Closure of difficult palatal fistulas using a "parachuting and anchoring" technique with the tongue flap.

The tongue flap has been described in reconstructing palatal defects. Nevertheless, properly securing the flap to the palatal defect has continued to pose a challenge, especially because the flap becomes mobile with normal activities (i.e.

Endoscope-assisted temporoparietal fascia harvest for auricular reconstruction.

Background: Reconstruction of microtia may require a temporoparietal fascia flap. The authors modified existing endoscopic temporoparietal fascia harvest techniques and applied them to auricular reconstruction to reduce incision size, scarring, and visible alopecia. Flap design was altered to include posterior occipital circulation to improve perfusion and decrease venous congestion.

The effect of topical mitomycin C on full-thickness burns.

Background: Burns result in substantial morbidity because of fibroblast proliferation and contracture. Mitomycin C is a chemotherapeutic agent known to suppress fibroblast proliferation. It is used in ophthalmologic disorders and reduces scarring in upper aerodigestive surgery.

What is the incidence of hypertelorism in Filipino frontonasal encephalocele patients?

It is unclear whether Filipinos with sincipital encephaloceles have true orbital hypertelorism or just telecanthus. Knowing this determines whether orbital osteotomies or medial canthoplasty are more appropriate corrective procedures. To evaluate this, 56 sequential Filipino sincipital encephalocele patients (28 female and 28 male, average age 66.

Complications of facial suspension sutures.

Background: Barbed suture suspension has gained popularity as an inexpensive, "non-surgical" facial rejuvenation procedure. Initial studies on this procedure have reported minimal complications.

Objective: In this article, we review and evaluate several cases involving complications resulting from barbed suture suspension.

Outpatient extended abdominoplasty in the patient with massive weight loss.

Background: Extended abdominoplasty in the patient with massive weight loss has traditionally been performed as an inpatient procedure. To date, there has been no report on the safety of outpatient extended abdominoplasty in the patient with massive weight loss.

Objective: The authors sought to evaluate the safety of outpatient abdominoplasty in this growing population of patients.

Low fistula rate in palatal clefts closed with the Furlow technique using decellularized dermis.

Background: Despite the advances in cleft palate closure over the past 20 years, postoperative fistulas are still a significant problem. Fistula rates average 10 to 23 percent, and it has been suggested that wide clefts have a higher rate of fistula formation.

Methods: In an attempt to improve closure rates, the authors placed decellularized dermal graft within the closure of 31 consecutive palatal cleft closures using the Furlow technique, with one attending surgeon.

Comprehensive head and neck trauma screening: the USS Cole experience.

A prospective study was designed to determine the incidence of occult head and neck injuries after initial triage of patients following the USS Cole terrorist bombing. All 39 patients evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center underwent comprehensive head and neck examinations, regardless of known diagnoses at the time of arrival. Appropriate interventions were performed, and detailed summaries were added to the patients' records.

Otologic blast injuries due to the Kenya embassy bombing.

Otologic injuries are frequently associated with large blasts. On August 7, 1998, a large truck bomb exploded next to the U.S.

Kikuchi's disease: a case report and review of the literature.

Kikuchi's disease is a necrotizing lymphadenitis that is prevalent in Asia and is being increasingly recognized in other areas of the world. It usually occurs in women in their late 20s or early 30s and manifests as a posterior cervical adenopathy. It resolves spontaneously, usually over a period of several weeks to 6 months.