Discrepancy of the location of depression on the soft tissue and the bone in isolated zygomatic arch fracture

Background@#When performing reduction of zygomatic arch fractures, locating the inward portion of the fracture can be difficult. Therefore, this study investigated the discrepancy between the locations of the depression on the soft tissue and bone and sought to identify how to determine the inward portion of the fracture on the patient’s face. @*Methods@#We conducted a retrospective review of chart with isolated zygomatic arch fractures of type V in the Nam and Jung classification from March 2013 to February 2022. For consistent measurements, a reference point (RP), at the intersection between a vertical line passing through the end point of the root of the ear helix in the patient’s side-view photograph and a transverse line passing through the longest horizontal axis of the external meatus opening, was established. We then measured the distance between the RP and the soft tissue depression in a portrait and the bone depression on a computed tomography (CT) scan. The discrepancy between these distances was quantified. @*Results@#Among the patients with isolated zygomatic arch fractures, only those with a fully visible ear on a side-view photograph were included. Twenty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. There were four types of discrepancies in the location of the soft tissue depression compared to the bone depression: type I, forward and upward discrepancy (7.45 and 3.28 mm), type II, backward and upward (4.29 and 4.21 mm), type III, forward and downward (10.06 and 5.15 mm), and type IV, backward and downward (2.61 and 3.27 mm). @*Conclusion@#This study showed that discrepancy between the locations of the depressions on the soft tissue and bone exists in various directions. Therefore, applying the transverse and vertical distances measured from a bone image of the CT scan onto the patient’s face at the indicated RP will be helpful for predicting the reduction location.

Clinical characteristics of adolescent nasal bone fractures

Background@#There have been many reports of nasal bone fractures in adults, but there are few clinical reports of them in adolescents, although adolescence is the main growth period of the nasal bone. In addition, previous studies have tended to classify and describe child and adolescent nasal fractures in the same category. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical aspects of nasal fractures in adolescents, and to evaluate the characteristics of nasal fractures in the growth period. @*Methods@#Our institution’s database was reviewed to extract data on adolescent patients between the age of 13 to 18 who had isolated nasal bone fractures from March 2012 to February 2020. The study excluded patients with other facial fractures, previous facial fractures, or congenital deformities. @*Results@#This study included 243 boys and 26 girls. Interpersonal violence and sports-related accidents accounted for 85 and 79 cases, respectively. There were 128 frontal impact injuries and 132 lateral impact injuries, and 97 patients had accompanying septal fractures. An accompanying septal fracture was present in 36.06% of all patients, but in 51.20% of those who underwent surgery. @*Conclusion@#The prevalence of adolescent nasal fractures was significantly higher in boys, to a greater extent than observed for pediatric or adult fractures. The main causes of fractures were interpersonal violence and sports-related accidents. An explanation for these results is that adolescent boys are more prone to have violent accidents or companionship with active sports than other age or sex groups, leading to substantially more fractures.

Orbital floor fracture repair with implants: a retrospective study

Background@#Although prompt surgery after an orbital fracture is preferable, the actual timing of surgery in real-world settings varies. Therefore, this study investigated the outcomes of implant surgery for inferior orbital wall fractures by comparing three groups according to the time interval between the injury and surgery. @*Methods@#A retrospective review was conducted of patients’ medical charts and initial computed tomography images from 2009 to 2020. The time to treatment was chosen by patients or their guardians based on the patients’ comorbidities and the physician’s explanation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of surgery (group 1: 3–7 days, group 2: 8–14 days, group 3: 15 or more days). Data were collected on age, the time interval until surgery, the dimensions of the defect, the operation time, the follow-up period, and the postoperative paresthesia score (ranging from 0 to 10). The outcomes were evaluated using a 4-point scale: 4= good (no complications), 3 = fair (no subjective symptoms), 2 = poor (remaining paresthesia), and 1 = very poor (strabismus and/or enophthalmos). @*Results@#The study included 85 patients with unilateral fractures who underwent surgery from 3 to 93 days after injury. The overall score distribution of the surgical outcomes was as follows: good= 63, fair= 7, poor= 6, and very poor= 9. The three groups showed no significant differences in the transverse dimension of the injury (p= 0.110) or the anteroposterior dimension (p= 0.144). In groups 1, 2, and 3, the postoperative outcome scores were 3.84± 0.37, 3.63± 0.87, and 2.93± 1.33 (p= 0.083), and the percentage of patients with good outcomes was 84%, 81.25%, and 57.14%, respectively. @*Conclusion@#Performing surgery using an artificial implant within 2 weeks of the injury showed better outcomes and fewer postoperative complications than when treatment was delayed.

