Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVES: To examine the long-term effect of nasoalveolar molding and gingivoperiosteoplasty (modified Millard type) on midface growth at prepuberty. PROCEDURES: In this retrospective study, 20 consecutive patients with a history of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate were evaluated. Ten patients had nasoalveolar molding and gingivoperiosteoplasty performed at lip closure; 10 control patients had nasoalveolar molding but no gingivoperiosteoplasty because of late start in treatment or poor compliance. A single surgeon (C.B.C.) performed all surgical procedures. Standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs were evaluated at two time periods: T1 at pre-bone-grafting age and T2 at prepuberty age. Superimposition and cephalometric analysis were undertaken to investigate the two groups. Two cephalometric reference planes, sella-nasion and basion-nasion, were used to assess the vertical and sagittal relations of the midface (ANS-PNS). The reference landmarks were procrustes fitted. The mean location and variance of ANS and PNS landmarks were computed. All results were analyzed by permutation test. RESULTS: No significant difference in mean location or variance of ANS-PNS in both vertical and sagittal planes at both T1 and T2 periods were found between the two groups (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that midface growth in sagittal or vertical planes (up to the age of 9 to 13 years) were not affected by presurgical alveolar molding and gingivoperiosteoplasty (Millard type).

Proximal radial nerve compression occurs infrequently and is diagnosed successfully even less frequently. A large clinical series of patients with proximal radial nerve compression neuropathy was reviewed to determine better the common symptoms, physical findings, and electrodiagnostic findings, and to identify the predictors of better or worse outcome after surgical decompression. Seventy-nine proximal radial compression neuropathies were treated in 71 patients by the same surgeon between 1991 and 2000. The most consistent symptoms were deep aching pain in the forearm, pain radiation to the neck and shoulder, and a 'heavy' sensation of the affected arm. The most common physical findings were tenderness over the radial nerve at the supinator muscle level, pain on resisted supination, and the presence of a Tinel sign over the radial forearm. Electrophysiologic studies were of limited value in diagnosis, with 90% of patients having normal findings. On operation, prominent pathology of the posterior interosseous nerve was observed in 36 of 79 limbs (46%). Follow-up ranged from 12 to 86 months (mean, 21 months) with no significant complications or recurrence of symptoms. Of the 79 nerve decompressions, 77% had excellent recovery and 20% were judged to be good. Of 69 patients employed when treated, 60 resumed gainful employment, including 53 who returned to their regular jobs. Proximal radial compression neuropathies are uncommon but present with a basic constellation of symptoms and physical findings, and decompression can provide excellent relief of symptoms

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with laparoscopic nephrectomy and autotransplantation for the management of a variety of conditions with significant loss of healthy ureteral tissue or ureteral length. Renal autotransplantation has been described as an effective method for addressing this problem, avoiding the need for nephrectomy or complex ureteral replacement. In an effort to decrease the morbidity associated with traditional autotransplantation we elected to perform laparoscopic procurement of the kidney. METHODS: Four patients underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy using a transperitoneal four-port technique and subsequent autotransplantation into the iliac fossa for the treatment of proximal ureteral avulsion (2 patients), ureteral malignancy, and ureteral stricture. All patients had less than 5 cm of viable ureter. RESULTS: All procedures were performed without intraoperative complications. All renal scans on postoperative day 1 demonstrated good perfusion. None of the patients had a postoperative rise in serum creatinine. On postoperative day 1, the mean creatinine value was 0.95 mg/dL. Three patients had an uneventful postoperative course. One patient, however, had loss of the graft because of renal vein thrombosis on postoperative day 7. She was later found to have an undiagnosed thrombophilic disorder (decreased levels of antithrombin III) and to have a recent history of oral contraceptive use. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic nephrectomy with renal autotransplantation is a feasible minimally invasive alternative to treat patients who have significant ureteral loss. This approach avoids the need for an upper abdominal or flank incision, resulting in decreased morbidity. The initial follow-up studies indicated stable renal function. Additional long-term observation is currently under way

