Patient and parent reported outcome measures in cleft lip and palate patients before and after secondary alveolar bone grafting.

European and Northern American healthcare authorities increasingly encourage the use of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) that complement clinical and laboratory assessments to help holistically evaluate reconstructive outcomes. This is the first study to evaluate PROMs in cleft lip/palate patients who have, or have not, undergone secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG).A PROMs study was conducted; 40 consecutive consenting cleft lip/palate children between 8 and 14 years old were included. Twenty patients did, and 20 patients did not, have SABG. PROMs scores from children and parents in the 2 groups were compared.Forty patients completed the trial. No significant differences in total score from the Chang Gung Short Form-15 (CGSF-15) were found between children and their parents. Children with SABG reported no more oral-nasal regurgitation than children without SABG, but tended to report more nasal obstruction. There were no statistically significant differences in parent reported outcomes between the 2 groups.Cleft lip/palate patients who underwent SABG reported significantly less nasal regurgitation and more nasal obstruction compared to those patients who did not undergo SABG.

Salvage Free Anterolateral Thigh Composite Flap Transfer Based on the Musculocutaneous Perforator Retrograde Blood Flow Principle.

An anterolateral thigh myo-adipofascial flap was used in the definitive management of a patient presented with chronic infective process associated with a large fronto-nasal defect. Unfortunately, the risk of free flap transfer failure emerged when intraoperative dissection showed absence of a reliable ipsilateral superficial temporal artery as the recipient artery. This rare incident happened at the stage whereby the anterolateral thigh flap was nearly completely raised with a distal perforator in situ. In this article, the authors presented an innovative strategy to salvage the flap by transforming the flap into a modified composite flap based on the retrograde blood flow principle. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of using such a technique in reconstructive microsurgery. This successful salvage strategy has clinical application and could potentially minimize free flap transfer failure.

Long-term comparison of the results of four techniques used for bilateral cleft nose repair: a single surgeon's experience.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate progressive changes in surgical techniques and results, aiming for improved nasal shape in primary bilateral cleft rhinoplasty. METHODS: This is an institutional review board-approved retrospective study. Ninety-one consecutive patients with bilateral complete cleft lip underwent primary cheiloplasty with four different techniques of nasal reconstruction from 1992 to 2007 as follows: group I, primary rhinoplasty alone; group II, nasoalveolar molding alone; group III, nasoalveolar molding plus primary rhinoplasty; group IV, nasoalveolar molding plus primary rhinoplasty with overcorrection; and group V, patients without cleft lip. The surgical results were analyzed using photographic records obtained at age 3 years. Four measurements and one angle measurement were obtained. A panel assessment was obtained to grade the appearance of the surgical results. RESULTS: The results are expressed in order from groups I through V. The nostril height-to-width ratio was 0.49, 0.59, 0.62, 0.78, and 0.82, respectively. The nasal tip height-to-nasal width ratio was 0.29, 0.39, 0.49, 0.57, and 0.60. The columella height-to-nasal width ratio was 0.11, 0.18, 0.22, 0.27, and 0.28. The dome-to-columella ratio was 1.88, 1.25, 1.26, 1.14, and 1.10. The nostril area ratio was 1.2, 1.17, 1.13, 1.11, and 1.07. The nasolabial angle was 144.95, 143.98, 121.98, 120.99, and 100.88. Finally, group IV had the best panel assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that group IV had the best overall result. Presurgical nasoalveolar molding followed by primary rhinoplasty with overcorrection resulted in a nasal appearance that was closer to the patients without cleft lip.

Single stage surgery for contouring the prominent mandibular angle with a broad chin deformity: en-bloc Mandibular Angle-Body-Chin Curved Ostectomy (MABCCO) and Outer Cortex Grinding (OCG).

