Remarks on Perfection in Plastic Surgery of the Face.

An expectation of perfect and close to ideal outcomes is attributed not only to aesthetic, but also to reconstructive surgery. Contrary to quite common belief and despite great potential, the real chances for achieving attractive appearance are limited to relatively simple cases with moderately abnormal morphology, sufficient homogenous material, and hardly conspicuous scars potential. Therefore, the expectations for fully satisfactory outcomes should be limited to jaw surgery, cosmetic rhinoplasty, otoplasty, and some rejuvenation procedures, provided the best and uneventful surgery is secured. On the basis of over 40 years of clinical practice (KK) and survey of about 30,000 photos presenting both early and long term outcomes, the authors present their own subjective opinion on the value and potential of plastic surgery with regard to aesthetic evaluation. The paper is illustrated by numerous examples of plastic and esthetic procedures.

The treatment of facial asymmetry: Review.

Some degree of congenital or acquired asymmetry is normal and universal. Significant facial asymmetry, however, causes both aesthetic, as well as functional problems. The comprehensive management of facial symmetry is scarcely addressed.1-5 Differing etiologies, heterogeneous material, and different ages of patients tend to produce fragmentary reports, the more so as evidence-based evaluation of outcomes is almost impossible. Therefore, a presentation of the general rules of treatment, illustrated by our own material collected from the Hospital and Clinic of Plastic Surgery in Polanica-Zdrój and from private surgical and orthodontic practice, could be regarded as useful and justified. Special attention has been given to both functional and cosmetic problems encountered in severe congenital and acquired asymmetries. The management of selected craniofacial malformations in so-called rare clefts, cleft lip and palate, and craniofacial microsomia (CFM), as well as large hemangiomas and neurofibromas, have been discussed. Additionally, the treatment of extensive and asymmetrical post-traumatic deformities and defects is discussed with particular attention given to problems related to ankylosis of the temporomandibular joints. Numerous examples of one-stage procedures, as well as combined, multidisciplinary treatments are presented.

Timing of cleft lip and palate repair.

The opinions presented below concerning the choice of the timing of the cleft lip and palate repair have been presented on the basis of the literature and own experience. The comments and attempts to make an assessment reflect both direct contacts with representatives of numerous centres conducting interdisciplinary treatment of patients with clefts, as well as 35 years of the first author's experience gained in the course of treating 5,500 cases of primary clefts, besides own patients and numerous post- cleft deformities.

Palate dimensions in six-year-old children with unilateral cleft lip and palate: a six-center study on dental casts.

OBJECTIVE: To compare palatal dimensions in 6-year-old children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated by different protocols with those of noncleft children. DESIGN: Retrospective intercenter outcome study. Patients : Upper dental casts from 129 children with repaired UCLP and 30 controls were analyzed by the trigonometric method. SETTING: Six European cleft centers. Main outcome measures : Sagittal, transverse, and vertical dimensions of the palate were observed. STATISTICS: Palate variables were analyzed with descriptive methods and nonparametric tests. Regarding several various characteristics measured on a relatively small number of subjects, hierarchical, k-means clustering, and principal component analyses were used. RESULTS: Mean values of the observed dimensions for five cleft groups differed significantly from the control (p < .05). The group with one-stage closure of the cleft differed significantly from all other cleft groups in most variables (p < .05). Principal component analysis of all 159 cases identified three clusters with specific morphologic characteristics of the palate. A similar number of treated children were classified into each cluster, while all children without clefts were classified in the same cluster. The percentage of treated children from a particular group that fit this cluster ranged from 0% to 70% and increased with age at palatal closure and number of primary surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: At 6 years of age, children with stepwise repair and hard palate closure after the age of two more frequently result in palatal dimensions of noncleft control than children with earlier palatal closure and one-stage cleft repair.

Biomechanical effect of rapid mucoperiosteal palatal tissue expansion with the use of osmotic expanders.

The comparative study was performed to investigate the biomechanical properties (maximum tangential stiffness, maximum tangential modulus and tensile strength) of expanded mucoperiosteal palatal tissue after rapid expansion regimen correlated with histological findings. Rabbit palatal model was used to correlate the non-operated control group, sham-operated control (subperiosteal tissue dissection) groups and 24- and 48-hour tissue expansion groups. There was no observed damage of tissue collagen network in both tissue expansion groups analyzed immediately after expansion, and biomechanical profile was not significantly different from the profile of control groups. However, rapid tissue expansion activates remodeling of mucoperiosteal tissue structure that revealed significant changes in mechanical properties during the 4-week follow-up. The 24-hour expansion induced transient increase of resilience observed 2 weeks after surgery in comparison to the control groups. As a result of maturation of newly created collagen fibers and mucoperiosteum rebuilding, there were no significant differences between any of the analyzed tensile parameters 4 weeks after the 24-hour expansion. Increased and elongated inflammatory response and connective matrix synthesis observed during healing of 48-hour expanded tissue led to a significant decrease of tensile strength value in comparison to the control groups. Even though 4 weeks after surgery, the resilience of 48-hour expanded tissue was similar to the control groups, tissue healing was not completed and limited scar formation might considerably change the final biomechanical tissue profile. These findings provide new information about tensile properties to rapid mucoperiosteal palatal tissue expansion with the use of osmotic expanders for cleft palate repair by tissue augmentation.

