Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Mimis Cohen.
Enterocutaneous fistulas can result from various conditions. Although some heal spontaneously, others persist or recur. This article describes how using muscle flaps may aid in managing recalcitrant gastrointestinal fistulas. Specific cases are cited.
Large ventral or incisional hernias are often difficult to manage. Most commonly patients are referred to reconstructive surgeons after multiple failed attempts of hernia repair. The use of prosthetic and bioprosthetic materials have aided greatly in the management of complex abdominal wall defects. A full understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of specific prosthetic materials available, and the associated complications of use, remains elusive, however. This article provides information concerning the applications of appropriate prosthetic material for temporary or permanent closure of difficult abdominal wall defects.
This article presents the author's personal philosophy for treatment of various abdominal wall defects resulting from surgical complications and unfavorable results of previous abdominal interventions. The purpose is not to discuss and analyze care and management of all soft tissue complications encountered after abdominal surgery, but to present the ones for which the plastic surgeon most likely will be asked to manage.
Multiple options exist for managing complex abdominal wall defects. These options range from the use of autologous tissue with rearrangement procedures to the use of prosthetic or bioprosthetic materials. All options rely on a thorough understanding of the structural and functional anatomy of the abdominal wall and the relationship of varying anatomical structures to provide the optimal reconstructive procedure. A successful reconstruction is achieved when the structural anatomy is integrated with understanding the dynamic function of the abdominal wall.
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Every effort should be made to achieve the best possible results at the time of lip and palate repair. Appropriate and extensive evaluation, short- and long-term planning with optimal timing for each procedure, close cooperation with the members of the craniofacial team, selection of the most appropriate technique(s), careful execution, and close follow-up are prerequisites for success. Additional surgical procedures or revisions are required to improve appearance and function and to manage unfavorable results of previous interventions. Such procedures should be also planned carefully, taking into consideration all aspects of the deformity to provide our patients with superior habilitation.
The surface laser scanner has great potential as a method for documentation of cleft infant due to its accuracy, ease of use, and convenience. The image scan be stored in the computer for easy access. As purchasing costs decrease, its acquisition will be facilitated, resulting in an increase in its use.
Despite advances in surgery, a significant number of patients who undergo cleft palate repair have residual velopharyngeal insufficiency. Maxillary advancement may also result in velopharyngeal openings during speech. Instrumental approaches providing objective measures of palatal function assisting in the accurate diagnosis of these patients include pressure-flow measurements of velopharyngeal valving during speech. There is little information to guide clinicians in interpreting pressure-flow data when testing pediatric patients, however. The primary purpose of this study was to develop a method for categorizing pressure-flow data used in the diagnosis of children and adolescents with suspected velopharyngeal insufficiency. This prospective study involved 56 male and female subjects 5 to 18 years of age. Subjects had normal speech and resonance at the time of testing, no history of speech therapy, no upper respiratory infections or allergies at the time of testing, and no orofacial anomalies. Subjects repeated oral syllables and the word "hamper" after an examiner. Mean pressures, airflows, and velopharyngeal orifice areas were obtained for each utterance produced by each subject. A discriminate function analysis was performed to determine whether data could be grouped by age, gender, or utterance type. Results indicated significant differences in data for age groups 5 to 8 years, 9 to 13 years, and 14 to 18 years. There were no significant differences between data for male subjects versus female subjects or for different utterance types. Pressures generally decreased, whereas airflows and orifice areas increased with age. Results for 14 to 18 year olds were like those for adults. Using these data, a categorization scheme for velopharyngeal function was proposed for use in clinical testing.
Recent innovations in technology have generated a variety of techniques for medical imaging. One of these initially developed for industry is laser surface scanning. Laser surface scanning is a noninvasive method for acquiring three-dimensional (3D) images. In this article, the technology of 3D laser surface scanning is described, and a few applications are reported as it relates to craniofacial research and clinical practice. Advantages and disadvantages of this imaging modality are discussed. Three-dimensional laser surface scanning holds great promise as it relates to the documentation, analysis, and evaluation of treatment results in craniofacial anomalies.
Secondary correction of residual unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities is necessary in a number of patients for functional and cosmetic purposes. Myriads of techniques and modifications have been reported. Most of these publications, however, deal with the correction of the esthetic aspects of the deformity, and little attention has been given to the functional problems associated with the deformity and to the functional outcome of these procedures. A comprehensive protocol of care for correction of residual nasal deformities describing our preoperative anatomical and physiological evaluation, our surgical techniques, and postoperative outcome is presented here. The first 30 consecutive patients managed with this protocol were evaluated clinically and physiologically with rhinomanometry. Significant functional improvement was identified in 73.3% of our patients. It is recommended that airway obstruction be evaluated and addressed in all patients with residual cleft nasal deformities. Component rhinomanometry provides objective information about airway obstruction, and postoperative testing and comparison with preoperative data provide for an objective evaluation of results and assist the surgeon to evaluate the outcome of all procedures critically and to modify or improve them appropriately.
Nasal alveolar molding is used effectively to reshape the nasal cartilage and mold the maxillary arch before cleft lip repair and primary rhinoplasty. It provides aesthetic and functional benefits of nasal tip and alar symmetry and improved dental arch form. At The Craniofacial Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the authors have developed a modification of a nasal alveolar molding appliance previously described in the literature. The key modification is the use of an orthodontic wire from the palatal prosthesis with an acrylic bulb positioned inside the nose, underneath the apex of the alar cartilage, as the nasal stent. This modification allows easier adjustment of the position of the bulb during treatment to achieve a more symmetrical relationship between the nasal cartilages, columella, philtrum, and alveolar segments.
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