Essential Surgical Anatomy for Facelift.

It is crucial for a facelift surgeon to have a comprehensive understanding of ageing-related changes on the volume, elasticity, and relative position of various facial tissues and layers. These changes lead to an alteration in the surface topography, contour, and ultimately shape of the face. The depressions and sagging of tissues created as a result of ageing then has a bearing on one's perceived age. This article describes the various layers of the face and neck affected by ageing. The fat compartments, superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), potential facial spaces, facial ligaments, and facial nerve are discussed in detail. Safe and effective execution of facelift requires a thorough understanding of the intricate relationship between the various layers of face and neck, in particular the path of facial nerve, as it negotiates between these layers. The emphasis of this article is on integrating this knowledge to generate practical tips for safe dissection, effective tissue movement, and repositioning during various type of facelift procedures.

Computed Tomography Evaluation of Nasal Dimensions among Different Singaporean Ethnicities.

Osteotomies in rhinoplasty are performed to correct deformities in nasal contour. The size of osteotome used is dictated by the thickness of the bony nasal pyramid along the osteotomy route. The aim of this study is to determine whether nasal bony dimensions differ between different ethnic groups in Singapore. Randomly selected patients' computed tomography (CT) scans of the face performed between the years 2010 to 2013 in our institution (Khoo Teck Puat Hospital) were evaluated. The setting was a tertiary government hospital. CT images of 309 patients (233 Chinese [147 males, 86 females], 32 Malays [16 males, 16 females], and 44 Indians [33 males, 11 females]) were evaluated. Anthropomorphic measurements of the nasal bone along the track of the lateral, medial, and intermediate osteotomies, as well as the nasal bone length and pyriform aperture width were measured on the CT images by two independent observers. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. There was no significant difference between the nasal pyramid bone thickness between different ethnicities along the osteotomy tracks (p > 0.05; degrees of freedom [df] = 2). However, there was a significant difference between males and females of the same ethnicity at the low level of the lateral osteotomy (p = 0.003) and the midlevel (p = 0.002) and high-level (p = 0.004) of the intermediate osteotomy. There was a statistically significant difference in nasal pyramid length (p < 0.05, df = 2) and pyriform aperture width (p < 0.05, df = 2) among the races and between the genders (p < 0.05). The mean difference in nasal pyramid length of 2.54 mm and pyriform aperture width of 1.89 mm was particularly significant between the Chinese and the Indians. Gender and ethnic differences in nasal bony dimensions should be considered in surgical planning for rhinoplasty.

Lengthening of the Asian Nose.

The Asian nose has its unique morphology and forms a significant proportion of noses treated by the rhinoplasty surgeon not only in Asia but also in other countries where the Asian diaspora resides. The anatomical features and dimensions of the Asian nose differ from noses of persons of African, Caucasian, Indian, and Middle Eastern origins, poses its own challenges, and warrants a unique set of techniques for its aesthetic improvement. In this article, we present an overview of the approach to the lengthening of the Asian nose, drawing from our own experience with managing the Asian nose and referencing the published literature on the subject.

Intricacies of Upper Blepharoplasty in Asian Burden Lids.

Differences between Oriental and Caucasian eyelids have been explained in great detail in several reports in the past. The purpose of this article is to discuss the functional aspects of Asian double fold upper blepharoplasty and to present techniques that help to improve both the functional and cosmetic outcomes and satisfaction after surgery. The eyes of Asians are relatively small with thick skin in the eyelids and periorbital area. They typically lack the upper eyelid crease (creating the so-called double eyelid) due to burden factors like thick skin, hypertrophied orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM), submuscular fibroadipose tissue, thick orbital septum, abundant preaponeurotic fat, and lower positioned transverse ligament. Asian eyes may also have a superior visual field defect due to skin overriding the upper lid margin (skin-OOM-fat complex slide down). These burden factors result in the eyelashes appearing short and becoming misdirected and pressed toward the globe, causing functional discomfort. As a compensatory mechanism, Asian people tend to engage the frontalis muscle to lift the eyebrow to help them open their eyes. Along with aesthetic enhancement, double-eyelid surgery in Asian burden lids can improve the functional deficiencies helping the patients to open the eyes more easily. In addition, treatment of the Mongolian fold (medial epicanthal fold), caused by medial hypertrophy of preseptal OOM, augments the surgical results. In this report, we present the appropriate preoperative assessment, surgical technique, and postoperative care that should be employed to achieve consistently good functional and aesthetic outcomes in these patients.

Xanthelasma Palpebrarum: More than Meets the Eye.

Xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is the most common form of cutaneous xanthomata, and is important aesthetically, because of its close relation to the eyes, as well as medically for its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD). To provide avant-garde review discussing the various aspects of XP, including its aetio-pathogenesis and various treatment modalities. A structured Pubmed and Medline were searched for relevant articles. The finding of recent research has strongly espoused the link between XP and CVD, and mechanisms have been suggested for its formation. The new technologies have led to a multitude of treatment options for XP. XP is a multi-faceted entity; other than simple treatment of the cosmetic aspect of the disease, one must be cognizant of its cardiovascular implications.

