Cheiloplasty for False Median Cleft Lip Associated With Holoprosencephaly: The Use of Skin Graft for Philtrum Reconstruction, the Risk of Simultaneous Columella Reconstruction.

A false median cleft lip is a congenital malformation associated with holoprosencephaly. Cheiloplasty is an effective treatment for false median cleft lip. In the past, holoprosencephaly had a poor prognosis with extremely low survival rates; consequently, cheiloplasty was rarely performed. However, with the recent improvement in survival and prognosis with advances in medical care, patients survive and can now undergo cheiloplasty. We report a case of cheiloplasty performed using a skin graft for philtrum reconstruction. The lip contour was satisfactory because the insufficient tissue was resolved by filling the skin graft, which could not be resolved by midline suture closure. We did not perform columella reconstruction considering the safety; however, oxygenation temporarily destabilized owing to postoperative airway stenosis. Careful postoperative management is necessary even if the columella is not reconstructed.

Genioplasty and Hyoid Advancement by Distraction Osteogenesis for the Correction of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Pediatric Patient.

Advancement genioplasty is one variation of genioglossus advancement (GA) and GA is a surgical intervention that can be applied for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) caused by hypopharyngeal collapse. The genioglossus muscle originates from the posterior surface of the midline mandible and inserts into the entire tongue mass and the body of the hyoid bone. Placing horizontal tension on the genioglossus muscle enlarges the posterior airway space. We use a modified GA that applies distraction osteogenesis to increase forward movement of the genioglossus muscle and also connects the bone transport segment to the hyoid bone with a thread to maximize the anterior movement of the hyoid bone. We used this technique on a young patient and obtained good results.

Case Report of Complete Second Branchial Fistula.

Background: Branchial fistulas are anomalies of embryonic development of the branchial apparatus, with the most common being second branchial fistulas. However, complete fistulas are infrequent and may relapse. Furthermore, they are difficult to manage without adequate treatment. Methods: This article presents the case of a complete second branchial fistula in a 1-year-old female patient who had a sinus on the right side of the neck since birth. Excision of the fistula tract was performed without preoperative fistulography. The tract was then ligated and dissected immediately below the mucosa. Results: The postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no evidence of recurrence. Conclusions: Previous case reports have also demonstrated good outcomes without excision of the internal opening or tonsillectomy.

Cutaneous Angiokeratoma Treated With Surgical Excision and a 595-nm Pulsed Dye Laser.

Background. Angiokeratomas are vascular neoplasms with hyperkeratotic red to black papules and plaques, which may present as solitary or multiple lesions with variations in color, shape, and location. Successful treatment not only involves improvement of these symptoms but also cosmetic improvement. This report reviews 2 cases of cutaneous angiokeratoma treated with surgical excision and a 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) in which the patients showed improvement of symptoms and cosmetic appearance. There are various types of angiokeratomas, and their extent, size, condition, and symptoms are different. Therefore, lesion-specific combined treatments may yield better results.

Surgical Management of Pachydermodactyly (PDD) via Midaxial Incision: A Case Report.

Pachydermodactyly (PDD), meaning "thick skin finger" in Greek, is a rare, noninflammatory, benign, superficial fibromatosis. We report the case of PDD in a 15-year-old boy who visited our clinic because of asymptomatic swelling of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints on the third finger of both left and right hands. Physical examination revealed thickening of the skin in the radial and ulnar aspects of the PIP joints of his third finger of both hands without functional limitation or neurological symptoms. He had a habit of biting his swelling fingers, and he belonged to a basketball club at his junior high school. He had no medical history. Plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging of both hands showed only soft tissue thickening outside of the radial and ulnar collateral ligament of the bilateral third PIP joint. The lesions were suggestive of PDD. Surgical resection was performed via a midaxial incision and a Z-plasty to confirm the diagnosis and improve the aesthetic appearance of his hands. Histopathological examination of the lesions was compatible with PDD. After surgery on the left hand, the patient underwent the same surgery on the right hand. No recurrence or complications were observed at the one-year follow-up after surgical intervention. Thus, surgery for PDD via a midaxial incision may be a good treatment option for patients who wish to rectify the appearance of their digital deformity.

Nipple sparing mastectomy for a giant phyllodes tumor; a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Oncoplastic surgery has come into the limelight in the surgical treatment of breast cancer. In this report, we will introduce our challenge to apply oncoplastic surgery to a benign neoplasm like phyllodes tumor (PT). PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 45-year-old female visited our hospital complaining of a rapidly growing lump on her left breast. She already had experienced lumpectomy twice on the same breast. Her left breast was occupied by a 14 × 10 cm mass with another small 1.7 × 1.6 cm nodule considered as a daughter lesion. Core needle biopsy suggested that it was a benign PT. We conducted nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) and immediate reconstruction of the breast by latissimus dorsi muscle flap. During 7-years follow up, she has no recurrence and is satisfied with the reconstructed breast. DISCUSSION: There are some reports that performed conventional or radical mastectomy with immediate breast or chest wall reconstruction for giant PT. Reports about NSM with breast reconstruction for PT are rare, there are 5 including ours. All the cases accomplished long term recurrent free survival. All except ours were reconstructed by implants. Implant reconstruction is technically easier, but recently, malignant lymphoma after putting breast implant is concerned. Another merit of autologous tissue reconstruction is that they change naturally as age like contralateral breast so that it can achieve better long-term cosmetic result. CONCLUSION: NSM with autologous tissue reconstruction is a good option for PT treatment even though it is not malignant.

