Separation of the seventh costal-sternal junction-A new technique to improve outcomes for the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum.

Background: In the standard Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum, the costal arch is often elevated together with the sternum, resulting in unevenness of the lower part of the thorax. This complication is commonly called rib flaring. This paper presents a technique to avoid rib flaring and evaluates its effectiveness.

Spontaneously generated large adipose flaps in vivo tissue engineering chambers.

Aim: Previous experiments using our in vivo tissue engineering chamber (TEC) model demonstrated that adipose flap was spontaneously generated without the need for adipocyte or stem cell implantation. The purposes of the present study are to clarify 1) the reproducibility of this method to create adipose flaps, 2) the time-course of adipogenesis, and 3) the long-term stability of the adipose flap generated.

Methods: The chambers that afforded a protected space for tissue growth were implanted into the groins of rabbits.

Bone-cartilage proportion in deformed ribs of male pectus excavatum patients.

This study verifies the hypothesis that bone/cartilage proportion in deformed ribs of male pectus excavatum patients varies according to their ages. Anatomical evaluation of the thoraces was performed for 79 male pectus excavatum patients, referring to their three-dimensional computer-tomographic images. The patients were divided into Child Group (5-9 years old: n = 35); Adolescent Group (12-15 years old: n = 15) and Adult Group (18+ years old: n = 29).

Frontal Bone Fracture Patterns Suggesting Involvement of Optic Canal Damage.

Purpose: Fracture of the frontal bone can be accompanied by damage to the optic canal. The present study uses finite element analysis to identify fracture patterns, suggesting the involvement of the optic canal.

Methods: Ten finite-element skull models were generated from computer tomography data of 10 persons.

Normobaric oxygen therapy increases cartilage survival ratio in auricular composite grafting in rat models.

Purpose: This study aims to clarify whether normobaric oxygen therapy improves the survival of auricular composite grafts in rats.

Methods: For 10 male SD rats, 1.5 cm composite grafts were harvested from bilateral ear regions including whole auricles.

Separation patterns of orbital wall and risk of optic canal injury in Le Fort 3 osteotomy.

Purpose: The authors hypothesized that the risks of optic canal injury in down-fracturing after Le Fort 3 osteotomy vary depending on the separation patterns of the orbital walls. This study verifies this hypothesis using biomechanical simulation.

Methods: Ten finite-element skull models were produced using computer tomography data from ten persons.

Effects of platelet-rich plasma on tissue-engineered vascularized flaps in an in vivo chamber.

Aims: We investigated the reproducibility of creating a vascularized tissue flap in an in vivo tissue engineering chamber by incubating a vascular pedicle imbedded in a collagen sponge with activated platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

Methods: Collagen sponge soaked with saline (control group), bFGF (Group 1), aPRP (Group 2), and aPRP/controlled release bFGF (Group 3) was implanted with a saphenous arteriovenous pedicle into a tissue engineering chamber, located subcutaneously in the groin of rabbits. After 4 weeks of implantation, the contents in the chamber were harvested for volumetric and histological analyses.

Utilization of a sero-muscular patch for safe wound closure after free jejunum transfer for a skin-esophageal fistula.

This paper introduces our original technique of free jejunum transfer, in which a sero-muscular patch is used to cover the jejunum. Our results demonstrate its effectiveness for touch-up surgery after esophageal leakage.