Comparison of preoperative quality of life in breast reconstruction, breast aesthetic and non-breast plastic surgery patients: A cross-sectional study.

A breast cancer diagnosis imposes significant emotional and psychological duress. The purpose of this study is to assess the baseline quality of life (QOL) of immediate, delayed, and secondary breast reconstruction patients, comparing these results with QOL in women seeking plastic surgery for cosmetic breast, and non-breast procedures. From 2012 through 2013, immediate (group 1), delayed (group 2), and secondary (Group 3) reconstruction patients, aesthetic breast (group 4) and non-breast plastic surgery patients (group 5) answered Breast-Q questionnaires. Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 answered 141, 12, 23, 72 and 160 preoperative questionnaires respectively. There was no difference (p = NS) in breast satisfaction, psychosocial well-being, physical well-being-chest, and sexual well-being between groups 1 and 5. Group 1 had higher satisfaction with breast (p < 0.01), psychosocial (p < 0.01) and sexual well-being (p < 0.01) when compared to groups 2 and 4. Group 1 had higher satisfaction with breasts (p < 0.01) compared to group 3. Group 4 did not differ in satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial, and sexual well-being, compared to groups 2 and 3. Group 4 had lower scores in all domains, compared to groups 1 and 5 (p < 0.01). No significant difference in QOL was found between groups 2 and 3. Preoperatively, immediate reconstruction patients had similar satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, and chest physical well-being, compared to non-breast plastic surgery patients. Aesthetic breast surgery patients demonstrate similar low scores in satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being to those of patients prior to delayed breast reconstruction, or secondary salvage procedures.

Complications Following Abdominal-Based Free Flap Breast Reconstruction: Is a 30 days Complication Rate Representative?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze timing and frequency of complications following free tissue autologous reconstruction in a single tertiary care institution. METHODS: From August 2012 to December 2013, all patients operated on for abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction at a single institution were included. Complications were identified and risk factors associated with them were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 130 with a total of 191 flaps (69 for unilateral and 61 for bilateral reconstructions). Mean surgery time was 570.5 min (±151.24). Fifty-nine of the reconstructed breasts (30.8 %) had early complications. Reoperations due to complications were required in 16 (8.3 %) of the breasts during the first 30 days with seven patients requiring multiple reoperations. Twenty-eight patients required reoperations after 30 days, the most frequent reason being delayed wound healing and abdominal hernia. The most significant complication was a case of disseminated infection with loss of skin coverage of the breasts. Early complications and donor-site complications were higher in active smokers (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Patients with a BMI < 25 had fewer total early complications (p = 0.05), as well as fewer complications on the breast area (p = 0.02). A longer time in the operating room was associated with an increase in late complications (p = 0.018). Bilateral/unilateral operation, immediate/delayed surgery, radiotherapy, age, hypertension, diabetes, and surgery time were not associated with early complications, late complications, or reoperations (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Active smoking was found to be a significant risk factor for early complications, reoperations, and donor-site complications. Patients with a normal BMI had fewer early complications, reoperations at 30 days, and complications on the breast area. As a significant number of complications occurred beyond the standard 30-day reporting period, it is important to consider reoperations during an extended period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Considerations surrounding reconstruction after resection of musculoskeletal sarcomas.

The defects left by resection of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas often require reconstructive surgery to provide adequate wound coverage, preserve limb function, and optimize cosmetic results. Immediate reconstruction should always be considered after resection with a negative margin, and should be attempted whenever possible. The choice of reconstructive method and tissue flap depends on multiple factors, including body site, donor site morbidity, functional requirements, size of the vascular pedicle, and aesthetics. Preoperative planning before the resection should anticipate the defect size and resulting functional and cosmetic deficits; the success of such planning depends on a collaborative approach between the teams performing the primary resection and the reconstruction. Vigilant postoperative care and flap monitoring is key to avoiding flap or graft failure, hematoma, infection, and other reconstruction-related complications.