HACE1 deficiency causes an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The genetic aetiology of neurodevelopmental defects is extremely diverse, and the lack of distinctive phenotypic features means that genetic criteria are often required for accurate diagnostic classification. We aimed to identify the causative genetic lesions in two families in which eight affected individuals displayed variable learning disability, spasticity and abnormal gait. METHODS: Autosomal recessive inheritance was suggested by consanguinity in one family and by sibling recurrences with normal parents in the second. Autozygosity mapping and exome sequencing, respectively, were used to identify the causative gene. RESULTS: In both families, biallelic loss-of-function mutations in HACE1 were identified. HACE1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates the activity of cellular GTPases, including Rac1 and members of the Rab family. In the consanguineous family, a homozygous mutation p.R219* predicted a truncated protein entirely lacking its catalytic domain. In the other family, compound heterozygosity for nonsense mutation p.R748* and a 20-nt insertion interrupting the catalytic homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl terminus (HECT) domain was present; western blot analysis of patient cells revealed an absence of detectable HACE1 protein. CONCLUSION: HACE1 mutations underlie a new autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous studies have implicated HACE1 as a tumour suppressor gene; however, since cancer predisposition was not observed either in homozygous or heterozygous mutation carriers, this concept may require re-evaluation.

Cyanoacrylate ("superglue") injury to the nasal cavity: case report and a proposed management algorithm.

We report the case of a deliberate application of cyanoacrylate adhesive (commonly called "superglue") to the nose of a 9-year-old boy during a fight. The glue was successfully removed under general anesthesia without causing trauma to the nasal mucosa. To the best of our knowledge, only 1 other case of cyanoacrylate injury to the nasal cavity has been published in the literature. We also provide an algorithm to guide clinicians in the future management of this unusual circumstance.

Skull base infection presenting with multiple lower cranial nerve palsies.

Diseases of the temporal bone causing lower cranial nerve palsies are uncommon. In the presence of bony erosion, they are highly suggestive of a malignant process. However, when there is a clear history of otitis externa in an immunocompromised or diabetic patient, a diagnosis of osteomyelitis and secondary inflammatory mass should be considered. We report 4 separate cases of infective skull base lesions causing multiple lower cranial nerve palsies in elderly patients who were not immunocompromised or diabetic, highlighting that this condition is not exclusive to this population.

Mutations in 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase cause primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy.

Digital clubbing, recognized by Hippocrates in the fifth century BC, is the outward hallmark of pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, a clinical constellation that develops secondary to various acquired diseases, especially intrathoracic neoplasm. The pathogenesis of clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy has hitherto been poorly understood, but a clinically indistinguishable primary (idiopathic) form of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO) is recognized. This familial disorder can cause diagnostic confusion, as well as significant disability. By autozygosity methods, we mapped PHO to chromosome 4q33-q34 and identified mutations in HPGD, encoding 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase, the main enzyme of prostaglandin degradation. Homozygous individuals develop PHO secondary to chronically elevated prostaglandin E(2) levels. Heterozygous relatives also show milder biochemical and clinical manifestations. These findings not only suggest therapies for PHO, but also imply that clubbing secondary to other pathologies may be prostaglandin mediated. Testing for HPGD mutations and biochemical testing for HPGD deficiency in patients with unexplained clubbing might help to obviate extensive searches for occult pathology.

Evaluation of patient benefit from nasal septal surgery for nasal obstruction.

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) to assess the patient's perception of benefit derived from nasal septal surgery for nasal obstruction. Seventy-five patients undergoing septal surgery +/- inferior turbinate reduction for nasal obstruction were included in the study. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed. The patients completed the Glasgow Benefit Inventory, indicated their pre-operative and post-operative nasal symptoms and subjective improvement in nasal obstruction. There was a highly significant correlation (P<0.001) between the GBI total score, subjective post-operative nasal obstruction, post-operative nasal symptoms score and change in nasal symptoms score. The mean standardised GBI score was 2.96 (S.D.=0.28, S.E.M.=0.03) and 3.26 (S.D.=0.18, S.E.M.=0.03) in patients with and without post-operative nasal obstruction, respectively. The mean difference was 0.29 (S.E.D.=0.06, 95% CI=0.16 to 0.42, P<0.001). Thus the GBI discriminates between above and below criteria in this group of patients. Multiple regression analysis showed that subscale scores of GBI explain about 40% of the variance in the outcome, which is highly significant (R2=0.39, F=15, d.f.=3.70, P<0.001). We conclude that GBI is a valuable tool for the assessment of benefit from nasal septal surgery for nasal obstruction and may be applicable in clinical practice.

A comparison of patient satisfaction with conventional and nurse led outpatient follow-up after grommet insertion.

OBJECTIVE: The need to reduce costs while providing a first class service has led to the expansion in the role of nurses in otolaryngology practice in the National Health Service (NHS) in recent years. The aim of this study was to compare patient satisfaction with conventional and nurse led follow-up after grommet insertion. The hypothesis was that patient satisfaction is much greater with doctor led conventional follow-up as compared with nurse led out-patient follow-up. METHODS: The study was performed using a questionnaire survey using a validated patient satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS: Our results indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in the mean factorial scores for interpersonal skills and technical competence, physical surroundings, and convenience between the conventional and nurse led follow-up clinic. The overall patient satisfaction was higher with nurse led grommet follow-up clinic than with conventional doctor led out-patient follow-up. This was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U = 1357.50, Z = 02.39, P = 0.01). The waiting time in out-patients was also significantly less in the nurse led grommet clinic. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that nurses provide a high quality service resulting in high patient satisfaction. Nurse led grommet follow-up clinic has the potential for substantial reduction in outpatient access times in the NHS.