Mandibular distraction osteogenesis in an infant with pierre robin sequence: Report of a case

Pierre Robin sequence as a symptom triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate results in upper airway obstruction and feeding problems. If mild, it is often managed in the prone position. When positional treatment fails, however, surgical intervention such as tongue-lip adhesion, tracheostomy, and mandibular distraction osteogenesis is mandatory to relieve airway obstruction. There has been growing interest in the application of distraction osteogenesis for the management of craniofacial abnormalities. The mandibular distraction osteogenesis to newborns may prevent the airway obstruction, decrease the potential tracheostomy, and reduce the likehood of orthognathic surgery after growth. We experienced an infant with Pierre Robin sequence who showed mandibular hypoplasia, glossoptosis, incomplete cleft palate, intermittent cyanos is, depression of the chest, and respiratory difficulty associated with airway obstruction. We treated the airway obstruction by tongue-lip adhesion at 2 weeks of age, and treated the mandibular retrognathism and depression of the chest byusing internal mandibular distraction osteogenesis at 7 month of age. The mandible moved forwardly, the upper airway space was enlarged, and the antero-posterior distance of the mandible was elongated after the mandibular distraction. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis may be a promising technique to avoid the need of tracheostomy and orthognathic surgery, and to correct airway obstruction in infants with congenital craniofacial malformation.

Tissue Reaction in Response to Augmentation of Soft Tissue Defects According to the Dermis Graft Materials in Rabbits

The augmentation of soft tissue defects is one of the critical problems in the oral and maxillofacial surgery. Various types of graft materials, both autologous and non-autologous, have been used for the augmentation of soft tissue in the facial region. However, it is not easy to choose an ideal material for soft tissue augmentation because each has its advantages and disadvantages. An ideal graft material should meet the following criteria : it should not leave a scar at the area from which it was taken; should have less likelihood of causing infection; should feel natural after implanted; and should be not absorbed. Among the materials meeting these criteria, human dermis and artificial dermis are commonly used for clinical purposes. The present study was aimed to investigate and compare the resorption rate and the histological change following the use of the autologous dermis, the human homogenous dermis Alloderm(R), and the artificial dermis Terudermis(R) to reconstruct the soft tissue defect. Twenty mature rabbits of either sex, weighing about 2 kg, were used. Each rabbit was transplanted with the autologous dermis, Alloderm(R), and Terudermis(R) size 1 x 1-cm at the space between the external abdominal oblique muscle and the external abdominal oblique fascia. They were then divided into 4 groups (n=5 each) according to the time elapsed after the surgery: 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The resorption rate was calculated by measuring the volume change before and after the transplantation, and H-E stain was preformed to observe the histological changes. The resorption rate after 8 weeks was 21.5% for the autologous dermis, 16.0% Alloderm(R), and 36.4% Terudermis(R), suggesting that Alloderm(R) is the most stable while Terudermis(R) is the most unstable. In microscopic examinations, the autologous dermis graft was surrounded by inflammatory cells and showed foreign body reactions. The epidermal inclusion cyst was observed in the autologous dermis graft. Terudermis(R) and Alloderm(R) demonstrated neovascularization and the progressive growth of new fibroblast. The results suggest that Terudermis(R) and Alloderm(R) can be availably for substituting the autologous dermis.

Histological and clinical study of artificial dermis implantation for restoration of soft tissue defects

The present study was aimed to compare the resorption rate and the histological change of the autogenous dermis and the artificial dermis (Terudermis(R).) after the transplantation, and to report the clinical results of the use of Terudermis(R). in order to restore the soft tissue defect. Twenty mature rabbits, weighing about 2 kg, were used for the experimental study. The autogenous dermis and the Terudermis(R). size 1 x 1 cm were transplanted to the space between the external abdominal oblique muscle and the external abdominal oblique fascia of the each rabbits. They were divided into 4 groups (n=5 each) and gathered at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the transplantation. The resorption rate was calculated, and H-E stain was preformed to observe the histological changes. The chart review of the 17 patients who received Terudermis(R). graft to the facial soft tissue defects was conducted for the clinical study. The resorption rate at 8 weeks after the transplantation was 21.5% for the autogenous dermis, and 36.4% Terudermis(R). In microscopic examinations, the infiltration of the inflammatory cells and the epidermal inclusion cyst were observed in the autogenous dermis graft. The neovascularization and the progressive growth of the new fibroblast were shown in the Terudermis(R). graft. In clinical data of 17 patients, the size of the grafted Terudermis(R). was from 1.5 cm2 to 7.5 cm2 (average 3.5 cm2). Follow-up ranged from 5 to 25 months. Fourteen patients with cleft palate demonstrated stability of the graft and unremarkable complications. But unstability of the graft and the partial relapse were observed in three patients received the vestibuloplasty. These results indicate that Terudermis(R). can be available substitute of autogenous dermis because of the stability about resorption, the histocompatibility, and the unremarkable clinical complications.