BACKGROUND: Various surgical options are reported to address the Asian 'squared face', characterized by a prominent mandibular angle (PMA) associated with an oversized chin deformity; but shortcomings lie in the requirement of multi-stage procedures with the risk of further revision surgery. We have developed a single-stage "Mandibular Angle-Body-Chin Curved Ostectomy (MABCCO) and Outer Cortex Grinding (OCG)" surgical technique to shorten the period of the surgical treatment and minimize the inherent surgical risks in the multi-staged procedures. METHODS: A retrospective study involving patients (n = 36) presented with prominent mandibular angle and an oversized chin who underwent the operation described from 2010 to 2012 with at least 12 months of follow-up. The surgical and aesthetic outcomes were evaluated through clinical assessment, photography, imaging analysis including preoperative and post-operative patient satisfaction rates. RESULTS: All the patients were satisfied with the improvement in their appearance following surgery; specifically the 'smoothness' of the mandibular inferior border with no 'second mandibular angle'. The width of the mandible was reduced with G-G distance reduced from 119.9 mm ± 3.9-109.7 mm ± 3.5 (p < 0.05). A significant preoperative and post-operative gonial angle (G-A) was found at the left (110.7° ± 9.6 vs 139.9° ± 11.5, p < 0.05) and right side of mandible (111.3° ± 10.7 vs 140.7° ± 11.8, p < 0.05). There was no iatrogenic inferior alveolar nerve or mental nerve injury and a stable aesthetic outcome beyond the first year. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated favourable surgical and aesthetic outcomes with our single-stage en-bloc curved osteotomy surgical technique to reshape the prominent mandibular angle with a broad chin deformity with no increased in surgical risks but a high satisfaction rate and stable outcomes.

Hemimandibular hyperplasia: classification and treatment algorithm revisited.

Hemimandibular hyperplasia (HH) is a developmental asymmetry characterized by three-dimensional enlargement of one half of the mandible. The hyperplastic side usually involves the condyle, condylar neck, ramus, and body, with the anomaly terminating abruptly at the symphysis. The malformation results in the clinical presentation of ipsilateral enlargement of the mandible and tilted occlusal plane, associated with a deviated chin to the contralateral side. Since the first case report of HH in the English literature in 1836, various terminology and classifications were used. In this study, the authors classified the patients into typical and atypical types of HH on the basis of clinical and radiologic observations in an effort to achieve a simplified and efficient surgical management on the basis of the severity of deformity. Accordingly, surgical treatments are designed respectively on the basis of the authors' classification and treatment algorithm. In addition, in view of potential complications arising from condylectomy, none of the patients had undergone condylectomy as part of the surgical treatment. The authors present their experience on the basis of this proposed classification and treatment algorithm with functional and aesthetic outcomes as the end points of this study.

Low molecular weight heparin for prevention of microvascular occlusion in digital replantation.