A survey of cosmetic surgery training in plastic surgery programs in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Aesthetic surgery is evolving rapidly, both technologically and conceptually. It is critical for the specialty that aesthetic surgery training keep pace with this rapid evolution. To shed more light on this issue, a survey was sent to all program directors and senior plastic surgery residents to record their impressions of the quality of cosmetic surgery resident training. The authors report the results of this national cosmetic surgery training survey canvassing all 89 plastic surgery programs. METHODS: A three-page survey delineating resident preparedness in aesthetic surgery was sent to senior plastic surgery residents and program directors in April of 2006 and collected through October of 2006. RESULTS: Of 814 surveys, 292 responses were obtained from 64 percent of program directors and 33 percent of senior residents. Breast augmentation, breast reduction, and abdominoplasty were most frequently performed with the highest resident comfort levels. Rhinoplasty remained a particular area of trainee concern, but confidence levels were also low in face lifts, endoscopic procedures, and body contouring techniques. Experience with skin resurfacing, fillers, and botulinum toxin type A was another area of concern. Although 51 percent of residents felt prepared to integrate cosmetic surgery into their practices on graduation, 36 percent felt that further cosmetic training was desirable. CONCLUSIONS: The information collected revealed significant differences in opinions between program directors and senior residents. Senior residents felt deficient in facial cosmetic, minimally invasive, and recently developed body contouring techniques. On the basis of these results and the authors' experience in resident education, changes in cosmetic surgery training are suggested.

Repairing critical-sized rat calvarial defects with a periosteal cell-seeded small intestinal submucosal layer.

BACKGROUND: Small intestinal submucosa was evaluated as a bioscaffold candidate for periosteum-derived osteoblasts, and its suitability as a bone replacement material for cranial defects was investigated. METHODS: In the in vitro phase, osteoblasts were expanded in osteogenic medium and were then seeded onto small intestinal submucosa. To confirm osteoblast phenotype, they were tested for alkaline phosphatase, collagen type 1, and calcium expression. In the in vivo phase, calvarial critical-sized defects were created in 35 rats. The defects were either left untreated for surgical control (group 1), treated with small intestinal submucosa alone (group 2), treated with an osteoblast-embedded construct (group 3), or treated with an autogenous bone graft (group 4). The results were evaluated 12 weeks after surgery with radiopacity measurements and with stereologic analysis. RESULTS: Periosteal cells grew successfully in vitro. The percentage radiopaque area at the defect was measured to be 42, 74, 76, and 89 percent for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The pixel intensity of the same site was 36.4, 48.1, 47.5, and 54.5 for the same groups, respectively. Tissue-engineered constructs did not achieve enough bone formation and calcification to be effective as autogenous bone grafts and were not superior to the small intestinal submucosa alone. However, both small intestinal submucosa and cell-seeded small intestinal submucosa showed significantly more bone formation compared with the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: Although it was demonstrated that the small intestinal submucosa itself has osteogenic properties, it was not significantly increased by adding periosteum-derived osteoblasts to it. The osteogenic properties of small intestinal submucosa are promising, and its role as a scaffold should be investigated further.

Biomechanical and histologic evaluation of the Norian craniofacial repair system and Norian Craniofacial Repair System Fast Set Putty in the long-term reconstruction of full-thickness skull defects in a sheep model.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term (12 months) strength and osteoconductive properties of two forms of carbonated calcium phosphate cements (i.e., the Norian Craniofacial Repair System and Norian Craniofacial Repair System Fast Set Putty) and to compare these two bone cement forms to an autogenous cranial bone graft in a full-thickness skull defect adult sheep model. METHOD: Twenty-six sheep were assigned to one of eight groups (n = 3 per group). A 4.5-cm2 full-thickness defect was created in the right and left parietal bones. Reconstruction was performed with a full-thickness cranial bone autograft, the Craniofacial Repair System, or Fast Set Putty. Skull samples were harvested at day 1, 6 months, and 12 months. Biomechanical testing was performed using a vertical drop test. RESULTS: Although the Craniofacial Repair System and Fast Set Putty osseointegrated fully, there was little osteoconduction at 12 months. The Craniofacial Repair System was the weakest reconstruction, presenting the lowest peak force transmission and the highest displacement at 12 months. Fast Set Putty showed significantly higher values for peak force transmission and lower displacement when compared with the Craniofacial Repair System. CONCLUSIONS: The Craniofacial Repair System progressively lost strength over the course of this study. Fast Set Putty demonstrated greater strength and rigidity than the Craniofacial Repair System. Both implants had limited bone ingrowth from defect borders, but both cements osteointegrated completely. Bone grafts regained biostructural characteristics and strength similar to those of intact bone and clinically performed the same in this sheep model.

