Aesthetic analysis of the ideal eyebrow shape and position.

The aesthetic importance of the eyebrow has been highlighted for centuries. In this paper, we investigated ideal eyebrow. Eyebrows and eyelids, varies among different races, ages and genders. It is considered to be of primary importance in facial expression and beauty. We present one form of the ideal eyebrow aesthetic and discuss methods of optimising surgical results. For the modern acceptable concept of the ideal brow, the medial brow should begin on the same vertical plane as the lateral extent of the ala and the inner canthus and end laterally at an oblique line drawn from the most lateral point of the ala through the lateral canthus. The medial and lateral ends of the brow lie approximately at the same horizontal level. The apex lies on a vertical line directly above the lateral limbus. Individual perceptions and expectations also differ from person to person. The brow should over lie the orbital rim in males and be several millimetres above the rim in female. Male tend to have a heavier, thicker brow with a little arch present. There are some pitfalls in brow aesthetics. Overelevation creates an unnatural, surprised and unintelligent look which is the most common surgical mistake in brow lifting. Medial placement of the brow peak would create an undesired 'surprised' appearance. Moreover, a low medial brow with a high lateral peak induces an angry look. Overresection of the medial brow depressors may lead to widening and elevation of the medial brow, which creates an insensitive look and can also lead to glabellar contour defects. It is impossible to define an ideal eyebrow that is suitable for every face. However, one must consider previously described criteria and other periorbital structures when performing a brow surgery.

Nasal tip sutures: Techniques and indications.

OBJECTIVES: The surgical anatomy of the nasal tip is determined by intrinsic factors, such as the nasal tip volume, shape, definition, and symmetry. These factors are intimately related to the morphology of the lower lateral cartilages. Tip sutures reduce the need for grafts and allow the surgeon to manipulate the tip with a high degree of precision and better long-term clinical outcomes. In this review, we evaluated common nasal tip suture techniques to clarify the similarities and differences among them. METHODS: The following nasal tip suture techniques were investigated: medial crural fixation suture, middle crura suture, transdomal (dome creating, dome binding, domal definition) suture, interdomal suture, lateral crural mattress suture, columella septal suture, intercrural suture, tip rotation suture, craniocaudal transdomal suture, lateral crural spanning suture, suspension suture, tongue-in-groove technique, and lateral crural steal. RESULTS: Tip sutures increase tip projection, narrow the tip, provide stabilization, and provide tip rotation. The sutures may be used separately or together. CONCLUSION: Nasal tip sutures have long been used as noninvasive suture techniques. Each suture technique has unique benefits, and various key points must be considered when using these techniques.

Open Versus Closed Septorhinoplasty Approaches for Postoperative Edema and Ecchymosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare periorbital edema and ecchymosis seen after closed (endonasal) and open (external) septorhinoplasty (SRP). METHODS: In total, 50 patients undergoing hump extraction and osteotomies were allocated to 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 25 patients who underwent closed SRP. Group 2 consisted of 25 patients who underwent open SRP. Operation time, amount of intraoperative bleeding, and complications were recorded. Scoring of eyelid edema and periorbital ecchymosis was evaluated on the first, third, and seventh postoperative days using a scale of 0 to 4 by the first author. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age, sex, or operation time. No significant difference was observed clinically or statistically in the scores of periorbital edema or ecchymosis between groups 1 and 2 on the first, third, and seventh postoperative days (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The authors observed no clinically or statistically significant difference in comparing periorbital edema and ecchymosis seen after closed and open SRP.

Acoustic Hearing After Murine Cochlear Implantation: Effects of Trauma and Implant Type.

OBJECTIVES: To model the contribution of implant material and insertion trauma on loss of acoustic hearing after cochlear implantation in an appropriate animal model. METHODS: Sixty-five C57Bl/6J mice underwent unilateral implantation with implant grade materials: 2 implant grade silicones and a third uncoated platinum wire. A sham surgery group was included as a control. Serial auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were used to discern effects on hearing over 22 weeks. Histologic measurements of damage to the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion were correlated with degree of hearing loss and material type. RESULTS: Organ of Corti damage correlated with rate of hearing loss soon after implantation (0-2 weeks) but not subsequently (2-22 weeks). Organ of Corti damage did not depend on implant type and was present even in sham surgery subjects when hearing was severely damaged. Spiral ganglia appeared unaffected. There was no evidence of an inflammatory or toxic effect of the materials beyond the site of implant insertion. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss and cochlear damage appear to be related to insertion trauma, with minimal effect on delayed hearing loss caused by different materials. In the C57Bl/6J mouse model, the sensory epithelium appears to be the location of damage after cochlear implantation.

Three layer interlocking: a novel technique for repairing a nasal septum perforation.

OBJECTIVE: Many techniques to repair a septal perforation using local flaps with or without an interpositioning graft with various rates of success have been described. Our aim was to describe a new and relatively easy technique for repairing these perforations. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with nasal septal perforations smaller than 2 cm in diameter were operated on between 2010 and 2012 at Eskisehir Osmangazi University. The described 3-layer interlocking method was applied to repair the septal perforation in all of the cases. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were operated on using this technique. The follow-up time ranged from 30 months to 10 months, with a mean follow-up time of 20.9 months. In 19 of the 22 patients, complete closure of the perforation was achieved (86.3%). We did not encounter any early or late postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: A novel technique that uses a temporalis fascia-conchal cartilage complex as an interpositioning material to repair septal perforations is described. This complex was endoscopically introduced to the perforation after elevating the edges of the perforation. We concluded that the low morbidity, short operating time, and high success rate make this technique a good choice for repairing small- to medium-sized perforations.