Utility of perioperative skin perfusion pressure measurement for treatment of ulcers caused by arteriovenous access ischaemic steal.

Arteriovenous access ischaemic steal is a serious complication following arteriovenous fistula (AVF) construction. The aim of treatment is to improve distal circulation without impairing the function of the fistula. Therefore, any repair should be performed with intraoperative monitoring. We report 2 cases of this disorder treated using perioperative measurement of skin perfusion pressure (SPP) for preoperative surgical planning and intraoperative guidance. A 73-year-old woman with a left cubital AVF developed gangrene of the tip of the left little finger. Arteriovenous access ischaemic steal was suspected. The SPP of the little finger was 18 mm Hg, which increased to 65 mm Hg after manual occlusion of the fistula. A 58-year-old woman with a left antebrachial AVF had gangrene of the tip of the left middle finger. The SPP was 19 mm Hg, and steal syndrome was suspected based on angiography and the SPP with manual occlusion of the fistula. In both cases, serial plication of the fistula was performed based on intraoperative perfusion pressure monitoring, leading to the successful resolution of the ischaemic steal syndrome. In both cases, haemodialysis could be continued through the repaired fistula.

One-stage umbilicus reconstruction after resection of urachal cyst.

Umbilical reconstruction after total excision of the umbilicus represents a challenging problem for reconstructive surgeons. We describe herein a new method for one-stage umbilical reconstruction after resection of a urachal cyst. This case series included 6 patients, with laparoscopic urachal cyst removal in 5 and conventional transcutaneous surgery in 1. One-stage umbilical reconstruction was performed in all cases. When a conventional transcutaneous approach is indicated, umbilical reconstruction can be undertaken through the same skin incision used for total resection of the urachal cyst. Two triangular flaps were designed just below the umbilical defect. Flaps were rotated 180 degrees and sutured together to form one big triangular flap. This flap was then folded to create the new umbilicus. A deep umbilicus with good shape was constructed in all cases, and all patients were satisfied with the outcome. This method is simple, easy, and produces a natural-looking umbilicus.

Comparison of reinnervation for preservation of denervated muscle volume with motor and sensory nerve: an experimental study.

Prevention of the atrophy of denervated muscles is essential for a good outcome in facial contouring and oral reconstruction. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of end-to-end and end-to-side neurorrhaphy of the motor nerve, and end-to-end neurorrhaphy of the sensory nerve, all of which are frequently used in such reconstruction for the prevention of muscle atrophy. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: group 1, motor nerve division of semi-membranosus without repair; group 2, motor nerve division and end-to-end coaptation to the saphenous nerve; group 3, motor nerve division and end-to-side coaptation to the sciatic nerve; and group 4, motor nerve division and end-to-end repair. Measurement of semi-membranosus volume, histological evaluation and staining of neuromuscular junctions that were carried out 3 months postoperatively revealed that muscle volume preservation was larger in groups 3 and 4 than in the other two groups (p<0.05), but slightly superior in group 4 (p<0.05). There was no statistical difference between groups 2 and 1; histologically, muscle architecture was better preserved in group 2 than in group 1; reactivation of the neuromuscular junctions was observed in all except group 1. End-to-side repair of motor nerves is one of the better options for the preservation of muscle volume when end-to-end nerve repair is not indicated. Sensory protection may also provide some advantages in the preservation of muscle volume.

Lipid analysis of normal dermis and hypertrophic scars.

Hypertrophic scars (HS) are a consequence of abnormal wound healing. We examined fatty acids that are contained within, and participate in, every reaction through the membrane; then, we analyzed the percentage composition of the fatty acids in deepithelialized normal dermis (ND) and HS. In vivo HS samples were obtained from six patients undergoing surgical excision, and ND samples from five patients undergoing skin grafting surgery for excess. In vitro, cultured fibroblasts from HS and ND were also analyzed. The percentage composition of fatty acids extracted from all the samples was analyzed. In vivo, arachidonic acid (20:4) was significantly more abundant in HS than in ND, in the phospholipids from both whole tissue and cell membranes. In vitro, there were no significant differences among ND, HS, and 10% fetal calf serum. The results suggest that HS formation does not necessarily involve simple excess of 20:4; however, there are considerable differences in the percentage composition of 20:4 between ND and HS. Arachidonic acid probably participates in the formation and maintenance of HS, whereas in vitro cultured fibroblasts are affected largely by fetal calf serum.