Multicenter study of wound healing in neurofibromatosis and neurofibroma.

Based on clinical experience, the senior author has become convinced that wounds produced to correct the deformities of patients with neurofibromatosis (NF-1) have produced remarkably good scars, the interesting feature being that progression to keloid or hypertrophic scar is rare. The other point noted was that this situation did not change, no matter the patient's race or skin color. There have been few reports describing or discussing this hypothesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether wounds produced in the patients with NF-1 produce keloid or hypertrophic scars. The patients with solitary neurofibroma were also included in this study; these were compared with the NF-1 group. This was conducted as a multicenter study. Patients with neurofibromatosis/solitary neurofibroma, who were operated on from 1990 to 2000, were evaluated by reviewing their medical charts and photographs retrospectively. The patients were treated in centers from five different countries. The analysis was undertaken based on the following points: 1) age and sex at surgery; 2) race of the patients; 3) past and family histories of hypertrophic scar and keloid; 4) surgical site(s); 5) diagnosis, NF1 or solitary neurofibroma; 6) surgical complications; 7) number of reoperations to manage the complications; 8) adjuvant therapy for the tumor; 9) depth of the tumors; and 10) incidence of malignant degeneration. A total of 101 cases with neurofibromatosis or solitary neurofibroma was analyzed. The age at surgery ranged from 1 year 6 months to 74 years; sex ratio was 47 males and 54 females. The racial distribution of the patients was 13 white, 13 black, 3 Hispanic, and 58 Asian. There was no past or family history of hypertrophic scar or keloid. The surgical sites were head and neck in 70 cases, trunk in 20 cases, upper extremities in 22 cases, and lower extremities in 20 cases. The clinical diagnosis was NF-1 in 57 cases, solitary neurofibroma in 35 cases, plexiform neurofibroma in four cases, and no distinct clinical diagnosis in five cases. There were no other types of neurofibromatosis. Hematoma and white wide scar were the main postoperative complications found in six cases of NF-1. Infection was also noted in four cases. However, no patient developed hypertrophic scar or keloid in the neurofibromatosis group, whereas two cases showed hypertrophic scar in the solitary neurofibroma group. The outcome showed that the patients with NF-1 and plexiform neurofibroma, no matter the racial group, produce good scars without keloid or hypertrophic changes, whereas solitary neurofibroma has a potential to cause hypertrophic scar.

Use of calcium-based bone cements in the repair of large, full-thickness cranial defects: a caution.

BACKGROUND: Calcium-based bone cements have increased in popularity for the correction of craniofacial contour defects. The authors' experience with them in more than 120 patients has resulted in the establishment of strict criteria for their use. Although the authors' overall complication rate with these cements has been low, certain patient groups have an unacceptably high complication rate. The authors describe their experience with the repair of large, full-thickness cranial defects using calcium-based bone cements. METHODS: The study group comprised 16 patients who underwent correction of large, full-thickness (>25 cm2) skull defects. The surgical technique included reconstruction of the floor of the defect with rigid fixation to the surrounding native bone, interposition of the cement to ideal contour, and closure of the defect. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 35 years (range, 1 to 69 years). The mean defect area was 66.4 cm2 (range, 30 to 150 cm2). Cases were equally divided between BoneSource and Norian CRS. The mean amount of bone cement used was 80 g. Follow-up varied between 1 and 6 years (mean, 3 years). Major complications occurred in eight of 16 patients, with one occurring as late as 6 years postoperatively. Complications occurred throughout the course of review, indicating that they were not caused by a learning curve. CONCLUSION: Because of the unacceptably high complication rate with the use of calcium-based bone cements in large skull defects, the authors believe that their use is contraindicated and have returned to using autogenous split skull cranial bone reconstruction for these patients.

