Congenital midline cervical cleft: Management of a case series and literature review.

Congenital midline cervical cleft is a rare anomaly classified as a malformation of the branchial arches and represents less than 2% of congenital cervical malformations. Its clinical presentation involves cervical midline deformities: cephalic nodular lesion, linear groove with atrophic surface, and/or caudal sinus. Other midline alterations of variable complexity may also be present. Early treatment allows for avoiding long-term complications. Based on our experience in four clinical cases, a performed literature search on the topic in the last twenty years, and subsequent discussion of the employed surgical approaches, we included 150 reported cases in our review. Correct diagnosis and early treatment with complete removal of the fibrous midline band is paramount to avoid patient complaints until adolescence or adulthood.

Social fund and infant mortality: Evidence from an anti-poverty policy in Northeast Brazil.

This paper evaluates the effects of a social fund that meets the needs of the poor in Northeast Brazil, the Fundos Estaduais de Combate e Erradicação da Pobreza (FECEP). The program could have improved infant health by reducing poverty and improving access to health care, sanitation, food, and housing. Using a difference-in-differences approach robust to heterogeneous treatment effects, we confirm that the program has effectively reduced poverty in treated areas. Furthermore, we document that this poverty reduction is associated with a significant decline in infant mortality. These findings provide consistent evidence that targeted public investments can improve living conditions in vulnerable regions.

Patient-perceived barriers to surgical treatment of cleft lip and palate in Brazil: A multi-region study.

INTRODUCTION: Many patients worldwide are unable to access timely primary repair of cleft lip and palate. The aim of this study was to assess patient-perceived barriers to accessing timely cleft lip and palate repair across Brazil. METHODS: A 29-item questionnaire was applied to patients undergoing surgery for cleft lip and/or palate across five contrasting sites in Brazil from February 2016 to November 2017. Differences in patient timelines, demographics, and patient-reported barriers were compared by region. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of delayed care. RESULTS: Of 181 patients, 42% of patients received timely primary surgical repair. The age of the patient at the interview was 82 months (standard deviation [SD] 107) and 52% were male. The majority of delays occurred between diagnosis and primary surgical repair. The mean number of barriers to accessing timely surgical care cited by each patient was 3.77. The most common barrier was perceived "lack of hospitals that provided the surgery in my area" (48% (n = 86)). Univariate logistic regression showed increased odds of receiving late care in the state of Amazonas (odds ratio [OR] 2.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-7.96; P = 0.037) or Para (OR 4.46; 95% CI 1.09-19.70; P = 0.037). Multivariate logistic regression determined predictors of delayed care to be female sex (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.05-3.99; P = 0.035) and perceived poor availability of care (OR = 0.045; 95% CI 1.02-4.37; P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients in Brazil are not receiving timely primary repair of their clefts. Improvements in the coordination of care, patient education and patient empowerment are required.

Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores de fissuras labiopalatinas atendidos por equipe cirúrgica de referência no Estado do Amazonas / Epidemiological profile of patients with orofacial cleft treated by a reference surgical team in the State of Amazonas, Brazil

Introdução: As fissuras labiopalatinas são malformações congênitas e, no Brasil, estima-se a ocorrência de 1:650 nascimentos. A classificação adotada é a de Spina. A queiloplastia e a palatoplastia são as principais cirurgias executadas. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo descritivo com obtenção de dados a partir do sistema Smile Train Express referente a pacientes com fissura labiopalatina atendidos por equipe cirúrgica de referência entre 1 de março de 2014 e 1 de dezembro de 2016. Resultados: Foram identificados 477 pacientes, predominando o sexo masculino e os dois primeiros anos de vida na admissão. A fissura mais prevalente foi transforame e unilateral esquerda. O tratamento cirúrgico mais frequente foi a queiloplastia. Conclusões: O padrão epidemiológico está em consonância com a literatura nacional.

Introduction: Orofacial clefts are congenital malformations with an estimated occurrence of 1:650 births in Brazil. The most widely adopted classification system in that country is the method developed by Spina, and cheiloplasty and palatoplasty are the main surgeries performed. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study using data collected from the Smile Train Express organization regarding patients with orofacial clefts treated by a reference surgical team between March 1, 2014 and December 1, 2016. Results: A total of 477 patients were identified, predominantly male and in the first two years of life at admission. The most prevalent type of malformation was left unilateral transforamen cleft. The most frequent surgical treatment was cheiloplasty. Conclusions: The epidemiological pattern is consistent with the findings described in the national literature.