Quantitative dermal measurements following treatment with AirGent.

BACKGROUND: As an alternative to other minimally-invasive approaches to facial rejuvenation, enhancement and treatment of the dermis with a compressed air molecule of hyaluronic acid (HA) is a promising method in that it lacks some of the drawbacks of other procedures. The novelty of these systems, one of which is tested in this study, is based on the supposition that jet lateral dispersion of HA produces both instant dermal augmentation and specific wound-healing processes, leading to its long-term dermal thickening. OBJECTIVES: The authors report on the efficacy and safety of the AirGent system (PerfAction, Rehovot, Israel), which is a renewal system designed to initiate a wound-healing process in the dermal layer. It is a computer-guided system that delivers treatment through compressed air molecules of HA to the dermal layer of the skin. METHODS: The authors treated 20 patients (a total of 105 treatment sessions) with the AirGent system between May 2008 and November 2008. Each patient received three treatments at three- to four-week intervals. Each patient's skin thickness was measured with ultrasonography pretreatment, immediately after each session, and at six months posttreatment. RESULTS: Seven days after the last procedure, an increase in skin thickness was observed in all patients. The most significant differences were noted in the upper lip area, where the thickness had increased by an average of 1.3 mm. Six months after the last session, an increase in skin thickness was still noted in most patients, at which time the biggest difference was noted around the eyes, where the skin remained thicker by an average of 0.77 mm over baseline. According to the results of the Global Improvement Assessment questionnaire, at the six-month follow-up to evaluate their satisfaction with the long-term results, at least 59.9% of patients still noted at least a slight improvement in their appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Although a small group of patients and a relatively short period of observation limit the scope of our conclusions, the data show that the AirGent system is efficacious in producing increases in skin thickness that correlate with at least a substantial or slight improvement of appearance, as reported by the patients themselves.

[Analysis of treatment results 389 patients with congenital blepharoptosis]. / Analiza wyników leczenia 389 chorych z wrodzonym opadaniem powiek.

PURPOSE: Retrospective analysis of the results in the treatment of congenital blepharoptosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 389 patients with blepharoptosis who underwent surgical treatment in the Hospital of Plastic Surgery in Polanica-Zdrój, from January 1976 to January 2005. The age of patients, degree of malformation and unilateral or bilateral occurrence of ptosis, was analyzed. Moreover, we studied treatment results of patients with blepharoptosis treated in our hospital and patients treated elsewhere, before admission to our hospital. RESULTS: 218 patients from 327 operated in our hospital had levator muscle resections. After 6 months of observation 39 patients were qualified for surgical re-correction. 12 months after surgery 4 patients had recurrence of ptosis. Frontalis suspension technique with using the temporal fascia, was performed in 109 patients. After 6 months observation, 8 patients were qualified for surgical re-correction. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with maintained function of the levator muscle the most effective and physiological procedure, is the muscle shortening. Frontalis suspension technique with use of the temporal fascia should be limited to treat failure cases and patients with poor or absent function of the levator muscle.

[Orbitoblepharophimosis syndrome--own clinical experience in treatment of 60 patients]. / Zespól maloocza--wllasne doswiadczenia w leczeniu 60 pacjentów.

PURPOSE: The orbitoblepharophimosis syndrome is an autosomal-dominant congenital malformation involving the orbitopalpebral region. The condition is associated with orbital phimosis, upper eyelid ptosis, epicanthus and telecanthus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 60 patients with blepharophimosis who underwent surgery in the Hospital of Plastic Surgery in Polanica Zdrój from January 1975 to January 2006. The study population consisted of 23 (38.3%) females and 37 (61.7%) males patients whose age at the time of first surgical stage ranged from 1 to 48 years (mean 8 years). Surgical management consisted of epicanthus correction using modified technique of Mustardé followed by eyelid suspension to the frontalis muscle with using temporal fascia. In patients with orbitoblepharophimosis type II, correction of the lower lid ectropion and antimongoid slanting palpebral fissures, were performed before or after Mustardé procedure. RESULTS: In our series of 60 patients, good result of treatment was obtained in 80.1% and satisfactory in 18.3% of patients. Poor outcome was obtained only in one patient with orbitoblepharophimosis type II. CONCLUSIONS: Orbitoblepharophimosis management should consists of gradual and complex surgical treatment. During the first stage epicanthus correction is performed. As a second stage, blepharoptosis is treated by frontalis suspension technique with using temporal fascia.