Cosmetic procedures for the aging face.

As the United States' population continues to age and as cosmetic procedures have become more accepted, adults from all age groups and socioeconomic brackets are seeking improvement in facial aging. Ideal correction includes improvement in the quality of skin, improvement in wrinkles, correction of soft tissue descent, removal of skin excess, and volume restoration. The physiologic rather than the chronologic age is the most important factor in determining the advisability of cosmetic surgery in elderly people. In addition to traditional cosmetic surgery procedures, the elderly population is amenable to several shortcuts, minimizing operative time and post-operative recovery. These can be performed alone or in combination with traditional procedures, improving the stigmata of facial aging and enhancing quality of life.

Calvarial thickness and its relation to cranial bone harvest.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to define the variability in skull thickness from location to location and from individual to individual in a large number of human skulls. METHOD: Skull thickness was measured in multiple areas of the calvaria in 281 dry skulls from the Hamman-Todd osteological collection (Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio). A total of 40 points were determined over the frontal, occipital, and parietal bones, with a higher number of points concentrated on the latter. Repeated measures analysis of variance models were used to assess the effects of covariates (individual variables) on skull thickness and location. RESULT: A statistically significant pattern of increased thickness toward the posterior parietal bones was seen in all subgroups. The mean thickness of the skull across all locations was 6.32 mm (SEM, 0.07 mm) and ranged from 5.3 mm (SEM, 0.09 mm) to 7.5 mm (SEM, 0.09 mm). Age was not found to be a significant predictor of mean skull thickness. Differences between male and female skulls were greater toward the rear of the parietal bones. CONCLUSION: The thickest area of the skull is the parasagittal posterior parietal area in male skulls and the posterior parietal area midway between the sagittal and superior temporal line in female skulls. An accurate map of the skull thickness representing the normative data of the studied population was developed. It is hoped that this topographic map will assist the surgeons in choosing the safest area of cranial bone graft harvest, thus increasing the safety of the procedure.

Orthognathic surgery: is there a future?

BACKGROUND: Despite significant clinical advances in orthognathic surgery, a perceived decrease in recent years in the number of orthognathic cases was noted at the authors' institution. Word of mouth suggested that this phenomenon was region-wide. To explore this possible dichotomy, a one-page questionnaire was designed and sent to all plastic surgeons in the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and to all active practicing oral surgeons and orthodontists in the state of Ohio. METHODS: The questionnaire was designed to estimate both the surgeons' and the orthodontists' perception of whether the number of orthognathic cases was increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same over a 5-year period (from 1996 to 2000). A second questionnaire was then sent only to plastic surgeons and oral surgeons to further evaluate reasons for this possible increase or decrease. RESULTS: The overall response to the first survey was 39 percent (236 of 601 surveys sent); 87 responses (32 percent) were from plastic and oral surgeons, and 132 (40 percent) were from orthodontists. Seventy-five percent of responders perceived a decrease in the number of orthognathic operations. Of those, more than 80 percent claimed that reimbursement was the major reason for the reduction in the number of surgical procedures. The degree of reduction in reimbursement over this 5-year period was documented at the authors' institution, and the perceived reduction over this 5-year period was estimated by the respondents. Finally, reimbursement per hour was calculated for orthognathic cases and compared with three other standard plastic surgery procedures. CONCLUSION: Implications of this reduction in orthognathic surgery in Ohio are discussed, and suggestions for better documentation of this health care issue are suggested.

Hypertelorism: the importance of three-dimensional imaging and trends in the surgical correction by facial bipartition.