BACKGROUND: The success of digital replantation is highly dependent on the patency of the repaired vessels after microvascular anastomosis. Antithrombotic agents are frequently used for preventing vascular occlusion. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has been reported to be as effective as unfractionated heparin (UFH) in peripheral vascular surgery, but with fewer adverse effects. Its benefit in microvascular surgery such as digital replantation is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether subcutaneous LMWH treatment improves the salvage rate of the digits in patients with digital replantation after traumatic amputation. SEARCH METHODS: The Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group Trials Search Co-ordinator (TSC) searched the Specialised Register (October 2012), CENTRAL (2012, Issue 10) and trials databases. In addition, the authors searched PubMed, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and CEPS (Chinese Electronic Periodical Services), and sought additional trials from reference lists of relevant publications. SELECTION CRITERIA: We selected randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of LMWH in patients who received digital replantation. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included trials. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. MAIN RESULTS: Two randomised trials involving 114 patients with at least 122 replanted digits met the inclusion criteria and were included. Both trials compared the efficacy and safety of LMWH with UFH. We found no trials comparing LMWH with placebo or other anticoagulants. The data from the two included studies were insufficient for meta-analysis. The overall success rate of replantation did not differ between the LMWH and UFH groups, 92.3% versus 89.2% in one trial (risk ratio (RR) 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87 to 1.22) and 94.3% versus 94.15% in the other trial (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.13). The incidence of both postoperative arterial and venous insufficiency were reported in one trial and did not significantly differ between the LMWH and UFH groups (RR 1.08; 95% CI 0.16 to 7.10 and RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.20 to 3.27, respectively). Direct and indirect causes of microvascular insufficiency were not reported in the trials. Different methods were used to monitor the adverse effects related to anticoagulation in the two trials. Bleeding tendency was monitored for the LMWH and UFH groups in one trial and was reported by the incidence of wound haemorrhage (11.5% versus 17.9%; RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.17 to 2.44), ecchymoses (3.8% versus 10.7%; RR 0.36; 95% CI 0.04 to 3.24), haematuria (3.8% versus 7.1%; RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.05 to 5.59), nasal bleeding (0% versus 7.1%; RR 0.21; 95% CI 0.01 to 4.28), gingival bleeding (0% versus 10.7%; RR 0.15, 95% CI 0.01 to 2.83) and faecal occult blood (0% versus 3.6%; RR 0.36; 95% CI 0.02 to 8.42). The bleeding tendency was increased in the UFH group but this was not statistically significant. This trial also monitored coagulability changes using parameters such as antithrombin activity, factor Xa activity, bleeding time, clotting time and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). No comparison was made between the LMWH and UFH groups but all data consistently showed that coagulability was reduced more in the UFH group than in the LMWH group. The other trial reported a postoperative decrease in platelet count in the UFH group (preoperative 278.4 ± 18.7 x 10(9)/L, postoperative 194.3 ± 26.5 x 10(9)/L; P < 0.05) but not in the LMWH group (preoperative 260.8 ± 32.5 x 10(9)/L, postoperative 252.4 ± 29.1 x 10(9)/L; P > 0.05). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Current limited evidence based on two small-scaled low-to-medium quality randomised trials found no differences in the success rate of replantation between LMWH and UFH, but a lower risk of postoperative bleeding and hypocoagulability after the use of LMWH. Further well-designed and adequately powered clinical trials are warranted.

Soft-tissue volumetric changes following monobloc distraction procedure: analysis using digital three-dimensional photogrammetry system (3dMD).

We have previously reported that monobloc advancement by distraction osteogenesis resulted in decreased morbidity and greater advancement with less relapse compared with acute monobloc advancement with bone grafting. In this study, we examine the three-dimensional (3D) volumetric soft-tissue changes in monobloc distraction.Patients with syndromic craniosynostosis who underwent monobloc distraction from 2002 to 2010 at University of California-Los Angeles Craniofacial Center were studied (n = 12). We recorded diagnosis, indications for the surgery, and volumetric changes for skeletal and soft-tissue midface structures (preoperative/postoperative [6 weeks]/follow-up [>1 year]). Computed tomography scans and a digital 3D photogrammetry system were used for image analysis.Patients ranged from 6 to 14 years of age (mean, 10.1 years) at the time of the operation (follow-up 2-11 years); mean distraction advancement was 19.4 mm (range, 14-25 mm). There was a mean increase in the 3D volumetric soft-tissue changes: 99.5 ± 4.0 cm(3) (P < 0.05) at 6 weeks and 94.9 ± 3.6 cm(3) (P < 0.05) at 1-year follow-up. When comparing soft-tissue changes at 6 weeks postoperative to 1-year follow-up, there were minimal relapse changes. The overall mean 3D skeletal change was 108.9 ± 4.2 cm. For every 1 cm of skeletal gain, there was 0.78 cm(3) of soft-tissue gain.Monobloc advancement by distraction osteogenesis using internal devices resulted in increased volumetric soft-tissue changes, which remained stable at 1 year. The positive linear correlation between soft-tissue increments and bony advancement can be incorporated during the planning of osteotomies to achieve optimum surgical outcomes with monobloc distraction.

