Correction of the Aging Upper Third of the Face Using by Transpalpebral Approach

Aging changes on the upper third of the face include brow ptosis, glabellar furrowing and forehead transverse wrinkle caused by an imbalance of the forehead muscles. Surgical methods to correct these phenomena include forehead lift with a coronal incision, endoscopic access, and direct forehead skin excision. In response to a common need for cosmetic improvement in the brow-upper eyelid and a desire for minimal incisions for forehead rejuvenation, an approach through blepharoplasty incision had been developed. This approach has many advantages, such as fewer skin incision, less tissue mobilization and direct excision of the hyperactive depressor muscles. However, this approach is not suitable for those who have significant forehead wrinkle and ptosis. We used a combined subperiosteal approach for forehead lift and transection of the hyperactive corrugator and procerus muscles through blepharoplasty incision. This combined surgical technique is simple and effective to correct aging of the upper third of the face without the usual complication. We performed 10 cases of the transpalpebral approach for the correction of the upper third of the face from January 1997 to September 1998, following them up for from 3 to 6 months and obtained satisfactory results. We report our experiences with a review of the literature.

Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defect of Feet and Legs Using Alloderm

Variable methods have been using for reconstruction of soft tissue defect of feet and legs. Skin graft, local flap, and free flap have been using for this purpose. But, skin graft produced secondary contracture of recipient site and increased in donor site scarring. Local flap was limited its donor site and remained severe deformities of recipient site. Free flap was required prolonged operation time and secondary operation. Acelluar human dermal allograft, AlloDerm, was removed cellular elements of the epidermis and dermis. It was relatively immunologically inert. From August 1997 to April 1998, we have grafted acellular human dermal allograft with thin split-thickness skin graft on soft tissue defect of feet and legs in 7 cases. We concluded that cryopreserved acelluar human dermal allograft has been proposed as the solution to problems of skin graft, local flap, and free flap.

Endoscopically assisted reduction and rigid fixation of the zygomatic arch fracture

Bicoronal approach is adopted as an universal method for reduction and internal fixation of the fractured zygomatic arch in the treatment of complex zygomatic fracture. However bicoronal approach leaves many disadvantages, such as long incision, alopecia, prolonged edema, and paresthesia. Nowadays endoscopically assisted minimal invasive technique has been widespread not only for the aesthetic surgery, but also for the reconstructive surgical fields because of the benefits. We have been recently trying to apply endoscopic surgery to facial bone fracture surgery. Endoscopically assisted minimal invasive technique has been applied to 14 patients who admitted to Chosun university hospital from March 1996 to July 1997. We used 4 mm, 30' endoscope and two 1.5-2 cm temple incisions and a subciliary incision for approaching to the zygomatic arch. Protected drill bit and driver had access to fractured zygomatic arch though tiny(5 mm) stab incision over the zygomatic arch. We have been able to successfully reduce and make fixation of the fracture of zygomatic arch by using endoscopically assisted minimal invasive technique. Follow up for 3 months revealed good maintenance of the reduction. We think that application of the endoscopic technology to midfacial bone fracture will result in significant reduction in morbidity and improve postoperative results.

Clinical study for skin graft donor site after regional thigh blockade

In general, split thickness skin graft was done under general anesthesia. However, there was a difficulty to do general anesthesia in some cases due to poor general condition. The lateral cutaneous nerve block of the thigh(LCNBT) anesthesia the usual donor site of split-thickness skin graft in the thigh. Using 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, LCNBT was used thigh for harvesting split-thickness skin in 42 patients. Patients age ranged from 18 to 62 years with mean 49 years. The onset of full anesthesia took between 12 and 21 minutes. The area anesthetised ranged from 200 cm2to 940 cm2with mean 551 cm2. The duration of full anesthesia was from 6 to 16 hours. In 6 patients, LCNBT was compared with previous lidocaine local anesthesia and all patients preferred to do LCNBT. In our experience, LCNBT is a safe, and simple method for harvesting split-thickness from the thigh and LCNBT provided good postoperative analgesia.

RECONSTRUCTION OF AN ANAL SPHINCTER USING THE GLUTEUS MAXIMUS MUSCLE

Anal incontinence following pelvic trauma, surgery, or neurologic disorders has significant medical and social implication. Both Chetwood in 1902 and Bistom in 1944 utilized coccygeal origin portion of the gluteus maximus muscle for the anal sphincter reconstruction. The gluteus maximus muscle is a broad, fan-shaped muscle with a wide origin from the ilium sacrum and coccyx and a narrow insertion along the iliotibial band of the lateral femur. Its blood supply is from the inferior gluteal artery and its innervation is from L-5, S-1 roots by means of the inferior gluteal nerve Incisions are placed at the inferior border of the ischial tuberosity. Subcutaneous tunnels are created about the rectum and gluteal and perirectal incisions. Two overacting slings are being created Their opposing pull creates sphincter or valve effect about the distal rectum. We have experienced 2 cases of irregular, deep soft tissue defects of the perianal region requiring muscle coverage with the gluteus maximus muscle overlapping slings. We think the use of the gluteus maximus muscle is one of the most useful method for reconstruction of the anal sphincter mechanism.