BACKGROUND: The technique of facial bipartition has been considered a great advance in achieving a more natural appearance in hypertelorism correction. METHODS: Fourteen patients who had undergone hypertelorism correction by facial bipartition were retrospectively studied to analyze the role of three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstruction in the evaluation of the deformity and preoperative planning. The procedure and surgical details that can improve the outcome were described. A reproducible set of three-dimensional measurements that can help in preoperative patient evaluation was determined based on information obtained using the Analyze/AVW 3.1 system (Biomedical Imaging Resource, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn.). RESULTS: In this series, the most common diagnosis was frontonasal dysplasia (64.3 percent). Five patients had second-degree (35.7 percent) and nine had third-degree hypertelorism (64.3 percent). The three-dimensional scans were shown to be highly accurate in predicting the degree of deformity. There was a significant difference in the preoperative and postoperative interdacryon distance and midface height (p < 0.05) but not in the bitemporal distance (p = 0.08). The simulation correlated significantly with the postoperative result when interdacryon distance and midface height were analyzed (0.736 and 0.999). CONCLUSIONS: Facial bipartition provided a three-dimensional correction of hypertelorism. Three-dimensional imaging can definitely be considered an extra tool for accurate surgical planning and helping the family understand the surgical procedure and the end result.

Evaluation of 45S5 bioactive glass combined as a bone substitute in the reconstruction of critical size calvarial defects in rabbits.

Biomaterial research and tissue engineering have guided new developments in bone replacement. In this study, the osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties of 45S5 Bioglass (Novabone-C/M, Porex Surg., Newnan, GA), granules as a bone replacement material for large calvarial defects were evaluated. Rabbit periosteal cells were expanded in culture and used in vivo. Alkaline-phosphatase assay, collagen type I, and calcium expression were applied to confirm osteoblast phenotype. In the in vivo phase, a 15-mm diameter critical size calvarial defect was created in rabbits (n = 14). The defect was reconstructed according to four treatment groups: autogenous bone (n = 2), Bioglass alone (n = 2), Bioglass + bone (n = 5), Bioglass + periosteal cells (n = 5). The animals were killed 12 weeks after surgery, and the samples were analyzed. Periosteal cells grew successfully in vitro. Because of their fast proliferation and potential to differentiate into osteoblasts, they were an excellent source of cells for bone tissue engineering. The best ossification was seen when autogenous bone was used (79.4% ossified), whereas only 8.2% of the defect in the Bioglass group showed ossification. Addition of bone or cells to the Bioglass increased the area of ossification to 42.7% and 30.2%, respectively. Defects replaced with Bioglass showed varying degrees of inflammatory reaction because of the intense cell-mediated biodegradation process. Based on these findings, the use of Bioglass granules to repair large craniofacial defects cannot be advised.

Skull base tumors: a comprehensive review of transfacial swing osteotomy approaches.

Numerous techniques have been proposed for the resection of skull base tumors, each one unique with regard to the region exposed and degree of technical complexity. This study describes the use of transfacial swing osteotomies in accessing lesions located at various levels of the cranial base. Eight patients who underwent transfacial swings for exposure and resection of cranial base lesions between 1996 and 2002 were studied. The mandible was the choice when wide exposure of nasopharyngeal and midline skull base tumors was necessary, especially when they involved the infratemporal fossa. The midfacial swing osteotomy was an option when access to the entire clivus was necessary. An orbital swing approach was used to access large orbital tumors lying inferior to the optic nerve and posterior to the globe, a region that is often difficult to visualize. Gross total tumor excision was possible in all patients. Six patients achieved disease control and two had recurrences. The complications of cerebrospinal fluid leak, infection, hematoma, or cranial nerve damage did not occur. After surgery, some patients experienced temporary symptoms caused by local swelling. The aesthetic result was considered good. Transfacial swing osteotomies provide a wide exposure to tumors that occur in the central skull base area. Excellent knowledge of the detailed anatomy of this region is paramount to the success of this surgery. The team concept is essential; it is built around the craniofacial surgeon and an experienced skull base neurosurgeon.

Medial canthopexy: a proven technique.