Modeling of scaphocephaly using superelastic titanium-nickel rings: a preliminary report.

As long as resection of sagittal suture eliminates craniostenosis it leads to desired cranium broadening and shortening solely in the case of children under six months of age. In the majority of cases, especially in older children, boat-shaped cranium remains rather unchanged and its effective modeling requires extensive dissection and osteotomy of the whole cranium vault (e.g., frontal, occipital and parietal bones). Lauritzen's method is an alternative solution. It consists of distraction of cranium vault bones with the aid of steel springs. In order to simplify and improve the efficacy of treatment since 2002, the authors originated the application of titanium-nickel rings to model the cranium. After the sparing excision of cranium vault sutures in the shape of letter "H" the compressed ring is given in the sagittal axis oval shape and in this form it is fixed to osseous margins. The ring's expansion at the same time broadens and shortens the cranium vault. Material was analyzed from 7 children (range, 9 months to 4 years of age), who were treated in the years 2002-2006 because of sagittal craniostenosis. Observations made so far and good treatment results indicate purposefulness of discussed treatment continuation.

Evaluation of treatment results of patients with Dupuytren's contracture--our clinical experience.

Dupuytren's contracture is a common condition leading to impairment of the function of the hand which affects from 2 to 12 % of the population, mainly males, and presents as progressive contracture of fingers caused by shortening of the palmar aponeurosis. The objective of the work was to present our own approach to managing Dupuytren's disease and evaluate treatment results in patients with hypertrophy of the palmar aponeurosis. Material and method 288 patients with Dupuytren's disease were treated at the Plastic Surgery Hospital in Polanica Zdroj over a period of 25 years (1977-2002). The present paper is a retrospective analysis of treatment results in 253 patients for whom complete medical documentation was available. All patients were operated in local anaesthesia in ischemia. A Bunnell flap skin incision was followed by a fasciectomy of the hypertrophied segment of the palmar aponeurosis. The skin wound was closed using V-Y plasty. Postoperative management involved hand elevation and early rehabilitation. Results Restoration of the full range of motion and total extension in the MP joint and the interphalangeal joints were achieved in 70% and 68% of patients, respectively. Of 145 patients who were professionally active, 132 were able to return to work. Finger amputation was necessary in 2 patients, one patient suffered from arthrodesis and two other developed skin necrosis which was removed with the wound closed by skin grafts. A follow-up examination 6 months after the operation revealed a recurrence in 8 patients and deterioration of hand dexterity with finger stiffness in 4. Conclusions A low complication rate and good treatment results are arguments in favour of the approach adopted at our hospital, i.e. surgery in local anaesthesia in ischemia with compressive bandaging, using a Bunnell flap skin incision followed by radical fasciectomy and V-Y plasty.

Cleft palate repair with the use of osmotic expanders: a preliminary report.

A new method of cleft palate repair by expansion of tissue by means of osmotic expanders implanted in the first stage of treatment is described. Self-expanding expanders manufactured by OSMED (Ilmenau, Germany) were implanted under the mucoperiosteal layer of the hard palate, on purpose to generate more tissue and provide facility for palate repair performed 24-48h later. Nineteen children aged from 2 to 3 years were operated from January 2004 to 15 April 2005. In clefts<10mm, tissue repair was possible without relaxing incisions. In 11 patients with clefts>10mm, cleft palate repair was more difficult and the outcomes were less favourable. Despite more generous dissection of the neurovascular bundles and other adjunctive measures such as mucosal V-Y plasty [Bardach J, Salyer K. Surgical techniques in cleft lip and palate. Chicago, London: Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc.; 1987.] and suturing of the mucosal grafts at the border of the hard and soft palate, seven 2-4mm fistulae were noted, however. Concluding, in spite of some shortcomings and unacceptable rate of fistula in wide clefts, the above-presented method seems to be an attractive concept. Despite some technical problems related mostly to still tested optimal filling phase, tissue expansion makes palate repair easier, probably without relaxing incisions and bone denudation. Consequently, some adverse effects on facial growth may be reduced. So far, there is no evidence for it, however, and since this is a preliminary report, there is a need for longer observations and larger material.

New osteotomies for midface advancement in patients with Crouzon syndrome.