Comparison of postoperative outcomes between early and delayed surgery for pediatric nasal fractures

Background@#Pediatric nasal fractures, unlike adult nasal fractures, are treated surgically as early as 7 days after the initial trauma. However, in some cases, a week or more elapses before surgery, and few studies have investigated the consequences of delayed surgery for pediatric nasal fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures according to the time interval between the initial trauma and surgery. @*Methods@#The records of pediatric patients under 12 years old who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fracture from March 2012 to February 2020 were reviewed. The interval between trauma and surgery was divided into within 7 days (early reduction) and more than 7 days (delayed reduction). Postoperative results were classified into five grades (excellent, good, moderate, poor, and very poor) based on the degree of reduction shown on computed tomography. @*Results@#Ninety-eight patients were analyzed, of whom 51 underwent early reduction and 47 underwent delayed reduction. Forty-two (82.4%) of the 51 patients in the early reduction group showed excellent results, and nine (17.6%) showed good results. Thirty-nine (83.0%) of the 47 patients in the delayed reduction group showed excellent results and eight (17.0%) showed good results. No statistically significant difference in outcomes was found between the two groups (chi-square test p= 0.937). However, patients without septal injury were significantly more likely to have excellent postoperative outcomes (chi-square test p< 0.01). @*Conclusion@#No statistically significant difference was found in the outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures between the early and delayed reduction groups. Successful surgical results were found even in patients who received delayed reduction (more than 7 days after trauma).

Orbital floor fracture repair with implants: a retrospective study

Background@#Although prompt surgery after an orbital fracture is preferable, the actual timing of surgery in real-world settings varies. Therefore, this study investigated the outcomes of implant surgery for inferior orbital wall fractures by comparing three groups according to the time interval between the injury and surgery. @*Methods@#A retrospective review was conducted of patients’ medical charts and initial computed tomography images from 2009 to 2020. The time to treatment was chosen by patients or their guardians based on the patients’ comorbidities and the physician’s explanation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of surgery (group 1: 3–7 days, group 2: 8–14 days, group 3: 15 or more days). Data were collected on age, the time interval until surgery, the dimensions of the defect, the operation time, the follow-up period, and the postoperative paresthesia score (ranging from 0 to 10). The outcomes were evaluated using a 4-point scale: 4= good (no complications), 3 = fair (no subjective symptoms), 2 = poor (remaining paresthesia), and 1 = very poor (strabismus and/or enophthalmos). @*Results@#The study included 85 patients with unilateral fractures who underwent surgery from 3 to 93 days after injury. The overall score distribution of the surgical outcomes was as follows: good= 63, fair= 7, poor= 6, and very poor= 9. The three groups showed no significant differences in the transverse dimension of the injury (p= 0.110) or the anteroposterior dimension (p= 0.144). In groups 1, 2, and 3, the postoperative outcome scores were 3.84± 0.37, 3.63± 0.87, and 2.93± 1.33 (p= 0.083), and the percentage of patients with good outcomes was 84%, 81.25%, and 57.14%, respectively. @*Conclusion@#Performing surgery using an artificial implant within 2 weeks of the injury showed better outcomes and fewer postoperative complications than when treatment was delayed.