The medial canthus comprises three limbs and functions to maintain the shape of the eye and to assist in drainage of the lacrimal sac. Repair of the medial canthal tendon is often complicated by canthal drift, extrusion of wires or sutures, and in-fracture of the contralateral orbital bones from pressure by transnasal wires. A technique used successfully for more than 25 years with a low rate of complications is described in a stepwise manner. The long-term outcomes of using this technique are reviewed. Thirty-three patient charts were reviewed. The mean age of patients was 22.4 years (range, 3 to 59 years). The surgical indications were trauma, neoplasm, and congenital deformity. Only 2 cases of canthal drift were noted after this procedure and were corrected with the same technique without recurrence. Traditional methods of medial canthopexy frequently result in complications; the technique described eliminates most if not all of these.

The buccal flap--a useful technique in cleft palate repair?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate speech quality and oronasal fistula after primary palate repair using a buccal mucosal flap. DESIGN: Retrospective study cohort of patients with cleft palate. SETTING: Primary care center for treatment of craniofacial congenital anomalies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred fifty-six nonsyndromic patients underwent palatoplasty with the buccal myomucosal flap by the senior surgeon between 1989 and 2002. The preoperative workup, surgical technique, and other factors that might affect the outcome were identical in every case. Oronasal fistula and variables affecting speech quality were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common type of cleft was unilateral cleft lip and palate (43.5%). The median follow-up was 5.8 years (0.4 to 21 years), and the median age at repair was 6.2 months. The overall fistula formation was 3.6%, decreasing progressively: 1989 to 1994: 2.9%, 1995 to 2002: 0.7% (p <.05). Velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) occurred in 8.8% of the patients, decreasing from 5.3% to 3.5% in the last years. VPI and oronasal fistulae were observed mainly in unilateral and bilateral clefts of the lip and palate. Velopharyngeal adequacy occurred in 91.1% of the children, and resonance was normal in 91.1 %. None of the patients had severe hypernasality or hyponasality. Articulation was normal in 97.9% of the children. Speech quality was good in 89% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The technique presented has been effective, with the advantages of palatal closure without tension, good muscular reconstruction, lengthening of the nasal layer, and palatal closure without raw areas. The technique, early repair, and surgeon's skills were the most important variables for good outcomes regarding speech and fistula formation.

Vascular iliac crest with inner table of the ilium as an option in maxillary reconstruction.

Reconstruction of large maxillary defects has been a long-standing challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. Total maxillary reconstruction is desirable but often not possible; ideally, this would provide all the anatomical structural support, function, and esthetics missing because of the defect. A case is presented in which all the criteria for total maxillary reconstruction have been fulfilled. The patient is a 60-year-old man who had wide excision of his maxilla for ameloblastoma, followed by temporal bone flap reconstruction, which failed. He presented to our institution for further evaluation and possible treatment options; these were discussed with the patient and the multidisciplinary team that deals with congenital and acquired deformities in the head and neck area. An iliac crest free flap that included the inner table of the ilium based on the deep circumflex iliac artery was used for the reconstruction. The procedure is described, including restoration of a nasal lining. Osseointegrated implants were used for dental rehabilitation. Ameloblastoma is briefly discussed. The goals of maxillary rehabilitation and obstacles to obtaining those goals are presented. Options available for maxillary reconstruction are discussed, along with some of their advantages and disadvantages, as is the reason why the iliac crest free flap with the inner table of the ilium was chosen. An iliac crest free flap with microvascular anastomosis to facial vessels was used to reconstruct a large maxillary defect. Osseointegrated implants were used to facilitate dental rehabilitation. Our patient has excellent restoration of oronasal function with a satisfactory esthetic result.

Augmentation of the craniomaxillofacial region using porous hydroxyapatite granules.