Bacteriologic features and antibiotic susceptibility in isolates from oral and maxillofacial infections

Oral and maxillofacial infections are most commonly odontogenic in origin. The present study was implemented for patients with oral and maxillofacial infections in order to determine what differences were present in cultured bacteria, depending upon the different types of infection. For the present study, the epidemiological characteristics, the state of infection, and the results of the pus culture and antibiotic susceptibility tests were analyzed for the 159 cases where pus culture tests were performed. The patients were treated at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Department of Chonnam National University Hospital during an 18-months period from March 2003 to August 2004. Among the total 159 pus culture specimens, bacteria were cultured in 111 cases (69.8%). In the 111 pus culture specimens, Streptococcus species, Neisseria species, and Staphylococcus species were cultured from 69 cases (51.1%), 21 cases (15.6%), and 15 cases (11.1%), respectively and were determined to be bacterial strains the predominant bacteria responsible for oral and maxillofacial infectious diseases. Twenty four cases (15.1%) among the 159 specimens showed mixed infections. The mostly isolated bacteria from each of the space abscess, dentoalveolar abscess, inflammatory cyst, and pericoronitis cases were the Viridans streptococci. There was little relevance between the type of infection and the type of cultured bacteria. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed a high level of susceptibility to teicoplanin(100%), vancomycin(100%), chloramphenicol(96.4%), ofloxacin(88.3%), imipenem(83.3%), erythromycin(82.5%) and a low susceptibility to cefazolin(40.0%), oxacillin(44.7%), ampicillin(49.4%), penicillin(51.1%). These results indicate that there was no significant difference among the cultured bacteria depending on the type of infections and their susceptibility to cephalosporin and penicillin G was low.

A modified endaural and neck approach to the parotid gland tumor

Generally we use the preauricular incision to access and remove the parotid gland tumor. But the preauricular approach has some complications such as damage of facial nerve and sensory nerve, Frey's syndrome, and postoperative scar. Especially, the postoperative scar can often cause an unesthetic result and mental stress in young patients. Therefore, if we avoid preauricular incision to be performed outside of tragus, the postoperative scar would be hardly remarkable, and patients would be satisfied cosmetically. We performed surgical excision using a modified endaural and neck approach in a 21-year-old female with a pleomorphic adenoma and 15-year-old male with a neurofibroma occured in the parotid gland. A new, modified endaural and neck approach is a combined method of the modified endaural incision by Starck et al and Gutierrez's neck extension. We obtained an adequate access and the cosmetically acceptable postsurgical scar. The postoperative scars were hidden in the external ear and the hairline. Moreover, except the neck dissection can this approach be applied to the surgery of temporomandibular joint as well as the parotid gland tumor.

Acute airway obstruction in an infant with treacher collins syndrome: Report of a case

Treacher Collins syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance. It shows a marked variability even in the same family. This syndrome is developmental defect affecting the branchial arches. It is not usually associated with acute respiratory distress, but has symptoms of microtia, hypoplastic zygomatic bones, hypoplastic mandibular rami, and bilateral coloboma. It usually requires an emergency operation immediately after the birth. We experienced an infant with Treacher Collins syndrome who showed retrognathia, glossoptosis, microtia, and cleft palate. Intermittent cyanosis, depression of the chest, respiratory difficulty associated with airway obstruction, and swallowing difficulty were also observed. To relieve severe upper airway obstruction caused by retrognathia and glossoptosis, we simultaneously performed tongue-lip adhesion and subperiosteal release of the floor of the mouth. The respiratory and swallowing difficulties were relieved and the tongue repositioned anteriorly. We report the present case with a review of the literature.

Neurocognitive Functions in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The differences of various neurocognitive functions, including attention, memory, motor function, and higher cognitive function were compared between PTSD patients and normal control subjects. Also, correlation with PTSD symptom severity and neurocognitive functions were evaluated between PTSD patients and normal control subjects. METHOD: We assessed the neurocognitive functions by computerized neurocognitive test(CNT) batteries. The visual continuous performance test(CPT) and digit span test, finger tapping test and Wisconsin card sorting test(WCST) were executed. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R) was used in the evaluation of the severity of PTSD. RESULT: The PTSD patients showed significantly impaired neurocognitive performance in all of the items, compared with normal control subjects. The relation between impairment in neurocognitive functions and symptom severity showed significant correlations. CONCLUSION: These results imply that PTSD patients have impaired neurocognitive functions concerning with specific brain areas, especially the frontal area. For the thorough evaluation of further neurocognitive functions, more detailed evaluation items of neurocognitive functions and brain imaging studies are necessary in the future study.