Comparison of postoperative outcomes between early and delayed surgery for pediatric nasal fractures

Background@#Pediatric nasal fractures, unlike adult nasal fractures, are treated surgically as early as 7 days after the initial trauma. However, in some cases, a week or more elapses before surgery, and few studies have investigated the consequences of delayed surgery for pediatric nasal fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures according to the time interval between the initial trauma and surgery. @*Methods@#The records of pediatric patients under 12 years old who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fracture from March 2012 to February 2020 were reviewed. The interval between trauma and surgery was divided into within 7 days (early reduction) and more than 7 days (delayed reduction). Postoperative results were classified into five grades (excellent, good, moderate, poor, and very poor) based on the degree of reduction shown on computed tomography. @*Results@#Ninety-eight patients were analyzed, of whom 51 underwent early reduction and 47 underwent delayed reduction. Forty-two (82.4%) of the 51 patients in the early reduction group showed excellent results, and nine (17.6%) showed good results. Thirty-nine (83.0%) of the 47 patients in the delayed reduction group showed excellent results and eight (17.0%) showed good results. No statistically significant difference in outcomes was found between the two groups (chi-square test p= 0.937). However, patients without septal injury were significantly more likely to have excellent postoperative outcomes (chi-square test p< 0.01). @*Conclusion@#No statistically significant difference was found in the outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures between the early and delayed reduction groups. Successful surgical results were found even in patients who received delayed reduction (more than 7 days after trauma).

Subeschar culture using a punch instrument in unstageable wounds

Background@#A patient’s overall condition sometimes does not allow for the complete removal of a dead eschar or injured slough in cases involving a pressure-injury skin lesion. This frequently occurs in clinical practice, particularly in bedridden and older patients receiving home care or intensive care. Even after debridement, it is also difficult to manage open exudative wounds in these patients. Nevertheless, when a mature or immature eschar is treated without proper debridement, liquefaction necrosis underneath the eschar or slough tends to reveal a large, open wound with infectious exudates. We hypothesized that if the presence of any bacteria under the eschar can be evaluated and the progression of the presumed infection of the subeschar can be halted or delayed without creating an open wound, the final wound can be small, shallow, and uninfected. @*Methods@#Using a punch instrument, we performed 34 viable subeschar tissue cultures with a secure junction between the eschar and the normal skin. @*Results@#The bacterial study had 29 positive results. Based on these results and the patient’s status, appropriate antibiotics could be selected and administered. The use of suitable antibiotics led to relatively shallow and small exposed wounds. @*Conclusions@#This procedure could be used to detect potentially pathogenic bacteria hidden under black or yellow eschars. Since subeschar infections are often accompanied by multidrug-resistant bacteria, the early detection of hidden infections and the use of appropriate antibiotics are expected to be helpful to patients.

Bone remodeling after conservative treatment of nasal bone fracture in pediatric patients

Background@#The standard treatment of nasal bone fractures in pediatric patients is closed reduction. Conservative treatment is sometimes performed, but poses a risk of nasal deformity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of bone remodeling in pediatric nasal fractures. @*Methods@#Information was extracted from the medical records of patients under 12 years of age who received conservative treatment for a nasal bone fracture and underwent follow-up computed tomography (CT) examinations. The initial fracture and its outcomes over time were graded as excellent, good, or fair according to the malalignment, displacement, or irregularity of the fractured segments. The outcomes of remodeling were evaluated through changes in the grade of the fracture between initial and subsequent CT scans. @*Results@#The review identified 16 patients between March 2015 and December 2019. Their mean age was 6.2 years, and the average follow-up period was 4.9 months. Three of the five patients with a plane I frontal impact showed improved outcomes of remodeling from good to excellent, and the remaining two patients, improved from fair to good. Eight of the 11 patients with plane I lateral impacts showed improved outcomes, from good to excellent, while one patient, improved from fair to good, one patient, improved from fair to excellent, and one patient showed no interval changes. @*Conclusion@#In 15 of these 16 patients with non-severe fractures, the bony contour improved through remodeling, without surgical intervention. Therefore, we suggest that conservative treatment is a feasible option for mild pediatric nasal fractures.