Positive narrowing pharyngoplasty with forearm flap for functional restoration after extensive soft palate resection.

The restoration of velopharyngeal function after extensive soft palate resection to treat malignant oropharyngeal tumors is a major challenge to reconstructive surgeons. The authors had previously reconstructed soft palatal defects routinely with the folded forearm flap. A patient who had more than half of the soft palate excised experienced postoperative velopharyngeal dysfunction. To restore efficient velopharyngeal function, pharyngoplasty was additively applied where the folded ridge of the forearm flap was sutured to the posterior pharyngeal wall in an inverse manner of the pharyngeal flap technique. The essence of the procedure was positive narrowing of the nasopharyngeal space. Five patients who underwent this pharyngoplasty and another five who did not were evaluated for postoperative functions of speech intelligibility and of nasal regurgitation during oral feeding. The velopharyngeal movements of all patients were examined under a nasopharyngeal endoscope. The evaluations demonstrated that this surgical procedure afforded satisfactory results. This positive narrowing pharyngoplasty technique is simple, easy, and minimally invasive to the remaining healthy tissue, and it is the method of choice for the reconstruction of the soft palate after malignant tumor resection.

Secondary correction of the wide nasal root in bilateral nasal deformity associated with cleft lip in five Oriental patients.

Secondary correction of bilateral nasal deformity associated with a cleft lip is common. However, few reports have referred to the correction of the wide nasal root. In this study we describe a technique other than osteotomy for the correction of the wide nasal root used in five Oriental patients with bilateral nasal deformity associated with cleft lip. Satisfactory results were obtained, and two representative cases are described.

Fail-safe drainage procedure in free radial forearm flap transfer.

The reliability of the free radial forearm flap is widely accepted; however, postoperative venous thrombosis still occurs occasionally. Thus, establishment of a fail-safe drainage system has been a challenging frontier. A total of 405 consecutive free radial forearm flap transfers, carried out in the authors' department between 1987 to 2002, were reviewed retrospectively. The most reliable drainage method comprised the dual flap drainage veins of the superficial venous system (the cutaneous vein) and the deep system (the radial vena comitans), including their connecting cubital perforating vein, and the two neck recipient veins of the internal jugular and the external jugular venous systems. None of the flaps transferred by this method incurred venous failure, regardless of the surgeons conducting the operation. This study on the venous network in drainage systems of the free radial forearm flap demonstrated that the described method functions in a self-sustaining manner, and contributes to protection against venous catastrophe.

Short-term postoperative flow changes after free radial forearm flap transfer: possible cause of vascular occlusion.

The risk for free flap thrombosis is greatly influenced by blood flow. Postoperative hemodynamic changes in vascular pedicles of the microvascular skin flap have not been reported, however. This study focuses on the intraoperative and postoperative changes in the flow volume in the vascular pedicles of the free forearm flap examined by color Doppler ultrasonography. The arterial flow volume increased continuously until day 7, compared with which, the volume after flap elevation was 36%. On day 1, it reached only 52%. In the venous pedicle, the flow volume through the cutaneous vein was only 37% compared with that through the radial vena comitans after flap elevation, whereas the volume through both veins was equal on day 7. Drastic changes in the flow explain the possible vascular occlusion during the early postoperative period in the free forearm flap transfer.

Devices for facial aesthetic improvement in the treatment of skeletal mandibular protrusion.

Some techniques for the treatment of mandibular protrusion with consideration for aesthetic improvement of the face as a whole are described. The aesthetic inferiority complex in the mind of patients with masticatory disorders as the chief complaint should not be underestimated. Three techniques were used in this study; preoperative orthodontic treatment, preservation of the patient's self-image, and maintenance of beautiful relationship between the midfacial line and the nasolabial fold as well as the nasal ala.

Cephalometric analysis in submucous cleft palate: comparison of cephalometric data obtained from submucous cleft palate patients with velopharyngeal competence and incompetence.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between craniofacial and nasopharyngeal morphology and velopharyngeal function in submucous cleft palate. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Fifty-two lateral cephalometric radiographs of 46 submucous cleft palate (SMCP) patients with velopharyngeal competence (24 patients) and incompetence (22 patients) at 4 and 7 years of age were studied. The patients had not received any surgical or orthodontic treatment prior to cephalography being performed. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between cephalometric variables (N-Ba, N-S-Ba angle) in children with velopharyngeal competence and incompetence. However, the results of our study showed that cephalometric data alone are not useful for predicting velopharyngeal function and can not serve as an absolute prognostic indicator. CONCLUSION;There are many factors that can influence velopharyngeal function in SMCP patients. Cephalometric data did not demonstrate a strong relationship to velopharyngeal function.