In some patients with Crouzon's syndrome the typical midface advancement can produce an excessive nasal protrusion which calls for subsequent rhinoplasty. Proposed modification of classical Le Fort III procedure consists in midface osteotomy and external distraction without median orbital walls and nasal component. Limited surgical approach through vestibular incision and split lower eyelids makes the operation quite easy and less extensive. So far, three adult patients were successfully treated according to described modality.

Surgical treatment of Treacher Collins syndrome.

Morphology, genetic conditioning, terminology, and the principles of treatment of Treacher Collins syndrome have been presented on the basis of our own material, as well as review of literature. Fifty patients (27 males, 23 females) were operated on at the Hospital of Plastic Surgery in Polanica Zdrój from 1976 to 2005. The patients were first seen when they were from 1 to 32 years of age (mean, 7). The disease was hereditary in 17 patients, while the remaining subjects did not reveal any genetic conditioning. The lifesaving surgical treatment was undertaken in 4 children with the most severe form of the disease who presented with dyspnea and paroxysmal apnea. In those cases, the treatment aimed at improving the respiratory function by restoring patency of the nostrils and distraction of the mandible. Twelve patients were operated on for cleft palate between 1 and 2 years of age. Twelve patients had eyelid correction with the use of musculocutaneous flap transposition from the upper eyelid (Z-plasty). The zygomatic bone and lateral wall of the orbit were reconstructed by means of iliac bone grafts in 26 patients. The auricular reconstruction was usually undertaken after 10 years of age. Nine patients underwent bilateral auricular reconstruction by means of a modified Brent method. Fifteen patients aged 12-14 had chin osteotomy according to the Obwegeser method. Nasal osteotomy was performed in 10 patients with characteristic broad, long, and hooked noses, who were operated on after 16 years of age and after completion of orthognathic treatment. In total, 258 surgical procedures were performed in 50 patients, an average of 5.2 operations per every patient. Apart from a multistage surgical treatment, the patients required a combined multidisciplinary approach, mainly due to hearing impairment and occlusal disturbances. The obtained outcome of treatment, although far from being perfect, but still beneficial, confirmed the correctness of applied approach but at the same time pointed to the necessity of introducing new methods of treatment aiming, among others, at compensating for the tissue deficiency by means of tissue engineering.

[Treatment of entropion using mucous membrane and cartilage grafts from the nasal septum]. / Leczenie entropionu z uiyciem przeszczepów sluzówkowo-chrzestnych z przegrody nosa.

The aim of the study was to assess the outcome of treatment of entropion by means of mucous and cartilage grafts, harvested from the nasal septum. From 1989 to 2004 thirteen patients with entropion resulting from chemical and thermal burning or mechanical trauma were treated at the Hospital of Plastic Surgery in Polanica Zdr6j. Upper eyelid deformities were corrected in 14 cases, while the lower eyelid was repaired in 3 cases. Blepharotomy was performed by means of subciliary incision. Compound mucous and cartilage grafts harvested from the nasal septum, were sutured into the defects. Very good results and complete resolution of contractures were obtained in 15 cases, while 2 patients underwent a repeated surgery in which compound grafts were used again. According to the author's opinion, the above described method is an effective modality of treatment of cicatricial entropion.

Novel mutation in the 5' splice site of exon 4 of the TCOF1 gene in the patient with Treacher Collins syndrome.

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is caused by mutations in the TCOF1 gene. This gene encodes a serine/alanine-rich protein called treacle. The structure of the entire TCOF1 gene was investigated in a patient with TCS. We detected a novel deletion (376delAAGGTGAGTGGGACTGCC) spanning 3 bp of exon 4 and 15 bp of the adjacent intronic sequence. This mutation causes premature termination of translation, resulting in a truncated protein devoid of nucleolar localization signal, and potential phosphorylation sites. Real-time PCR analysis showed different melting temperatures of the amplified fragment containing normal allele and that harboring the 18 bp deletion, thus providing a rapid screening assay for this and other deletions of the TCOF1 gene.

Clinical features, treatment and genetic background of Treacher Collins syndrome.

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of craniofacial development. The major features of the disease include midface hypoplasia, micrognathia, microtia, conductive hearing loss and cleft palate. Current procedures of surgical treatment of TCS are discussed and novel findings concerning the genetic background of TCS are described. The TCS locus has been mapped to chromosome 5q31.3-32. The TCOF1 gene contains 26 exons and encodes a 1411 amino acid protein named treacle. In the TCOF1 gene 51 mutations have been identified. Most of these mutations are insertions or deletions, which result in an introduction of a premature termination codon into the reading frame. Mutational spectra support the hypothesis that TCS results from haploinsufficiency of treacle.