Comparison of eye measurements between young Korean women with inborn double eyelids and those with single eyelids

Background@#Eye measurements in Koreans have been studied extensively, but researchers have reported widely differing values, even for the same parameters. These discrepancies are likely due to inconsistencies in the proportions of subjects with double eyelids included in their studies. We retrospectively studied eye measurements according to the presence or absence of double eyelids, and compared the results to those of previous studies. @*Methods@#We conducted anthropometric measurements of eyes in young (20–29 years) Korean women with no congenital malformation, trauma, or surgery of the eyelids. The participants were dichotomized according to the presence of double eyelids, resulting in 116 eyes with single eyelids and 124 with double eyelids. We measured the palpebral fissure length (PFL), palpebral fissure height (PFH), margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1), intercanthal distance (ICD), interpupillary distance (IPD), outer canthal distance (OCD), and inclination of the palpebral fissure in each eye. @*Results@#The mean PFL was 24.1 mm in the single-eyelid group and 25.5 mm in the double-eyelid group. The other mean values for the two groups were as follows: PFH, 8.0 mm and 9.9 mm, respectively; MRD1, 2.8 mm and 4.1 mm, respectively; IPD, 61.6 mm and 62.8 mm, respectively; and OCD, 85.3 mm and 87.9 mm, respectively. @*Conclusions@#In the double-eyelid group, the horizontal and vertical length of the eye was greater than in the single-eyelid group, and the mean values of IPD, OCD, PFL, PFH, and MRD1 were statistically significantly higher.

Comparison of outcomes between simultaneous fat grafting and filler injection with transconjunctival fat removal for improvement of the lower eyelid contour

Background@#Mid-facial aging is associated with various changes, particularly around the lower eyelid, where these changes manifest as herniation of orbital fat, sagging of soft tissue around the zygoma, and the tear trough deformity. We improved the lower eyelid contour via transconjunctival orbital fat removal and the use of either an autologous fat graft or filler injection. @*Methods@#Between June 2016 and July 2018, 100 patients aged 23–48 years underwent autologous fat grafts (group A: 50 patients, 100 eyes) or filler injections (group B: 50 patients, 100 eyes). The mean follow-up period was approximately 3 months. The results of surgery were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) to assess patient satisfaction and with preoperative and postoperative scores determined by three plastic surgeons according to the grading system for lower eyelid contour deformity devised by Barton et al. @*Results@#The mean VAS score was 8.48 in group A and 8.92 in group B, but the difference was not statistically significant. The percentage of postoperative improvement from preoperative grade I deformity to grade 0 was 97.7% in group A and 100% in group B. The percentage of improvement from preoperative grade II deformity to grade 0 was 96.0% in group A and 96.1% in group B, and the percentage of improvement from grade III deformity to grade 0 in was 66.7% in group A and 75% in group B. @*Conclusions@#Filler injection can be an alternative to fat grafting for improvement of the lower eyelid contour after transconjunctival orbital fat removal.

