Search

The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience of microvascular anastomosis of intraperitoneal vessels. Between 1985 and 1994, 117 microsurgical reconstructions were done using intraperitoneal vessels. These included oesophageal reconstruction (n = 106), reconstruction of the hepatic arterial, superior mesenteric arterial, or portal venous system (n = 8), and reconstruction of the chest or abdominal wall (n = 3). We used 129 intraperitoneal arteries and 117 intraperitoneal veins. Of a total of 246 intraperitoneal vessels, five hepatic arteries, seven splenic, 14 gastroepiploic, six superior mesenteric, 178 jejunal, 30 ileocolic, four middle colic arteries or veins, and two portal veins were used for microvascular anastomosis. The overall successful rate for these reconstructive cases was 97% (114/117). Microsurgical use of intraperitoneal vessels is a safe and developing procedure in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip is a common tumor. Of the many methods available for reconstructing lower lip defects after radical excision, we found double cross lip flaps from each lateral side of the upper lip philtrum rotated into the defect of the lower lip to be an effective method, not only functionally but also cosmetically. The main reason why satisfactory results were obtained by this procedure is that the anatomical structure (skin-orbicularis oris muscle-mucosa, vermilion) of the upper lip is very similar to that of the lower lip. Our experience is with double cross lip operations in the management of lower lip cancers are described.

The details of surgical techniques for primary correction of the unilateral cleft lip nose and their results for 45 cases are reported. The technique employed an infracartilaginous incision on the affected side, thus allowing direct suturing of the alar cartilage onto the lateral cartilage. For the postoperative evaluation, the nasal form in both frontal and bottom views was scored for five items. In overall evaluation, the grades of “Good,” “Fair,” and “Poor” were derived from the total scores of five items. In the postoperative results (range of follow-up: 24 months to 84 months), 24 cases were rated “Good” (53.3%), 13 cases “Fair” (28.9%), and 8 cases “Poor” (17.8%). Thirty cases appear not to need secondary correction (66.6%). The technique is useful because the alar cartilages and lateral cartilages can be accurately sutured, and relatively stable results can be obtained.

Normal skin extensibility in the living body of 94 healthy male subjects ranging in age from 3 months to 73 years was determined quantitatively with the Bio-Skin Tension Meter at 12 sites. In comparison with the age of 20-29 years, the skin extensibility, particularly in the age group of less than 2 years, was significantly high. However, no significant difference from the age groups of 12-14, 15-19, 30-49 and over 50 years was found at any site. Correlation by age was noted at the extremities, excluding the posterior upper arm and at the lower abdomen, with the extensibility of the group less than 1 year as the maximum value, decreasing gradually down to 3-5 or 6-8 years. At the cheek, shoulder, anterior chest, and posterior upper arm, however, no correlation with age was noted.

Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS) (OMIM 154500) is a congenital, craniofacial disorder inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The responsible gene for TCS, TCOF1, was mapped to 5q32-33.1 and identified in 1996. Since then, TCOF1 mutations in patients with TCS have been reported from Europe, North and South America, however, no TCS cases from an Asian country have been molecularly characterized. Here we report mutational analysis for 11 Japanese patients with TCS for the first time, and have identified TCOF1 mutations in 9 of them. The mutations detected were various, but most likely all the mutations are predicted to result in a truncated gene product, known as treacle. One mutation frequently reported was included in our cases, but no missense mutations were detected. These findings are similar to those for the previous studies for TCS in other races. We have speculated about the molecular mechanisms of the mutations in most cases. Collectively, we have defined some of the characteristic molecular features commonly observed in TCS patients, irrespective of racial difference.

We present a case of reconstruction of the left cheek with a prefabricated musculocutaneous flap. A pedicled serratus anterior muscle flap was transferred to the left chest, deep to skin. The muscle flap and overlying skin were expanded. The expanded, prefabricated musculocutaneous flap was then transferred as a free flap to the left cheek defect.

Regarding radial ray deficiency, several reports suggest that preaxial limb anomalies occur frequently, while postaxial limb anomalies and cleft hand (split-hands) are rarely associated with VACTERL. We describe a rare clinical case of VACTERL with cleft hand and a number of visceral anomalies.

The technical factors of microangiography were studied, and the authors found that the main limiting factors in resolution were the injection pressure of the contrast medium and the thickness of the materials. A gentle manual hand pressure injection, with the aid of visual monitoring under the operating microscope, were keys to obtaining beautiful microangiograms.

Three patients, a female and two males, 28, 15, and 14 years of age, with Kabuki make-up syndrome (KMS) were studied for middle and inner ear abnormalities by using CT scanning of the petrous bones. All three patients had bilateral dysplasia of the inner ear, i.e., hypodysplasia of the cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular canals (so-called Mondini dysplasia), whereas their middle ears had no abnormalities. Audiometry demonstrated a sharp decrease in hearing of the high tone range, bilateral in one and unilateral in another, while the third patient was noncooperative. In view of these findings, it would be advisable to study each individual with KMS and hearing impairment for possible inner ear abnormalities.

Penetration of flomoxef into the maxillary and mandibular bones was assayed clinically to provide data about its usefulness for the prevention of postoperative infection after maxillofacial surgery. Twenty-one patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery at our department were given flomoxef 2 g dissolved in 20 ml of physiological saline intravenously over 3 minutes during operation, and the serum, maxillary and mandibular concentrations were measured 1, 3, and 6 hours after injection by the band culture method using Escherichia coli 7437 as the indicator strain. The mean concentrations were 53.4, 16.1, and 2.6 micrograms/ml, respectively, in the serum, 17.6, 7.8, and 1.0 micrograms/g in maxillary bone, and 16.4, 4.2, and 0.9 micrograms/g in mandibular bone. The mean bone:serum ratios at 1, 3, and 6 hours were 33.0%, 48.2%, and 36.8%, respectively, for maxillary bone, and 30.7%, 26.2%, and 35.7% for mandibular bone. When compared with previously reported data on the bone:serum ratios in jaw of various other intravenous antibiotics, our results show that penetration of flomoxef into maxillary and mandibular bone is extremely high. As all the intramaxillary and intramandibular concentrations exceed its MIC80 values against clinical isolates of bacteria frequently isolated in cases of infection in the oral and maxillofacial region, it is apparent that one intravenous shot of flomoxef 2 g allows penetration of the drug into the maxillary and mandibular bones at effective concentrations. Flomoxef is therefore potentially useful for the prevention and treatment of infections in the oral and maxillofacial region, as it has excellent penetration into the maxillary and mandibular bones.

Obese paraplegics can suffer discomfort when they lie in a prone position and sit in wheelchairs. Two paraplegic cases who underwent abdominoplasty to eliminate such complaints are presented, with satisfactory results.