Biomechanical Performance of Biodegradable Screw Fixation in Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis.

Internal distraction devices are commonly used in congenital micrognathia. The eventual need for device and screw removal can be challenging, requiring extensive dissection and disturbance of bone regenerate. Bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide (PLLA) screws, compared to traditional titanium screws, simplify device removal.

Reconstruction of Congenital Sternal Cleft: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Sternal cleft (SC) is a rare congenital deformity that results from failure of sternal bar fusion. Sternal cleft can be categorized as superior partial, inferior partial, or complete. Each form of SC can present as an isolated defect or in association with other congenital deformities, which presents a unique challenge for reconstructive surgeons.

Global Burden of Craniofacial Disorders: Where Should Volunteering Plastic Surgeons and Governments Focus Their Care?

Purpose: Approximately 11% of the global burden of disease is surgically treatable. When located within the head, face, and neck region, plastic surgeons are particularly trained to treat these conditions. The purpose of this study was to describe the etiology, disability, and barriers to receiving care for diseases of the head, face, mouth, and neck region across 4 low-and-middle-income countries.

Nasal Dorsal Augmentation with Freeze-Dried Allograft Bone: 10-Year Comprehensive Review.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate freeze-dried cortical allograft bone for nasal dorsal augmentation. The 42-month report on 18 patients was published in 2009 in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with 89 percent success at level II evidence, and this article is the 10-year comprehensive review of 62 patients.

Methods: All grafts met standards recommended by the American Association of Tissue Banks, the U.

Tongue suture placement after cleft palate repair.

Objective: Postoperative airway obstruction is a complication of cleft palate repair. A technique to control the airway is to place a suture through the tongue at the conclusion of the palate repair, but it is not uniformly adopted by surgeons. Although it has been frequently performed, the use and effectiveness of the tongue suture have not been studied.

Craniofacial distractor applicator.

Craniofacial distraction can be planned using cephalograms, computed tomography, medical models, and other forms of anatomic data. However, it is often difficult to translate this plan to the patient. Specifically, it is difficult to obtain true parallel placement of bilateral midface and mandibular distractors.

Distraction osteogenesis of the cleft maxilla.

Distraction osteogenesis is a method of enhancing bony deficiencies of the hypoplastic cleft maxilla. Whether it is the result of inherited growth deficiency or of iatrogenic causes from operative intervention, 20 to 25% of cleft maxilla patients require maxillary advancement. Traditionally, this has been done by standard orthognathic surgery at varying LeFort levels.

Inframammary crease: positional relationship to the pectoralis major muscle origin.

Background: The inframammary fold (IMF) is an important anatomic landmark in breast surgery. Despite the importance of this structure, its relationship to the pectoral muscle and its position on the chest wall are not fully understood.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to identify the positional relationship of the inframammary crease to the pectoralis major muscle.

Clinical correlation of chromosome 22q11.2 fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis and velocardiofacial syndrome.

Objective: To identify characteristics associated with microdeletions of chromosome 22q11.2 ascertained by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis in patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), cleft palate, or other clinical features of velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS).

Design/setting: Retrospective review of all patients entered at one tertiary-level multidisciplinary cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies panel from January 2000 to December 2003.

Anesthetic concerns of external maxillary distraction osteogenesis.

Background: External maxillary distractions present additional anesthetic concerns to the existing complexity of the patient with craniofacial disorder. The distraction hardware is rigidly fixed to the cranium and projects in the frontofacial midline, thus limiting oronasal airway access.

Methods: A review of 16 patients (10 male, 6 female) having external maxillary distraction was done.

Resorbable internal splint: an adjunct to primary correction of unilateral cleft lip-nasal deformity.

There is usually some relapse in position of the alar cartilage after primary repair of unilateral cleft lip. Therefore, preoperative or postoperative external splinting has been recommended to supplement either closed or open suspension of the alar cartilage. The authors present a method using a resorbable internal nostril splint to shield the positioned alar cartilage from deformational forces caused by scar, and thus avoiding the problems associated with external splinting.

LeFort I soft tissue distraction: a hybrid technique.

Distraction osteogenesis of the craniofacial skeleton has greatly enhanced traditional osteotomies and bone grafting techniques. The obvious drawbacks to an external distraction device are visibility and awkwardness. A hybrid technique of maxillary distraction for soft tissue expansion and formation of regenerate, combined with rigid internal fixation, is proposed.

Air dissipation in saline breast implants.

Residual air within saline breast implants can cause patient discomfort due to the mechanical and auditory effects of sloshing. Small amounts of air have no clinical significance, but if larger quantities are present and audible, the patient is reassured that the implant shell is gas-permeable and that the air will dissipate/diffuse. This study examined the time necessary for air dissipation in saline breast implants.

Transantral endoscopic orbital floor repair using resorbable plate.

The transantral endoscopic orbital floor approach can be used to repair pure orbital floor blowout fractures, avoiding the risks of lower lid incisions. A transoral incision is made to expose the anterior maxillary wall. A 1-cm2 antral bone flap gives access to the maxillary sinus and infraorbital floor.