Frontalis Transfer and Closed Silicone Rod Frontalis Suspension

BACKGROUND: Improvements in the degree of marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1) were compared before and after use of the frontalis transfer (FT) method and closed silicone rod frontalis suspension surgery (SS) for severe blepharoptosis under general or local anesthesia with or without minimal sedation. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and photographs of 76 patients who had visited our institute between 2006 and 2013 because of severe blepharoptosis with poor levator function and treated by the same senior doctor. RESULTS: In total, 104 eyes (63 patients) were included after applying exclusion criteria; 71 eyes (44 patients) were corrected using FT, and 33 eyes (19 patients) were corrected using the frontalis sling method with a silicone rod. Among the general FT, local FT, general SS, and local SS groups, the mean preoperative MRD1 was not significantly different. Postoperative MRD1 was highest in the local FT group. CONCLUSIONS: Both FT and SS positively increased MRD1, regardless of the anesthesia used; however, the change in MRD1 of the general SS group was the lowest (1.11+/-0.848 mm). Further, general FT, local FT, and local SS groups had an approximate 2 mm or greater increase in the differences between postoperative and preoperative MRD1. Specifically, the local FT group had a definite positive correlation with postoperative MRD1.

Postoperative Contralateral Blepharoptosis in Patients with Unilateral Blepharoptosis and Negative Hering's Law Dependence Test

BACKGROUND: Correction of unilateral blepharoptosis is unexpectedly difficult because healthy eye is often affected by Hering's law. METHODS: We measured changes of marginal reflex distance (MRD1) on the unaffected eyelids between preoperative and 3-month postoperative photographs after ptosis correction. This study analyzed 134 unilateral blepharoptosis patients with ptosis correction from February 2002 to February 2011. Fifty patients among them were negative in Hering's law dependence test. From the preoperative and postoperative photographs the MRD1 of unaffected upper eyelids were measured and adjusted with the average pupil diameter of Koreans. Mean age was 34.4 and male was 30 and female was 20. Average follow-up periods were 14 months. RESULTS: Thirteenth unaffected eyes (26%) showed decreased MRD1, and 3 patients (6%) showed decreased MRD1 value over 1.0 mm. Then 3 patients needed additional operations for correction of preoperatively unaffected but ptotic eyelids. CONCLUSION: There were no meaningful data statistically in the value of MRD1 in every unaffected eye of the patients and in the difference between preoperative and postoperative MRD1 of groups divided according to severity, causes, and types of operation.

Clinical Application of Fat Tissue Wraparound Splint after Facial Nerve Repair

Facial deformity after nerve injury changes ones' social life. We experienced a few patients with healthy early recovery of muscle contraction after the operation with soft tissue wraparound splint. Under general anesthesia, exploration to find as many injured nerve stumps with x 2.5 loopes was undertaken at first. Interfascicular repair was done with minimal tension by 10-0 nylon under a microscope, and the suture site was sealed by approximating the surrounding fat flaps. This conjoined adipose tissue flap was a splint as a wraparound environment to reduce the tension in the coaptation site, and to increase the relative concentration of releasing neurotrophic factors by surrounding it. A 45-year-old man fell down in a drunken state and had deep laceration by broken flowerpot fragments with facial muscle weakness on the right cheek. His injured mandibular branches of the facial nerve were found. A 31-year-old female suffered from motionlessnesss of frontalis muscle after a traffic accident. She had four frontal branches injured. The man had his cheek with motion after seven days, and the woman two months after the operation. The nerve conduction test of the woman showed normalized values. Facial nerve repair surrounded by adipose tissue wraparound splint can make the recovery time relatively short.

Tubularized Penile-Flap Urethroplasty Using a Fasciocutaneous Random Pedicled Flap for Recurrent Anterior Urethral Stricture

This report describes the use of a tubularized random flap for the curative treatment of recurrent anterior urethral stricture. Under the condition of pendulous lithotomy and suprapubic cystostomy, the urethral stricture was removed via a midline ventral penile incision followed by elevation of the flap and insertion of an 18-Fr catheter. Subcutaneous buried interrupted sutures were used to reapproximate the waterproof tubularized neourethra and to coapt with the neourethra and each stump of the urethra, first proximally and then distally. The defect of the penile shaft was covered by advancement of the surrounding scrotal flap. The indwelling catheter was maintained for 21 days. A 9 month postoperative cystoscopy showed no flap necrosis, no mechanical stricture, and no hair growth on the lumen of the neourethra. The patient showed no voiding discomfort 6 months after the operation. The advantages of this procedure are the lack of need for microsurgery, shortening of admission, the use of only spinal anesthesia (no general anesthesia), and a relatively short operative time. The tubularized unilateral penile fasciocutaneous flap should be considered an option for initial flap urethroplasty as a curative technique.

