A Perifascial Areolar Tissue Graft With Topical Administration of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor for Treatment of Complex Wounds With Exposed Tendons and/or Bones.

The management of wounds with tendon and/or bone exposure is challenging because of the insufficient blood supply to the wound bed. We describe our experience with 19 patients using a perifascial areolar tissue (PAT) graft with topical administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the treatment of complex wounds with exposed tendons and/or bones in the extremities. Using a PAT graft is minimally invasive and technically easy, and the donor site is relatively preserved. However, PAT grafts for the treatment of a complex wound with large areas of exposed tendons and/or bones have sometimes failed to survive because of insufficient vascularization of the wound bed. Therefore, topical administration of bFGF, which promotes angiogenesis, was added to the graft. All grafts showed good graft survival and successfully covered the tendons and bones. Topical administration of bFGF accelerated vascularization in the PAT graft and facilitated wound healing by increasing the blood supply to the wound bed and achieved success with the PAT graft. In conclusion, using a PAT graft with topical administration of bFGF is a suitable option for the treatment of complex wounds with a large proportion of exposed tendons and/or bones. With minimal damage to the tissues near the wound, the PAT graft can be a useful option for limb salvage and could become a valuable tool for reconstructive surgeons.

Perifascial areolar tissue grafting for treating syndactyly with bone fusion in patients with Apert syndrome.

Complete syndactyly with bone fusion in patients with Apert syndrome was treated using perifascial areolar tissue (PAT) grafts via a two-stage surgery (i.e. bone separation using inter-bone PAT graft insertion followed by web separation and reconstruction with full-thickness skin grafts). This technique is easy and created nail folds for fingertips.

Correction of Late Posttraumatic Enophthalmos Using an Antral Balloon.

Enophthalmos is the posterior displacement of the ocular globe within the bony orbit. Correction of late posttraumatic enophthalmos is one of the most challenging surgical procedures. We have performed a corrective procedure for late enophthalmos using an antral balloon, with or without minimal bone grafting. All orbital contents were separated from the bone fragments, infraorbital nerve, and mucosa of the maxillary antrum. The remaining orbital floor was fractured by the surgeon's digital pressure from the maxillary antrum. The antral balloon was placed in the maxillary antrum and inflated under direct vision from inside the orbit. After a consolidation period, the patient underwent antral balloon removal. A total of 5 patients underwent repair of late enophthalmos using this antral balloon technique. The median time from initial injury was 14 months (range, 6-90 months). The median antral balloon placement duration was 76 days (range, 53-106 days). Satisfactory symmetries were achieved in 4 patients. Mild residual enophthalmos remained in 1 patient, who had an orbital framework deformity and was missing the entire orbital bony floor preoperatively and who required simultaneous bone grafting. The ideal indication for our technique was the need for orbital floor reconstruction, without an orbital framework deformity. This technique could avoid autogenous bone grafting or permanent alloplastic implantation, which may cause a foreign body reaction, chronic inflammation, and migration. We believe that our new technique is one of the least invasive corrective procedures for late posttraumatic enophthalmos.

Repair of orbital fracture: the antral balloon with implantable reservoir technique.

The antral balloon technique is a useful procedure for the treatment of orbital fracture. Its advantages include being able to apply it without any donor-site morbidity. However, the saline injection catheter, which is inserted nasally from the natural ostium, sometimes causes discomfort. We present our new antral balloon technique with an implantable reservoir dome. This technique did not cause patient discomfort because no saline injection catheter was inserted nasally. It contributed to long-term placement of the antral balloon. Of 30 patients, satisfactory symmetries were achieved in 27 patients and the others required subsequent calvarial bone grafting for correction because of residual enophthalmos.

Three-dimensional computed tomography venography as a guide for cranioplasty in parietal cephalocele.

We present cranioplasty for a patient who underwent encephalocele surgery during infancy. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography venography showed the skull defect and abnormal running of the superior sagittal sinus in simultaneous images. Using computed tomography venography images as a guide, we could safely harvest full-thickness calvarial bone from the contralateral side of the superior sagittal sinus.

Intraoperative acquired pressure ulcer on lower lip: a complication of rhinoplasty.

Device-related pressure ulcers are not rare. However, few studies have reported pressure ulcers of the lower lip. We encountered 2 patients with an intraoperative pressure ulcer on the lower lip caused by an endotracheal tube during rhinoplasty. A 46-year-old man showed a deviated nose and nasal obstruction. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. The surgery time was 270 minutes. A 23-year-old man also showed a deviated nose and nasal obstruction. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia in the same fashion. The surgery time was 273 minutes. A preformed endotracheal tube was inserted and positioned over the mandible and secured with polyurethane film intraoperatively. Both patients had pressure ulcers on their lower lip. One showed a slightly visible scar. Care must be taken to avoid ulcers of the lower lip in rhinoplasty patients.