Delay Phenomenon by Botulinum Toxin A in Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous (TRAM) Flap of Rat

Currently, delay procedures remain a reliable method of maximizing flap survival but the necessity of additional procedures is a persistent disadvantage. Botulinum toxin A (BTXA) is considered to exert the most powerful neuromuscular blockade. In this study, BTXA is used to demonstrate the usefulness of a chemical delay technique. Thirty rats were subdivided into three groups of 10. In the group 1(control), no procedure was performed before the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap elevation. In the group 2 (surgical delay), TRAM flaps were delayed surgically one week before formal elevation. And, in the group 3 (BTXA delay) rats, 4U BTXA was injected into the under surface of TRAM flaps two weeks before surgical elevation. The TRAM flaps were designed in rectangular shape, on the rat abdomen. On the seventh day after operation, the results were evaluated and compared in terms of flap survival area, vessel counts and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. The mean percentages of the flap survival area in group 2 (71.76+/-.86%) and group 3 (73.92+/-.70%) were significantly higher than those in group 1 (34.60+/-.14%) (p<0.05). The vessel counts of group 2 (13.90+/-.18) and group 3 (15.40+/-.88%) were significantly higher than those of group 1 (5.10+/-.20) (p<0.05). The VEGF expression is increased in two experimental groups than in the control group. In conclusion, the injection of BTXA could increase flap survival area in rat TRAM flap model, as likely as surgical delay. These results are thought to be made due to the effect of chemodenervation and secondary inflammation.

Surgical Treatment of Severe Gynecomastia Using The Horizontal Ellipse Method

Gynecomastia is enlargement of the male breast caused by parenchymal hypertrophy or a cutaneous distortion of breast skin covering or both. It can be classified by the breast size and severity of breast ptosis. If there is slight hypertrophy alone with no ptosis, then liposuction or subcutaneous mastectomy is usually sufficient. However severe gynecomastia, when hypertrophy accompanying with breast ptosis, is not enough to be corrected by liposuction or subcutaneous mastectomy, or both together. We cannot obtain a good cosmetic result by performing that method. The patient is a 18 year old man, having used steroid for 5 years from when he was five years old. He is slightly corpulent, BMI 33.9. And Simon's gynecomastia classification was grade 3. We used horizontal excision ellipse of the breast's redundant skin and deep excess tissue and a superior pedicle flap carrying the areola-nipple complex to its new site on the chest wall. We could get flat, male muscular-looking breast and symmetric areola-nipple complex position without hematoma, infection and nipple sensory loss. In treating severe gynecomastia, the horizontal excision ellipse method is good surgical technique that can draw good results in cosmetic appearance with little complication.

Anatomic Study of the Vessels of the Digital Nerves in the Fingers

PURPOSE: The vessels of peripheral nerves have been extensively studied since Breidenbach used vascularizd nerve grafts. Tayor and Pinel studied the course and distribution of the vessels of peripheral nerves. However, the vessels of digital nerves are still not well known. The objective of this study was to prove vessels of digital nerves and to investigate the pathway of that. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 patients and 2 fresh human cadavers were studied under the microscope and histologic sections under the light microscope. RESULTS: We found that digital nerves had own arterioles and venules as well as peripheral nerves. This small vessels of digital nerves paralleled the digital nerves or run in a spiral. Digital nerves were abundantly vascularized throught their length by a succession of vessels and by their repeated divisions and anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical implications of this results can be discussed in relation to the dissection of nerves, the possibility of vasculized nerve grafts.

A Case of Basal Cell Adenoma in the Parotid Gland

PURPOSE: Basal cell adenoma of the salivary gland is an uncommon type of monomorphic adenoma. The most frequent location is parotid gland. It usually appears as a firm, mobile and slow-growing mass. Originally the term "basal cell adenoma" is described as a benign salivary gland tumor comprised of uniform appearing basaloid cells which are arranged in solid, trabecular, tubular, and membranous patterns. But the myxoid and chondroid mesenchymal like component as seen in pleomorphic adenoma is lacking in basal cell adenoma. We report a case of basal cell adenoma of parotid gland with review of the literatures. METHODS: The 59-year-old female patient was referred to our department with a painless palpable mass in the left preauricular region for about 1 year. Movable and nontender subcutaneous mass was palpable. There was no evidence of cervical metastasis in computed tomography and ultrasonography. On fine needle aspiration cytology, pleomorphic adenoma was suspected. Under general anesthesia, superficial parotidectomy including tumor was performed. The biopsy result was basal cell adenoma. RESULTS: Long-term follow-up for 54 months showed favorable result without evidence of recurrence except for temporary facial nerve weakness right after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Basal cell adenoma is the third most frequent benign tumor of the salivary gland, following pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumor, although the incidence is low. The typical clinical feature of the basal cell adenoma is slowly growing, asymptomatic, and freely movable parotid mass. Basal cell adenoma should be also considered as a differential diagnosis of the parotid gland benign tumor.

Orbital Floor Reconstruction Using Endoscope and Selected Urethral Balloon Catheter

PURPOSE: Blow-out fractures can be reduced using various methods. The orbital reconstruction technique using a balloon under endoscopic control has advantages over other methods. However, this method has some problems too, such as postoperative follow-up, management of the balloon catheter, and reduction of the posterior orbital floor. Thus, we developed a simple, effective method for orbital floor reduction that involves molding and shaping the antral balloon catheter. METHODS: A 0, 30, or 70degrees, 4-mm endoscope was placed though a two-point, 5-mm maxillary antrostomy. The balloon catheter is placed directly at the orbital apex to reconstruct the anterior shelf(spherical shape), while it is turned in a U-shape towards the anterior maxilla for the posterior shelf(elliptical shape). Orbital floor defects, compound or comminuted fractures are reconstructed with alloplastic materials through an open lid incision under the endoscopic control. RESULTS: This technique was applied to ten patients with orbital floor fractures: five anterior shelf and five posterior shelf fracture, respectively. Four of the patients had zygomatico-orbital fractures, while the rest had isolated orbital floor fractures. Two patients were given porous polyethylene implants(Synpor(R)) and three underwent reconstruction with a resorbable mesh plate. No complication associated with this technique was identified. CONCLUSION: The freestyle placement and selection of a urinary balloon catheter under endoscopic control and the preoperative estimation of the volume enhanced the stabilization of the orbital contour. This method improves the adaptation of the orbital floor without the risk of injuring the surrounding orbital contents, dissecting blindly, or using sharp traction. One drawback of this method is the patient's discomfort from the catheter during treatment.