Use of fast-setting hydroxyapatite cement for secondary craniofacial contouring.

Patients who have previously had surgical correction of major craniofacial deformities will often have residual contour deformities they wish to have improved at a later date. The development of hydroxyapatite cement has simplified these procedures. The setting time is reduced to 5 to 8 minutes by mixing the cement with a phosphate-based solution, increasing the tensile strength, and maintaining the same biocompatibility and osseoconductivity. This study includes 48 patients who presented with a variety of residual contour irregularities secondary to a craniofacial congenital anomaly or a posttraumatic defect. All but one of the patients with congenital craniofacial conditions had their initial surgical correction performed by the senior author (Magee) and had regular follow-up visits. Variable amounts of hydroxyapatite cement were used according to the size of the defect to be corrected. Five patients had a postoperative complication: two infections, one seroma, one persistent swelling, and one drain retention. Patients were followed from 6 months to 3 years (mean, 1 year 5 months). Good results were achieved in 38 patients, acceptable results with minor asymmetries were seen in seven patients, and three other patients required a second intervention to obtain a better contour. Cranioplasty with fast-setting hydroxyapatite cement is a simple and reliable procedure, with a low complication rate. Attention to simple technical and operative principles can provide excellent results.

Use of octyl-2-cyanoacrylate in cleft lip repair.

Octyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Dermabond; Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) is a synthetic tissue adhesive recently approved for skin closure. This study was designed to assess its effectiveness for use in clefts lip repairs. Sixty-four patients with unilateral, bilateral, or midline cleft lip defects were repaired. The ages at repair ranged from 4 days to 19 months, with an average of 46.5 days. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 3 years. No complications were found. Several advantages were observed: shorter operative time, formation of a protective barrier, simplified incision care, no need for suture removal, and improved scar outcome. This study supports octyl-2-cyanoacrylate as an alternative to skin sutures in primary cleft lip repair.

Surgical treatment of nasal hemangiomas.

The treatment of nasal hemangiomas continues to be controversial. The authors' experience with early surgical treatment of nasal hemangiomas is presented. This retrospective study includes 11 patients. Surgical intervention consisted of excision of the nasal hemangioma and reconstruction by local tissue transfer or rearrangement. Age at surgery ranged from 10 months to 6.5 years (mean age, 2.2 years). All patients have acceptable nasal contour and have demonstrated excellent nasal growth. The authors' experience demonstrates that early surgical intervention is an acceptable alternative for the management of nasal hemangiomas.