Long-term comparison study of philtral ridge morphology with two different techniques of philtral reconstruction.

Cleft lip and/or cleft palate are the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies. Philtral ridge morphology is an important aesthetic component of unilateral cleft lip (UCL) repair. To this end, we have developed two techniques of philtral ridge reconstruction: (1) asymmetric mattress muscle sutures, and (2) overlapping mattress muscle sutures. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare their outcomes in UCL repairs. Group I patients (n=30) underwent UCL repair before August 2003, including philtral ridge reconstruction by asymmetric mattress muscle sutures. Group II patients (n=30) underwent UCL repair after August 2003, including philtral ridge reconstruction by overlapping mattress muscle sutures. Philtral morphology was evaluated by ultrasonographic and three-dimensional photographic measurements, examining cleft side philtral projection and philtral ridge symmetry. These demonstrated that group II patients had better philtral column symmetry and projection on the cleft side when compared to group I. Overlapping mattress muscle sutures produced better philtral morphology in UCL repairs than asymmetric mattress muscle sutures.

Novel technique using tensor fascia lata graft to reconstruct a floor of mouth postablative defect from invasive ectopic papillary carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct tract.

We describe a rare case of ectopic papillary thyroid cancer in the thyroglossal duct tract invading the floor-of-mouth musculature. The postablative defect was reconstructed with a bone-anchored tensor fascia lata graft to resuspend the floor of mouth to the mandible as a neogeniohyoid sling, enabling maintenance of a functional tongue position for normal speech and swallowing. This reconstruction should be considered when suprahyoid musculature is resected without breaching the oral lining.

Prospective audit of 106 consecutive human bite injuries: the importance of history taking.

OBJECTIVES: Some patients attempt to conceal human bites with factitious mechanisms of injury. Follow up questioning allows patients to modify their histories. This practice was prospectively audited. METHODS: Patients with cutaneous wounds who did not present with a history of human bite were asked a follow up question. Those who then gave a history of human bite were noted. RESULTS: Certain groups of patients with human bites were significantly more likely to provide a factitious history and/or delay presentation. CONCLUSION: Follow up questioning dramatically increased the case-detection rate, prompting specific management.

Effects of training and supervision on recurrence rate after inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about the effects of operative experience and supervision of trainees on outcome in inguinal hernia surgery, one of the cornerstone operations of basic surgical training. METHODS: All primary inguinal hernia repairs carried out between 1994 and 2001 were registered prospectively in the Lothian Surgical Audit database. Subsequent problems that required re-referral were identified from this database. Patients who required reoperation for recurrence a median of 3 (range 1-7) years after surgery were identified. RESULTS: Some 4406 repairs, including 90 recurrences (2.0 per cent), were identified. Open mesh, open sutured and laparoscopic techniques were employed. Senior trainees (registrars and senior registrars) had similar recurrence rates to consultants; supervision did not affect outcome. Junior trainees (senior house officers) had similar recurrence rates to consultants as long as they were supervised by either a senior trainee or a consultant. Unsupervised junior trainees had unacceptably high recurrence rates (open mesh: relative risk (RR) 21.0 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 7.3 to 59.9), P < 0.001; open sutured: RR 16.5 (95 per cent c.i. 7.2 to 37.8), P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Senior trainees may operate independently and supervise junior trainees, with recurrence rates equal to those of consultant surgeons. Junior trainees should be encouraged and given more practice in inguinal hernia repair with appropriate supervision.

Mobile messaging: emergency image transfer.

This is the first reported integration of picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) with general packet radio services (GPRS)-compliant mobile telephones allowing digital image transmission using multimedia messaging service (MMS) technology for mobile telementoring (advice and teaching).

Liquid chemical sterilization using peracetic acid. An alternative approach to endoscope processing.

Recurrent episodes of endoscope contamination with nontuberculous mycobacterium and Pseudomonas species, coupled with employee concerns about exposure to 2% glutaraldehyde and the requirement for rapid scope turnover time, led to the investigation of an alternative method for endoscope processing. A prospective evaluation of 220 bronchoscopy procedures was carried out. Endoscope culture surveillance was performed twice a month for a 12 month period on all endoscopes. In addition, the deliberate inoculation of bronchoscopes with Mycobacterium gordonae was carried out. No indications of cross contamination were noted among the 220 bronchoscopy procedures after processing the scopes by the studied liquid chemical sterilization system using peracetic acid. Ongoing patient surveillance did not reveal any indications of cross contamination for nearly 15,000 patients diagnostic or surgical endoscopic procedures using instruments processed by this liquid chemical sterilization system. Twice a month for 12 months, bronchoscopes, colonoscopes, and gastroscopes were cultured for bacterium, fungi, and acid fast bacilli and showed no growth. Deliberate inoculation of bronchoscopes with M. gordonae showed the scopes were rendered sterile. No unusual occurrences of occupational chemical exposure were found in 11 individuals working with this liquid chemical sterilization system. The peracetic acid based sterilization system studied proved to be an effective, safe, and economical alternative to the glutaraldehyde method.