Comparison of Porous Polyethylene Sheet(Medpor(R)) with Titanium Dynamic Mesh in the Treatment of Blow Out Fracture

The records of the patients with orbital wall fracture were reviewed from March 1997 through February 2001 in the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Yeungnam university medical center. One hundred thirty nine patients with blow out fracture were repaired by using porous polyethylene(Medpor(R)) or titanium dynamic mesh. Surgical effect of titanium dynamic mesh was evaluated and compared with that of Medpor(R) in the reconstruction of orbital wall fracture after follow up period of six months. The incidence of the orbital wall fracture was more common in men than in women. The traffic accident was most common cause of the fracture and the most common combined fracture was nasal bone fracture. The sites of fractures were the orbital floor in 51 patients, the medial wall in 18 patients, and both the medial wall and floor in 38 patients. Medpor(R) is easy to handle, shape, contour and position. Titanium dynamic mesh is good device in that it has for good structural stability, excellent strength, high biocompatibility and can be fixed easily. In conclusion, Medpor(R) was suitable for local defect in small fracture and titanium dynamic mesh was suitable for large defect in compound fracture

Reconstruction of Alopecia by Scalp Expansion

Tissue expansion has been used for several decades in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Recently tissue expansion of the hair bearing scalp provides an excellent surgical option for the treatment of wide alopecia. During the period 1990 to 2001, 34 patients, 37 cases of wide alopecia with various causes were treated using tissue expansion. Choice of the size, shape, and the numbers of the expander was done by a senior author. The capsule of the expanded tissue remained intact and transposition flaps were use to redistribute expanded scalp. For three patients, serial expansion was performed to completely remove the remaining alopecia. Another patients with male pattern baldness were also successfully treated using tissue expansion technique. In conclusion, tissue expansion for alopecia is a simple, safe, and reliable method and provides excellent aesthetic results. It is the treatment of choice for wide alopecia due to burn, tumor excision, traffic accident and even for male pattern baldness.