The Treatment of Wide Alveolar Cleft: Bilateral Interdental Distraction Osteogenesis

Alveolar bone graft has several benefits such as bony support to teeth adjacent to the cleft, bony matrix for eruption of teeth in the line of the cleft, stability of maxillary segments, and elimination of oronasal fistula. But wide gap alveolar cleft is difficult to treat using bone graft, because a large amount of bone harvesting is required and complete closure by using local attached gingiva is difficult to achieve. Therefore we introduced bilateral interdental distraction osteogenesis method to treat patients who had wide alveolar gap. From August, 1999 to April, 2000, we treated 4 patients of unilateral complete alveolar cleft(aged 10 - 4 years) by using this method. Distraction device was fitted to the supporting teeth. And then horizontal osteotomy was performed bilaterally at the level of 3 - 5 mm away from the dental roots, vertical osteotomy was performed between the second premolar and the first molar. Simultaneously, oronasal fistula was repaired. After the latency period of 3 to 5 days, we distracted bilateral distal segments as distraction protocol. After completing distraction, device was left for about 4 weeks before initiating the post-operative orthodontic treatment. The alveolar bone graft and buccal mucosa local flap were not required in these patients. By using interdental distraction osteogenesis, wide gap alveolar cleft was treated effectively.

Cosmetic Double Eyelid Surgery: Single 5 mm-Partial Incision Method

In Asian double eyelid surgery, there have been two approaches to form a suprapalpebral fold: the buried suture (nonincision) method and the full external incision method. Usually excessive fat tissue in upper eyelid has been removed by using a full external incision method, or 2 to 3 partial incisions with buried suture method. The full external incision method is more invasive than the buried suture method, which is not suitable for patients with excessive orbital fat. From March 1999 to January 2002, we have introduced the single 5 mm-partial incision method to 216 patients. This method is applied to patients who have excessive amount of orbital fat or those who do not have excessive orbital fat but which must be removed for better result. These patients have bulging supra-crease areas when we form suprapalpebral folds with a curved wire loop preoperatively. Excessive orbital fat was removed through a single 5 mm incision in the middle of designed eyelid crease and tarso-dermal suture was performed. At another 2 to 3 points, through skin stab punctures by using 18 gauge needle, full-thickness eyelid tarso-dermal sutures were done. Pretarsal and preseptal orbicularis muscles were preserved. If muscles were removed, that could result in thinning of the overlying skin and could make suprapalpebral fold unnatural. This method has several advantages. First, we could perform the operations safely in patients who have excessive fat tissue, without a full external incision. Second,fat tissue can be removed almost totally by a single 5 mm-partial incision. Third, we can minimize the scar formation, and the possibility of complications, and make healing process and operation time shorter compared to the full incision technique. However a very delicate technique is required in this method. In patients who have a thick orbital septum, a superiorly located fat pad, and a bleeding tendency, exposure of fat tissue could be difficult and injury of levator muscle aponeurosis is possible. The complications of this method are the possibility of disappearing of the crease with the lapse of time(3 percents), and suture granuloma formation(less than 1 percent). In conclusion, patients who have excessive fat tissue in upper eyelid don't have to proceed a full incision, and can have more excellent results with this single 5 mm-partial incision method.