Mouse cochleostomy: a minimally invasive dorsal approach for modeling cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The murine model has been used extensively to model and study human deafness. Technical difficulty in the surgical approach due to the small size of the tympanic bulla and a robust stapedial artery has limited its application for studies of cochlear implantation and electrical stimulation. We describe a minimally traumatic, stapedial artery-sparing approach to the round window that may be used to access the mouse cochlea for acute or chronic studies of implantation and stimulation. STUDY DESIGN: Animal model. METHODS: Fifteen C57BL6J mice were used to validate this approach. Auditory brainstem response threshold and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were obtained preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively to determine hearing preservation results. RESULTS: The approach provided excellent exposure for round-window implantation. Substantial hearing was preserved in all animals with a mean postimplantation auditory brainstem response threshold increase of 27.8 dB. Otoacoustic emissions were lost in subjects with the largest threshold shifts. CONCLUSIONS: Residual hearing after cochlear implantation is a determinant of success both with standard cochlear implant electrodes and with electrodes designed to optimize hearing preservation. Here, we have preserved usable hearing after implantation of C57BL6J mice, an endogenous model of human presbycusia. The murine model may become a powerful tool to assay the effects of cochlear intervention in different genetic backgrounds.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: outcomes using mucosal flap preserving technique.

Currently, transnasal approaches are preferred widely for treating chronic dacryocystitis. Restenosis which count for the most common causes of failure in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) reduces the success rate. We intended to make a large fistula, potentially minimizing granulation tissue, and synechiae by means of creating a large bony ostium and preserving mucosal flaps and intubation with silicone tube (STI). In this study, long-term follow-up results of EDCR with mucosa preservation were discussed. 126 patients underwent endonasal DCRs from January 2004 to March 2009. A large ostium was created preserving mucosa; nasal and lacrimal flaps were approximated and the new ostium was stented with silicone tube. Surgical success rate was 93 % with STI and with preservation of nasal and lacrimal flaps. In conclusion, EDCR is an easy surgical procedure with low complication rates. Intranasal pathologies can also be corrected in the meantime. Success depends on creating a large bony ostium and preventing restenosis. EDCR preserving nasal and lacrimal flaps with STI is recommended as an alternative procedure in chronic dacryocystitis with high success rates.

Radiographic association of schwannomas with sensory ganglia.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical experience suggests that the majority of schwannomas arise within sensory ganglia, suggesting that intraganglionic glial cells represent a potential cell of origin for schwannomas. To support this clinical impression, we reviewed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies performed over a 5-year period at our institution to determine the relationship of cranial and spinal nerve schwannomas with the ganglia of the associated nerves. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing imaging study at our institution over a 5-year period. INTERVENTION(S): Radiographic images at our institution were reviewed as well as published studies to determine the anatomic location of schwannomas. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Anatomic location of schwannomas. RESULTS: A total of 372 patients were found over the 5-year study period, 31 of those were diagnosed with neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). Vestibular schwannomas comprised the greatest number of schwannomas, followed by spinal schwannomas. In NF2 patients, spinal schwannomas were the most common tumor, followed by vestibular schwannomas. In NF2 patients and those with sporadic schwannomas, the overwhelming majority of tumors arose in nerves with a sensory component and were associated with the sensory ganglia of the nerves (562/607, 92.6%). Very few tumors arose from pure motor nerves. This is supported by review of published articles on anatomic location of schwannomas. CONCLUSION: Schwannomas are strongly associated anatomically with the ganglia of sensory nerves. These findings raise the possibility that intraganglionic glial cells give rise to the majority of schwannomas.

The effect of radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction of soft palate on voice.

The surgical techniques used for snoring and OSA treatment include partial/complete resection or tissue reduction of the oropharyngeal structures such as uvula, tonsilla palatinas, soft palate, lateral pharyngeal tissues and tongue base. So it is predictable for these techniques to affect the resonating volume of the vocal tract and therefore the speech sounds. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) of the soft palate can cause voice changes by altering the formant frequencies and fundamental frequency of vowels. A prospective study of 26 habitual snorers and mild obstructive sleep apnea patients (apnea-hypopnea index, <10 in all cases) were investigated before and 6 weeks after RFVTR. The patients received one Somnoplasty RFVTR treatment of 1,400 J per treatment session: 700 J into the midline and 350 J on each side of the soft palate with a maximum temperature of 80 degrees C. Acoustic evaluation was made by the Multidimensional Voice Program. The mean fundamental frequency (MF0) and the first three formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3) of four sustained vowels /a/, /e/, /i/ and /o/ were determined. Comparison between preoperative and postoperative acoustic analysis of the MF0 and F1, F2, F3 of sustained vowels revealed no significant change. The findings of the study indicate that RFVTR of the soft palate as a treatment for snoring and mild forms of OSA does not have a significant impact on the mean fundamental frequency and formant frequencies of vowels. These results seem to be important in management of patients with concerns about postoperative vocal quality, such as singers and professional speakers.

Saccular cyst in an infant: an unusual cause of life-threatening stridor and its surgical treatment.

Saccular cysts in infants are rare lesions of the larynx and may result in respiratory obstruction and severe dyspnea. Herein we present a case of saccular cyst in a three-month-old infant. She was presented with severe stridor and respiratory distress. She had been followed with the diagnosis of tracheomalacia for three months elsewhere. Direct laryngoscopy of the larynx revealed a saccular cyst. Stridor disappeared shortly after surgical excision of the supraglottic saccular cyst under direct laryngoscopy. No complication or recurrence was seen in the 12-month follow-up period. Saccular cysts in infants are rare lesions and should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of stridor in infants.