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of intracapsular tonsillectomy using low-temperature plasma excision for improving the quality of the postoperative experience and for treating obstructive symptoms through 12 months postoperatively. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study. SETTING: Multiple private or institutional otolaryngology clinics. PATIENTS: Fifty-five children (aged 3-12 years) with obstructive tonsillar hypertrophy. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned and blinded to undergo either intracapsular tonsillectomy using low-temperature plasma excision (n = 27) or total tonsillectomy using conventional electrosurgery (n = 28). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative data, 14-day recovery variables, and obstructive symptoms were prospectively collected through 12 months. RESULTS: During the first 14 days, significantly fewer children in the intracapsular group reported nausea (P = .01) or lost weight (P = .003). The intracapsular group had a significantly faster resolution of pain (P = .01), had an earlier return to a normal diet (P = .004), ceased taking pain medication sooner (P = .002), and returned to normal activity sooner (P = .04). Postoperatively, the intracapsular group had more residual tonsil tissue than the total tonsillectomy group (P = .002 for the 3- and 12-month visits). However, the incidence of recurring obstructive symptoms, pharyngitis, and antibiotic use was similar in both treatment groups during the 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative morbidity normally associated with traditional (total) tonsillectomy was significantly reduced after intracapsular tonsillectomy using low-temperature plasma excision. The residual tonsillar tissue associated with this technique was of no clinical consequence

This study examined 758 deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps for breast reconstruction, with respect to risk factors and associated complications. Risk factors that demonstrated significant association with any breast or abdominal complication included smoking (p = 0.0000), postreconstruction radiotherapy (p = 0.0000), and hypertension (p = 0.0370). Ninety-eight flaps (12.9 percent) developed fat necrosis. Associated risk factors were smoking (p = 0.0226) and postreconstruction radiotherapy (p = 0.0000). Interestingly, as the number of perforators increased, so did the incidence of fat necrosis. There were only 19 cases (2.5 percent) of partial flap loss and four cases (0.5 percent) of total flap loss. Patients with 45 flaps (5.9 percent) were returned to the operating room before the second-stage procedure. Patients with 29 flaps (3.8 percent) were returned to the operating room because of venous congestion. Venous congestion and any complication were observed to be statistically unrelated to the number of venous anastomoses. Overall, postoperative abdominal hernia or bulge occurred after only five reconstructions (0.7 percent). Complication rates in this large series were comparable to those in retrospective reviews of pedicle and free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps. Previous studies of the free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap described breast complication rates ranging from 8 to 13 percent and abdominal complication rates ranging from 0 to 82 percent. It was noted that, with experience in microsurgical techniques and perforator selection, the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap offers distinct advantages to patients, in terms of decreased donor-site morbidity and shorter recovery periods. Mastery of this flap provides reconstructive surgeons with more extensive options for the treatment of postmastectomy patients

Since 1997, the authors have instituted the use of custom-made helmets to correct craniofacial deformities associated with craniosynostosis following endoscopic-assisted craniectomies of the stenosed sutures in infants. This article presents their experience and results using helmet therapy in their patient population

CASE REPORT: We present the case of 2-year-old craniopagus twins who are in the process of undergoing a staged separation of their craniums. In addition, they will undergo a full calvarial vault remodeling to reconstruct the lacking skull and scalp tissue in each child. We elected to do a staged separation rather than a single marathon operation for various reasons, which we will detail in this report. DISCUSSION: The philosophy and surgical management of each step will be discussed along with the pros and cons behind the reasoning that was used. At the time of this report the children have undergone three of what are projected to be four stages of separation. Each of the stages has had unique characteristics and surgical judgments involved, and those will be reviewed. CONCLUSION: Successful separation of viable conjoined twins has been historically a great rarity. Successful separation of twins where both have come out of surgery without any neurological deficit remains a rare occurrence and in our mind the ultimate goal