The Accuracy Rate in Comprehension of Aspects of Nasal Bone Fracture Based on Simple X-ray and 2D CT Compared with 3D Image

PURPOSE: The nasal bone fracture is known as the most common facial fracture, with the postoperative results and the patient's satisfaction known to be lower than other facial fractures. The patient's satisfaction is firstly related to the accurate comprehension of the spatial relationship in the fractured nasal bone and secondly to the accurate reduction based on accurate comprehension. The aim of this study is to evaluate the objective usefulness of the three-dimensional (3D) imaging. METHODS: The survey was conducted on 10 randomly selected cases of nasal bone fractures among the 46 cases with 3D computed tomography (CT) during the past one year. It was requested upon 4 plastic residents and 4 plastic surgeons to draw 3D aspect of fractured nasal bone directly on the printed photos of cadaver nasal bone, based on simple X-ray and twodimensional (2D) CT. They were compared with the real fractured nasal bone aspects based on the 3D image and marked the difference in the 10-point scale of 0 to 10. RESULTS: The average score of the 4 residents was 1.62 and that of the 4 surgeons was 4.47 out of 10 by simple X-ray. The average score of the 4 residents was 5.67 and that of the 4 surgeons was 7.25 out of 10 by 2D CT. CONCLUSION: It was surmised that the precise analysis and accurate comprehension of the spatial relationship of the fractured nasal bone using the 3D image, as based on the 2D CT images, can produce more favorable satisfaction levels in the patients.

Wound Healing Effect of Bacterial Synthesized Cellulose on Full Thickness Skin Defect in the Rat

PURPOSE: Cellulose is a natural substance from plants or bacteria. It is known that bacterial synthesized cellulose has an effect of wound healing. The aim of this study is to show the effect of bacterial synthesized cellulose from citrus on wound healing. METHODS: Three full-thickness skin defects were made on the back of Sprague-Dawley rats. Three wounds were treated by vaseline gauze(Group V), Algisite M(R)(Group A) and bacterial synthesized cellulose from citrus(Group C) was used for dressing on skin defect on rats. We analyzed the gross, histological and biochemistry finding. RESULTS: Group C showed more decrease of wound size compared to Group V(33% versus 7.2#) after 14 days. The histologic findings revealed Group C and Group A preceed the process of wound healing rather than Group V(More rapid collagen deposition and neovascularization and reduced inflammation). Also, the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta1 were increased in the Group C and Group A compared with the Group V in 7 days. VEGF and TGF-beta1 expression were decreased in the Group C and Group A in 14 days, however Group V was not decreased at 14 day because of delayed wound healing process. CONCLUSION: Bacterial synthesized cellulose from citrus affects wound healing by reducing the inflammatory stage. And stimulates wound contracture by the deposition of extracellular matrix, thus preventing the formation of chronic wounds.

Easy Reproducible Tie-over Dressing using Silastic(R) Drainage

PURPOSE: Tie-over dressing is widely used to secure skin grafting on face, body, or extremities. It can be a rather complicated task and is not easy to make compressive dressing again if performed in a conventional method. So, we hereby introduce an easy reproducible tie over dressing method. METHODS: After completing the skin graft, Cut the silastic drainage longitudinally in half and spread to the grafted skin margin. Drainage is fixed by using the stapes or sutures. A fluffy gauze bolus dressing is placed over a furacin impregnated gauze and wrapped around. After suturing the distal margin of silastics with opposite side using the silk thread either 5-0 or 3-0, knot of suturing, which is pressed down against the dressing while the threads are tightened, is made into center of each sides. RESULTS: It can make dressing again after observing the grafted skin, and it can also make pressure on the grafted area evenly until the grafted skin is taken. CONCLUSION: This dressing method makes the surgeons and patients comfortable. To surgeons, it provides more rapid and easier way to do dressing, and to patients, it eliminates pain caused by redressing.

