The Journal of craniofacial surgery
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Microstomia reconstruction due to the presence a blunted oral commissure is a challenging task because it requires the restoration of intricately balanced distinct layers of tissues: the oral mucosa, the orbicular muscle, the vermilion border, and the perioral skin. The reliability of commissural reconstruction depends on 2 factors: the first one is breaking the contraction vectors causing blunting of the commissure and the second one is restoring the integrity of the oral sphincter. We have used local skin, vermilion border-muscle, and mucosa flaps designed in an asterisk pattern to break the contraction vectors and have paid certain attention to the restoration of the sphincter function of the circular muscle fibers. Our results have shown that, with the use of our asterisk design, a new commissure aesthetically comparable to the natural one can be created with the reestablishment of reliable oral competence.
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Intraoperative repositioning assessment in the zygomatic fracture operation is very important in achieving adequate facial symmetry. A navigation system that has been developed in neurosurgery has recently been applied in the otolaryngol, orthopedic, and maxillofacial surgeries. We used a navigation system (Stealth Station TREON; Medtronic) in zygomatic fracture operation, and found it useful in performing accurate reduction and confirming the symmetry. ⋯ We suggest that the system can also be applied for the treatment of untreated facial fractures requiring osteotomy and of comminuted facial fractures with third-bone fragments and for the evaluation of bone graft.
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This retrospective study evaluates 391 patients with orbital bone fractures from a variety of accidents that were treated at the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, South Korea, between February 1996 and April 2008. The medical records of these patients were reviewed and analyzed to determine the clinical characteristics and treatment of the orbital bone fractures. The following results were obtained. ⋯ The postoperative complication rate was 17.9%, and there were no statistically significant differences among the reconstruction materials with regard to complications. During follow-up, diplopia, hypoesthesia, and enophthalmos occurred as complications; however, there was no significant difference between porous polyethylene sheet (MEDPOR) and resorbable sheet groups. Long-term epidemiological data regarding the natural history of orbital bone fractures are important for the evaluation of existing preventative measures and for the development of new methods of injury prevention and treatment.
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Comparative Study
Temporomandibular joint disorders and maxillomandibular malformations: role of condylar "repositionin" plate.
Even if the relationship between condylar position and/or temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and dentofacial deformity is controversial in literature, several patients presenting malocclusion refer to pain and TMDs as the main trouble. There are also various opinions concerning the alterations or improvements of temporomandibular joint symptoms after orthognathic surgery. In agreement with the experience of Universität Würzburg, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of splint technique to reproduce centric condyle positioning in bimaxillary osteotomy surgeries for the patients with skeletal-facial disorders and coexisting TMDs. ⋯ Postsurgically patients underwent orthodontic treatment (to stabilize occlusal and articular changes) and physical therapy. After the end of treatment, stability of results was investigated with clinical, radiologic, and electromyographic valuations. The authors' experience suggests that, as in orthognathic surgery, identification of a correct condyle-fossa relationship (achieved by splint and repositioning plate) is essential to guide osteosynthesis after sagittal split osteotomy in patients affected by TMDs and ultimately affects the stability of the procedure.
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In this paper, we report a retrospective study of 236 patients with facial bone fractures from various sports who were treated at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, South Korea, between February 1996 and April 2007. The medical records of these patients were reviewed and analyzed to determine the clinical characteristics and treatment of the sports-related facial bone fractures. The highest frequency of sports-related facial bone fractures was in the age group 11 to 20 years (40.3%); there was a significant male predominance in all age groups (13.75:1). ⋯ Nasal bone fractures were the most common (54.2%), and tripod fractures were the most common type of complex injuries (4.2%). The complication rate was 3.0%. Long-term epidemiological data regarding the natural history of sports-related facial bone fractures are important for the evaluation of existing preventative measures and for the development of new methods of injury prevention and treatment.