[Secondary surgery for breast ptosis with implants]. / Chirurgie secondaire des cures de ptose avec prothèses.

Breast ptosis surgery (mastopexy with implant fitting) is a difficult task, one which is not without its complications, necessitating frequent secondary surgery. We will be analysing some main causes for failure, as well as their solutions. For discussion, we will propose general principles regarding techniques in the breast ptosis and breast enhancement process. Today there is an alternative to implants, achievable in certain cases, which through autologous lipomodelling reduces risk and modifies breast enhancement techniques.

[Tolerance, reliability and efficiency of inflatable breast implants after breast reconstruction. Retrospective study of 101 consecutive cases]. / Tolérance, fiabilité et efficacité des prothèses mammaires gonflables en reconstruction mammaire. Etude rétrospective de 101 cas consécutifs.

A long-term retrospective study of breast reconstruction with inflatable implants is presented. One hundred and one patients were studied, with a median follow-up of 44 months. Prosthetic implants used were round McGhan implants, model 168. Median volume was 215 mL. Twenty-two patients had contralateral symmetrisation, an average of five months after implant. The advantages of this sort of reconstruction are ease, speed and homogenously good results. Drawbacks include the appearance of prosthetic leaks (7%), waves and folds (13%), stage III and IV capsular contractures (26%), asymmetry and incorrect placement of the implant (25%). Breast reconstruction with implants alone gives good results for specific indications: immediate reconstructions, bilateral reconstructions, no history of radiotherapy, and good quality chest wall tissues.

Autologous latissimus breast reconstruction: a 3-year clinical experience with 100 patients.

This article presents our technique of autologous breast reconstruction using the latissimus dorsi flap and studies the advantages, disadvantages, and results that can be expected. A consecutive sample of 100 patients was studied. The average length of follow-up was 20 months (range 8 to 44 months), and all of the subjects were reviewed in consultation without loss to follow-up. The supplementary volume of the latissimus dorsi was obtained from five fatty zones: fat on the cutaneous paddle, fat taken from the surface of the muscle, the scapular fat pad, the anterior fatty zone, and the supra-iliac fat pad. This technique must be measured against the transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap, free or pedicled, when the patient needs an autologous breast reconstruction. It can be used when the TRAM flap is contraindicated (this corresponds to 45 percent of patients of our sample) or when the dorsal donor site is preferred (55 percent of cases of our sample). The major complications are rare (1 percent partial necrosis and 1 percent total necrosis of the flap). The minor complications are represented mainly by the dorsal seroma. This is the main drawback of the technique, as it occurs in 79 percent of cases and regularly in obese patients. In view of this frequency, patients should be warned of its likely occurrence. The dorsal donor-site morbidity is relatively low; 4 percent of dorsal sequelae were classed as moderate, and 96 percent were considered low. The scapular sequelae have been classed as low in 97 percent of cases, and temporary scapular sequelae aggravation has been noted in 3 percent. Results of breast reconstruction using this technique are most encouraging. The level of patient satisfaction is high; 87 percent of them were deeply satisfied, 10 percent were satisfied, and only 3 percent were poorly satisfied. This group of poorly satisfied subjects (3 percent) consists of patients who suffered a serious postoperative complication. The aesthetic results have been judged excellent by surgeons in 85 percent of the cases, good in 12 percent of the cases, and poor in 3 percent of the cases; no result has been judged bad. This technique of breast reconstruction by autologous latissimus dorsi brings a major advance in breast reconstruction. The best indications of this technique are when one can bury the cutaneous paddle: cases of skin-sparing mastectomy, cases where the latissimus dorsi flap can be combined with an abdominal advancement flap, and cases of conversion of implant reconstruction to an autologous reconstruction.

[Secondary rhinoplasty for unilateral cleft lip and palate. Review of the literature and 50 clinical cases]. / Rhinoplastie secondaire des fentes labio-palatines unilatérales. Revue de la littérature et expérience de 50 cas cliniques.

The nasal sequelae of unilateral cleft lip and palate are almost always present: more or less severe deformities, essentially consisting of nostril deformity and deviated septum. After an anatomical study of nasal deformities and the consequences of the primary procedures of cheiloplasty or cheilorhinoplasty, the authors review all of the most satisfactory technical aspects of secondary proposed in the literature. Five clinical cases illustrate the therapeutic strategy and the results.

[An experimental study of a new bidirectional distraction appliance]. / Expérimentation d'un nouveau distracteur bidirectionnel.