Modified technique to increase nostril cross-sectional area after using rib and septal cartilage graft over alar nasal cartilages.

PURPOSE: Describe a modified technique to increase nostril cross-sectional area using rib and septal cartilage graft over alar nasal cartilages. METHODS: A modified surgical technique was used to obtain, carve and insert cartilage grafts over alar nasal cartilages. This study used standardized pictures and measured 90 cadaveric nostril cross-sectional area using Autocad(®); 30 were taken before any procedure and 60 were taken after grafts over lateral crura (30 using costal cartilage and 30 using septal cartilage). Statistical analysis were assessed using a model for repeated measures and ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) for the variable "area". RESULTS: There's statistical evidence that rib cartilage graft is more effective than septal cartilage graft. The mean area after the insertion of septal cartilage graft is smaller than the mean area under rib graft treatment (no confidence interval for mean difference contains the zero value and all P-values are below the significance level of 5%). CONCLUSIONS: The technique presented is applicable to increase nostril cross section area in cadavers. This modified technique revealed to enhance more nostril cross section area with costal cartilage graft over lateral crura rather than by septal graft.

Modified technique to increase nostril cross-sectional area after using rib and septal cartilage graft over alar nasal cartilages / Técnica modificada para aumentar a área seccional externa da narina após o uso de enxerto cartilaginoso de costela e septo sob as cartilagens alares nasais

PURPOSE: Describe a modified technique to increase nostril cross-sectional area using rib and septal cartilage graft over alar nasal cartilages. METHODS: A modified surgical technique was used to obtain, carve and insert cartilage grafts over alar nasal cartilages. This study used standardized pictures and measured 90 cadaveric nostril cross-sectional area using Autocad®; 30 were taken before any procedure and 60 were taken after grafts over lateral crura (30 using costal cartilage and 30 using septal cartilage). Statistical analysis were assessed using a model for repeated measures and ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) for the variable "area". RESULTS: There's statistical evidence that rib cartilage graft is more effective than septal cartilage graft. The mean area after the insertion of septal cartilage graft is smaller than the mean area under rib graft treatment (no confidence interval for mean difference contains the zero value and all P-values are below the significance level of 5%). CONCLUSIONS: The technique presented is applicable to increase nostril cross section area in cadavers. This modified technique revealed to enhance more nostril cross section area with costal cartilage graft over lateral crura rather than by septal graft.

OBJETIVO: Descrever uma técnica modificada para se aumentar a área seccional externa da narina com cartilagem septal e costal acima das cartilagens alares nasais. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se uma técnica cirúrgica modificada para obter, esculpir e inserir enxertos de cartilagem sobre as cartilagens alares. Realizou-se fotos padronizadas e mensuração de 90 áreas seccionais externas de narina em cadáveres com Autocad®; 30 antes sem procedimento; 60 após a inclusão de enxertos sob a cruz lateral (30 usando cartilagem costal e 30 usando cartilagem septal). A análise estatística foi feita com um modelo de medidas repetidas e ANOVA para a variável "área" RESULTADOS: Existe evidência estatística de que o enxerto de cartilagem costal é mais efetivo que o enxerto de cartilagem septal. A área média após a inclusão do enxerto de septo é menor que a observada após a inclusão de enxerto de costela (intervalo de confiança para a diferença de médias não inclui o valor de zero e todos os valores de P são abaixo do nível significativo de 5%). CONCLUSÕES: A técnica descrita é aplicável em cadáveres para aumento da área seccional externa da narina. Esta técnica modificada revelou ser mais efetiva com o uso de cartilagem costal do que septal.

Tricoadenoma palpebral: tratamento cirúrgico associado à blefaroplastia estética / Eyelid trichoadenoma: surgical treatment associated with aesthetic lepharoplasty

O tricoadenoma é um tumor cutâneo benigno, assintomático, raro e de crescimento lento. Existem poucos casos relatados na literatura e identificamos apenas um descrito na região palpebral. Apresentamos o caso de uma paciente portadora de tricoadenoma no canto externo da pálpebra inferior direita, tratada com excisão cirúrgica associada a blefaroplastia.

Trichoadenoma is a benign cutaneous tumor that is asymptomatic, rare, and slow growing. There are few cases reported in the literature, and we could only identify one description of trichoadenoma occurring in the eyelid area. We describe the case of a patient with trichoadenoma in the outer corner of the lower eyelid that we treated with surgical excision associated with blepharoplasty.