Cosmetic Concerns Related to the Posttraumatic Nose without Nasal Obstruction.

Because of its prominent position on the facial skeleton, the nose is commonly injured. Though significant trauma can result in nasal obstruction, there is also considerable concern for potential cosmetic deformity. Repairing traumatic deformities is complex and can involve all aspects of the nose, including the bony and cartilaginous framework as well as the soft tissue envelope. Trauma can result in deflection, asymmetry, and deformity of the bony nasal dorsum, midvault, and nasal tip. Any serious nasal trauma places patients at risk for complications that may include nasal septal hematoma, septal perforation, and possible cerebral spinal fluid leak. Unrecognized or untreated septal hematomas can result in cartilaginous septal necrosis followed by saddle nose deformity. Though damage to structural scaffolding is often the cause of cosmetic deformity following nasal trauma, the nasal soft tissue envelope is also commonly affected. This can result in lacerations, avulsions, and traumatic tattooing. The following will discuss the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of these cosmetic concerns relating to nasal trauma.

Techniques for rejuvenation of the neck platysma.

This article reviews evaluation and techniques for neck rejuvenation. It includes a detailed overview of cervical rhytidectomy and discusses the potential complications associated with surgical correction. A review of clinical outcomes in the literature is also included.

Morbidity and cost of odontogenic infections.

OBJECTIVE: Cost analysis of deep neck space infections from odontogenic origin and review of the morbidity of potentially preventable complications. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center and academic safety net hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients treated for deep neck space infections due to an odontogenic source between 2001 and 2010 were reviewed. Two hundred patients were included in the study. Ninety-eight patients required inpatient admission. Twelve percent of these patients had difficult airways, and 16% had at least 1 day in the intensive care unit. Cost data were available only for the later 3.5 years of the study period. RESULTS: The overall cost of treatment for these 71 individuals exceeded $1.1 million. CONCLUSION: The cost of treatment for odontogenic infections is staggering. Based on assumptions of the percentage of infections in the metropolitan area captured at Hennepin County Medical Center, extrapolation to the total national cost of inpatient care approaches $200 million annually. This study highlights the importance of access to medical and preventative dental care for the general population and demonstrates the cost benefit that could be achieved through prevention of disease and, therefore, avoidance of its complications.

Orthodromic temporalis tendon transfer: anatomical considerations.

OBJECTIVES: To define (1) at-risk structures during the orthodromic temporalis tendon transfer and (2) achievable tendon length without temporal releasing incisions or perioral lengthening materials. METHODS: Ten fresh cadavers provided 20 hemifaces for dissection. Measurements and photographic documentation were used to examine the parotid duct, masseteric artery, inferior alveolar nerve, internal maxillary artery, and mobilized tendon relative to adjacent landmarks. RESULTS: The parotid duct was found in a reproducible region posterior to the melolabial crease and inferior to a parotid duct reference line. The masseteric artery was found posterior to the posterior-most attachment of the tendon at its exit from the sigmoid notch (mean, 14.5 mm). The inferior alveolar nerve was found posterior to the anterior edge of the ascending ramus (mean, 18.3 mm). The internal maxillary artery coursed superiorly from posterior to anterior along the medial mandible near the coronoidectomy site. The tendon reached beyond the melolabial crease in 17 of 20 hemifaces (85%). CONCLUSIONS: The parotid duct reference line and the melolabial crease allow estimation of the parotid duct location. Anatomical relationships between the tendon, parotid duct, neurovasculature, and anatomical landmarks underscore the importance of deliberate soft-tissue retraction and subperiostial elevation to minimize injury. The tendon alone usually provides adequate length for orthodromic suspension.

Bilobed Zenker's diverticula.

A bilobed Zenker's diverticulum is an uncommon finding. Given the rarity of these bilobed pharyngeal pouches, their management can pose a clinical dilemma. We advocate transoral endoscopic division and stapling of the larger lobe as the management of choice for this clinical finding. We present 2 patients, each with a bilobed Zenker's diverticulum. To our knowledge, these 2 cases represent the first reported bilobed pharyngeal pouches treated successfully with division and stapling of only the larger lobe.