemangiomas". The International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomaly (ISSVA) classification is a reasonable classification that leads to appropriate clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies. Collaboration between surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists is necessary for accurate diagnosis and management. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present here a case of an IOVM in a 59-year-old woman who was treated with a multidisciplinary approach. Superselective arteriography and embolization were effective for diagnosis as well as for prevention of large hemorrhage during surgery. En-bloc resection of the zygoma was performed within hours after embolization and autologous calvarial bone graft was used for primary reconstruction. DISCUSSION: We performed a literature review consisting of reviewing 52 cases of IOVM of the zygoma discussing optimal material for reconstruction of the defect for intraosseous venous malformation of the zygoma nationally and internationally. CONCLUSION: The combination of surgery and preoperative angiography makes it possible to prevent high risk of hemorrhage. For primary reconstruction of the zygoma, use of autologous calvarial bone can maintain the volume and reconstruct the natural malar contour.