Fingertip replantation without venous anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: Replantation of amputated fingertips is a technical challenge, as many salvage procedures fail because no suitable vein in the fingertip is available for anastomosis. In this study, we examined our experience in fingertip replantation in cases without venous anastomosis with our established fingertip replantation treatment protocol. METHODS: Between August 2002 and August 2010, a retrospective study examined all patients who had undergone fingertip replantation at Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital. All the patients (n = 24) suffered from complete digital amputations at or distal to the interphalangeal joint of the thumb, or distal to distal interphalangeal joint of the fingers. A total of 30 fingertips that were salvaged by microsurgical anastomosis of the digital arteries but not of digital veins were included in this study. On satisfactory arterial anastomosis, a 2-mm incision was made over the fingertip with a number 11 Scalpel blade, and 0.1 to 0.2 mL heparin (5000 IU/mL) was injected subcutaneously around the incision immediately and once per day thereafter to ensure continuous blood drainage from the replanted fingertip. None of the replanted nail plate was removed, and no medical leeches were used. The perfusion of the replanted digits and patient's hemoglobin level were closely monitored. The wound bleeding was maintained until physiologic venous outflow was restored. RESULTS: Of 30 fingertips, 27 (90%) replanted fingertips survived. The average length needed for maintaining external bleeding by chemical leech was 6.8 days (range, 5-10 days). Twelve patients (including a 2-year-old child) received blood transfusions. The average amount of blood transfusion in the 23 adults was 4.0 units (range, 0-16 units) for each patient or 3.29 units (range, 0-14 units) for each digit. A 2-year-old child received 100 mL blood transfusion or 50 mL for each digit. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a protocol that promotes controlled bleeding from the fingertip is essential to achieve consistent high success rates in fingertip replantation. The protocol is safe and reliable, as it avoids the use of medical leeches and the removal of nail plate from the replanted finger. However, full informed patient consent must include the potential need for transfusion and extended hospital stay.

18-gauge needle cap as adjunct to prevent kinking of endotracheal tube.

A self-retaining Dingman mouth retractor is widely used to keep the mouth open during cleft palate and intraoral surgery. The airway is at risk of being crushed or occluded as the gag (tongue plate) of the Dingman mouth retractor is being pushed against the endotracheal tube.Kinking of the endotracheal tube between the teeth and Dingman mouth retractor has been reported even with the oral Ring-Adair-Elwyn or flexometallic or armored endotracheal tubes. To minimize kinking of the endotracheal tube and its consequent complications, we routinely insert an 18-gauge needle cap at the potential space between the teeth and the tongue plate (gag) of the Dingman mouth retractor, which is situated lateral to the endotracheal tube. In our experience of approximately 5000 intraoral cases using a Dingman mouth retractor and 18-gauge needle cap, we have not had any tooth avulsion or aspiration of the 18-gauge foreign body while maintaining a consistent and secured airway during cleft palate and intraoral surgery.

Repair of Tessier no. 3 and no. 4 craniofacial clefts with facial unit and muscle repositioning by midface rotation advancement without Z-plasties.

BACKGROUND: The accepted surgical correction of Tessier no. 3 and no. 4 craniofacial clefts is the use of interdigitating skin flaps along the line of the facial cleft, which frequently results in unsightly facial scars, poor skin color match, and an unnatural facial expression. The authors report their technique of midface rotation-advancement concept to repair these craniofacial clefts. METHODS: Fourteen patients who had undergone Tessier no. 3 and no. 4 cleft repair over a 35-year period (1976 to 2010) at the craniofacial center in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Five patients (group 1) were operated on using Z-plasty principles. Nine (group 2) were operated on using the rotation-advancement technique; six of them had Tessier no. 3 clefts and three had Tessier no. 4 clefts. Seven of those nine patients were primary cases; the other two had secondary or tertiary revisions. Patient photographs were reviewed to assess outcomes. RESULTS: Group 1 had a less overall satisfactory result in terms of scar quality, color matching, or natural facial expression. Overall, a much improved appearance with a higher satisfaction rate was demonstrated in group 2. Patients in group 2 who were surgically treated with the midface rotation advancement technique, though their medial canthus and alar base might not have been well repositioned, still had much better results. CONCLUSIONS: Midface rotation advancement avoided significant scarring with poor skin color matching and unnatural facial expressions. This technique is applicable to either the primary repair or secondary revision of Tessier no. 3 and no. 4 craniofacial clefts. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.