Current Trends of Reconstructive Surgery for the 173 Cases of Korean Duplicated Thumbs Based on the Iowa System

PURPOSE: To report the current trends of Korean duplicated thumbs and their reconstructive surgery based on Iowa system performed during the last five years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed retrospective review of all (164) patients who had performed operations between 2003 and 2007. Out of all, 109 were male and 55 were female. The age at the time of surgery ranged from six months to 46 years. Data analysis was done by using information from preoperative radiographs and patients'chart including operative records, etc. RESULTS: Wassel type IV was the most common one, and type II was the next. The thumbs were involved as follows: bilateral in nine patients; right, 100; left, 55. In right duplicated thumb, males had about 2.45 more times than females. Eighty five percent of all were 24 months or less: their average body weight was 2.72 kg; average body weight at surgery, 9.07 kg (7.7~10.3 kg); average age at surgery, 9.98months (6~19months). In age distribution of their parents, each average age of fathers and mothers was 34.3 and 32.5 years old. And 10.1 percent of all had combined anomalies. Though there could be some discrimination between radiological types and intraoperative findings on cartilaginous epiphyseal portions, surgical procedures were simple ablation, central resection followed by reconstruction, and combination with radial remnant tissue portions after resection of radial extradigital bone through preoperative findings including radiographs based on Iowa system. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical procedures for duplicated thumb are not ablation but reconstruction. At the appropriate time and optimal procedures are needed for satisfactory postoperative results.

Analysis of Postoperative Complications in Blepharoptosis

PURPOSE: Many researches about various surgical method for blepharoptosis have already been introduced. But researches for complications after blepharoptosis correction is relatively insufficient. So, this study was performed to recognize common complications that arise depending on the severity of blepharoptosis, levator function and surgical method. METHODS: 250 patients who have undergone surgical treatment for blepharoptosis from 1987 to 2006 were analyzed in this study. Patients were categorized according to severity of blepharoptosis, levator function and surgical method that has been used. Complications after blepharoptosis correction were analyzed. RESULT: There occurred complications in 64 patients. The specifics are as following; undercorrection 22, asymmetry 13, overcorrection 12, lagophthalmos 4, abnormal eyelid contour 4, exposure keratitis 3, ectropion 2, inclusion cyst 2, infection 1 and conjunctival prolapse 1. Among above patients, 3 patients had two kinds of complications. 21 patients underwent secondary surgery due to complication. CONCLUSION: Evaluating the outcomes of the secondary surgery, the early correction was better than the late correction. The most of the complications were recovered through conservative and surgical treatments. The most of the complications (47 patients) were undercorrection, asymmetry, overcorrection and took 73.4% of the total complications. As the blepharoptosis became severe or levator function became poorer, the rate of complications became higher. According to the operation methods, most of the complications occurred in levator operation, frontalis transfer and OOM flap.

Replantation of Two Fingers Preserved in Soju: A Case Report

We experienced a case of 49-year-old male patient with amputated two fingers preserved in Soju (Korean traditional liquor, a kind of alcoholic beverages). The amputation level of the two fingers was at the distal interphalangeal joint. The Soju was not an adequate physiologic solution for preserving the amputated tissues. Even though arterial anastomosis was successful, there was no venous drainage visible in the operative field. On the first day after the initial operation, we succeeded in the anastomosis of one vein in one of the two amputated fingers. This was 12 hours after arterial anastomosis was carried out. But no venous dranage was visible in the other finger. In spite of a salvage procedure sustained with external bleeding for 7 days, this replanted fingertip eventually fell into necrosis.