The goals of mandibular distraction are to restore a normal length but also a normal shape to the hypoplastic mandible. These two goals are related to the elongation vector which is itself related to the location of the cortictomy and of the device. Other factors influence this elongation vector. So it is impossible to precisely predict the elongation vector. With the monodirectional distraction device no modification can be made during the distraction time. With a bidirectional distraction device offering the possibility to modulate the angulation between the two elongation rods it is possible to adjust the elongation vector during distraction. Precise distraction gap modeling is possible. This is particularly important to correct anterior open-bite. This device was tested on animals (pigs).

[Congenital infiltrating lipomatosis of the face. Presentation of a new clinical case]. / Lipomatose congénitale infiltrante de la face. Présentation d'un nouveau cas clinique.

A new case of this rarely described pathology is reported. It concerns a benign infiltrating lipomatosis, strictly located to the face. However, dento-musculo-squelettal structures are constantly involved, usually located to a hemiface. A young female patient has been followed up from her birth. Surgical procedures are reported. Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of this rare clinicopathologic entity are discussed.

[Esthetic reconstruction of the superior hemilip using the Abbé technique modified by Burget. Apropos of 5 cases]. / Reconstruction esthétique de l'hémilèvre supérieure selon la technique d'Abbé modifiée Burget. A propos de cinq cas.

When a patient must undergo resection of part of the upper lip for the treatment of a cancer or following a traumatic defect of the upper hemilip, the surgeon is faced with the problem of reconstruction of a lip whose appearance and function must be as close as possible to the normal lip. The limits of the normal lip must be restored: the symmetry, equilibrium of the lips and position of the commissures must be maintained. The upper lip esthetic unit can be divided into subunits, as described by Burget and Menick. If a large part of a subunit is removed, replacement of the entire subunit rather than simple reconstruction of the defect often gives a better esthetic result (Burget). The best tissue for esthetic reconstruction of a full thickness defect of the upper lip is the lower lip. We apply Burget's principles to raise an Abbé flap, which is transferred in two stages. This approach is illustrated by 5 patients operated by this technique. Finally, this technique is compared to other techniques allowing reconstruction of the upper hemilip.

[Breast reconstruction with the autologous latissimus dorsi flap. Preliminary report of 60 consecutive reconstructions]. / Reconstruction mammaire par lambeau de grand dorsal sans prothèse. Expérience préliminaire à propos de 60 reconstructions.

Many women who have undergone or will undergo mastectomy request breast reconstruction and feel that it is an important part of their total cancer treatment. Autogenous tissue methods take a place more and more important in breast reconstruction. The autologous latissimus dorsi flap, is a recent method of autologous breast reconstruction. We have done a retrospective study based on a series of 60 consecutive reconstructions operated between march 1993 and april 1995. The advantages of the autologous latissimus dorsi flap are the same of the others autologous breast reconstruction methods: the reconstructed breasts are soft and match an opposite normal breast more successfully than those made with implants. The disadvantages of this technique is mainly the dorsal seroma that was observed in 70% of cases but was easily managed by aspirations. The aesthetics results have been judged by two surgeons as very good in 85% of cases, good in 11.6% and low in 3.3%. The satisfaction rate of the patients in high: 86.6% are pleased and 13.3% are satisfied. The autologous latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction is a safe and reliable technique and provides an excellent alternative to the TRAM flap, when the patient prefer the dorsal donor site or when there are some risk factors to do a TRAM flap. Finally this technique bring a major advance in the field of breast reconstruction, immediate or delayed.

[Reconstruction of the shape of the shoulder after scapulothoracic amputation]. / Reconstruction du relief de l'épaule après amputation scapulo-thoracique. Note technique à propos d'un cas.

Few papers have been published in the international literature on reconstruction of the shape of the shoulder stump after scapulothoracic amputation. The authors report a case of reconstruction using a solid silicone implant after prior skin expansion. The essential objective of this reconstruction is to eliminate the need for an external prosthesis, which constitutes a major handicap for these patients.

[Previously expanded full-thickness skin grafts. Technical principles. Indications in the repair of sequelae of burns. Apropos of 22 cases]. / Les greffes de peau totale préalablement expansée. Principes techniques. Indications dans la réparation des séquelles de brûlures. A propos de 22 cas.

Burns raise difficult repair problems. Previously expanded full-thickness skin grafts represent a good solution in many situations. Based on their experience of 22 cases, the authors present a review of the various indications for this technique.