Augmentation of the craniomaxillofacial region is required for many aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. A variety of different materials and techniques have been used. Coralline hydroxyapatite has proved to have biocompatible properties as a bone graft substitute. This study further analyzes the use of porous coral-derived hydroxyapatite granules in craniomaxillofacial augmentation for cosmetic and reconstructive purposes and evaluates the long-term clinical result. This retrospective study reviewed the use of porous coral-derived hydroxyapatite granules over a 20-year period, between 1981 and 2001, in 180 patients, in whom 393 procedures were performed. The surgical technique is described and discussed. Statistical significance was evaluated by descriptive statistics and the correlation bivariate Spearman's test (p > 0.05). For 61.6 percent of the procedures, the surgical indication was reconstructive and in 38.4 percent, cosmetic. The maxilla was the most common site of surgery (44.3 percent), followed by the mandible (21.6 percent) and zygoma (15.4 percent). The complication rate was 5.6 percent (n = 22 of 393), with contour irregularities being responsible for 59 percent (n = 13 of 22). Both infection and granule extrusion were responsible for 1.3 percent of the complications. Good results were achieved in 96.4 percent of the procedures. Porous coral-derived hydroxyapatite granules have shown considerable efficacy and versatility in craniofacial contour refinement and augmentation. They are stable, biocompatible, and safe. A sterile technique is advised, with care taken not to tear the periosteum in the pocket design and with subperiosteal placement of the granules, compaction of the granules at the site, overcorrection of 15 percent of the required total volume, watertight closure, and postoperative taping to prevent mobilization. The correct surgical indications and adherence to the principles stated above will result in a very satisfactory long-term outcome.

Nasal augmentation with Surgicel-wrapped diced cartilage: a review of 67 consecutive cases.

Cartilage grafting has been used extensively to correct both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the nasal framework. The technique described by Erol ( 105: 2229, 2000) uses Surgicel-wrapped diced cartilage grafts in rhinoplasties. The advantages include its ease of preparation, the large volume of graft substrate available for use, and the avoidance of contour irregularities in the areas of placement. A retrospective case review of 67 consecutive patients who were treated with a Surgicel-wrapped diced cartilage graft as part of an aesthetic and/or functional rhinoplasty, in a 5-year period between 1995 and 2000, was performed in this study. All cases of congenital nasal deformities or deformities caused by trauma or tumors in which the technique was used were excluded. The charts were reviewed to determine demographic variables, the surgical procedures performed, prior operations, the rhinoplasty approach used, and the graft donor and recipient sites. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were examined, and the results were assessed. Data on the donor and recipient sites, complications, and the necessity for revisionary procedures were tabulated. There were two complications, namely, an infection, which resolved with aspiration and oral antibiotic therapy, and a recurrence of a dorsal depression, which necessitated repeated augmentation within 6 months. The technique of using Surgicel-wrapped diced cartilage proved to be effective for the augmentation of various areas of the nose. The complication and revision rates were acceptable and comparable to those of other techniques. Patient satisfaction with the aesthetic results was rated highly, with no reports of graft extrusion or contour irregularities. This technique is recommended for nasal augmentation and contouring for selected rhinoplasty patients.

Clinical outcome in cranioplasty: critical review in long-term follow-up.

Various materials have been proposed for cranial reconstruction. Bone autograft and alloplasts such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) cement are most commonly used at the present time. Patients submitted for cranioplasty were evaluated. The prognostic factors influencing the results and the outcome were analyzed. Three hundred twelve patients who had 449 procedures performed by a single surgeon to reconstruct a calvarial deformity between 1981 and 2001 were studied. Post-tumor resection deformity was the main reason for cranioplasty (32.4%). Bone graft was the material of choice (69.5%). The main surgical site was the frontal bone (53.2%). Complications were observed in 23.6% of cases and were responsible for the least satisfactory results (P > 0.001), with infection and material exposure being the most critical complications. The eventual outcome was considered good in 91.8% of cases. The use of HA cement was associated with the worst results (P > 0.001). Bone grafts showed a high grade of partial resorption and required further surgery for correction. Multiple surgical procedures were correlated with a high rate of complications and an unsatisfactory outcome. Bone graft and PMMA are still the best materials in calvarial reconstruction. Even though HA cement is an osteoconductive material, it seems to induce what appears to be an immunoguided delayed inflammatory reaction that leads to thinning of the skin and exposure of the material, making secondary repair difficult. Before deciding which reconstructive option to use, a careful evaluation of the patient in terms of diagnosis, number of previous surgeries, and surgical site should be undertaken. If this is adopted, good results and a satisfactory outcome can be achieved on long-term follow-up.