Endoscopic supraorbital nerve neurolysis.

Endoscopic surgery, performed through small incisions, yields therapeutic results equivalent or superior to those obtained using the conventional approach. The technique has been established in laparoscopic cholecystectomic surgery. In plastic surgery, endoscopic techniques were first developed in aesthetic procedures and have been reported to be useful in face-lift operations, breast reconstruction, muscle flap harvesting and subcutaneous surgery. Endobrow lift has become a more and more popular aesthetic procedure. The endoscope provides an excellent magnification and, through a high power light source, a very good illumination of the operative field. It explains why the endoscope is more and more used in reconstructive procedures. We report the case of a patient suffering from a posttraumatic entrapment of the right supraorbital nerve which was released by an endoscopic approach.

Necrotizing fasciitis: a life-threatening infection.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressing, synergistic bacterial infection of fascia with a reported average mortality of about 40%. Fournier's disease, necrotizing fasciitis of the genital sphere, is also included in this study. Seven patients were studied over a one-year period between May 1991 and October 1992. Most commonly, they were infected by perineal diseases, medical procedures and cutaneous ulcers. The local clinical signs are cellulitis, oedema, blisters, necrosis and crepitus; general septic symptoms may also be present. Associated chronic diseases were present in 4 patients. Three infections were polymicrobial. Control of this potentially lethal soft-tissue infection is based on early clinical diagnosis, timely, wide surgical debridements and appropriate antibiotic treatment. The overall mortality rate was 1 of 7 (14%). Death was due to persistent wound sepsis and systemic septic complications, but mainly to delay in surgical treatment. The presence of chronic debilitating diseases (diabetes, alcohol abuse, renal insufficiency, ...) contribute to increase rate of both local and systemic infection.

Reconstruction of neck burns. A long-term comparative study between skin grafts, skin expansion and free flaps.

Cervical reconstruction after postburn scarring remains a challenge for the plastic surgeon. Several well-known procedures are possible: split or full-thickness skin grafts, local flaps, free skin flaps, expanded skin,... In order to evaluate each technique, three procedures are compared with a long-term follow-up (> or = 1 year): skin expansion, free flap surgery and full-thickness skin grafting. Fifteen patients are reviewed, with five patients operated according to each method. In this study, each burn patient was suffering from a severe neck burn contracture, restricting the neck motility to a few degrees. These patients were operated on by different surgeons, according to their personal indications. The full-thickness skin graft is usually harvested from the abdomen (by means of a miniabdominoplasty) and is applied under a tie-over dressing. This simple procedure has few complications and gives satisfactory results. Skin expansion provides a good texture and color matching but has a higher morbidity and necessitates several procedures. Free flap surgery is time-consuming, gives a good functional result but poor cosmetic aspect (different colour, excessive bulk). Comparing the functional and aesthetic result of the three types of reconstruction in terms of morbidity, neck mobility, skin elasticity, skin sensitivity, matching and scar recurrence, full-thickness skin grafting seems to be the most adequate technique.

[External rhinoplasty: a useful approach for a young plastic surgeon]. / La rhinoplastie externe: une voie d'abord utile pour le jeune chirurgien plasticien.

Among the frequently performed plastic surgery operations, rhinoplasty is the most difficult to obtain consistently good results. It is very challenging for young plastic surgeons to modify the external appearance of the nose and restore or maintain a good airway. The external approach has alleviated some of the problems due to understanding and learning of the rhinoplasty operation. Actually, open rhinoplasty allows better visualization of anatomical deformities and better manipulation of tissues allowing better integration of nasal anatomy and physiology. This paper reviews a personal series of 82 patients operated via an open approach between October 94 and October 97. During the same period, 24 patients were operated via an endonasal or percutaneous approach (osteotomies). Indications, advantages and disadvantages of the open approach are discussed. The various techniques used in this series are described and then critically analyzed. In open rhinoplasty, our present revision rate is 8.5%. In conclusion, the open approach seems to be useful for young rhinoplastic surgeons.

[Surgical anatomy of the nose. I]. / Anatomie chirurgicale du nez. (Première partie).

Since a few years, more and more papers are published in the international literature about nasal anatomy, probably because of the growing popularity of the open rhinoplasty. So, new concepts, new anatomic entities have been established without equivalent in the French literature. The authors review the most recent notions of the surgical anatomy of the nose and propose a french terminology for several concepts developed in the international literature (e.g. supratip breakpoint). The surgical anatomy of the external nose is described.

[Surgical anatomy of the nose. II]. / Anatomie chirurgicale du nez. (Deuxième partie).

Over recent years, an increasing number of papers are published in the international literature about nasal anatomy, probably because of the growing popularity of open rhinoplasty. New concepts and new anatomical entities have been established without any equivalent in the French literature. This paper reviews the most recent concepts of surgical anatomy of the nose and proposes a French terminology for several concepts developed in the international literature (e.g. supratip breakpoint). In this second part, the surgical anatomy of the nasal cavities is analyzed together with a glossary including the main concepts, some of them unpublished in the French literature.

[Erosive adenomatosis of the nipple. Report of 2 cases]. / Adénomatose érosive du mamelon. A propos de deux cas.

Superficial papillary adenomatosis of the nipple is a benign tumor of the ductal epithelium that clinically resembles Paget's disease. Unilateral serous, bloody, or serosanguinous discharge with crusting is most commonly present. Symptoms include tenderness or pruritus. Histologically, the tumor is characterized by proliferating ductal structures lined by a double layer of columnar epithelium. The lesions are focally eroded. Keratin cysts and apical intraluminal projections are commonly found. The original description was reported in 1954 in the english language literature. Just a few cases have been reported in the french literature. These cases are reviewed and two classic examples are reported; their therapeutic options are discussed.