Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Tom D Wang.
All surgeons have their individual style and approach to patient selection; however, some fundamental principles are helpful in guiding this process. This discussion outlines some of the principles that the author has found helpful in approaching the aging face consultation.
Successful surgical repair of the unilateral cleft lip and nose deformity, defined as normal orbicularis oris function and near-perfect symmetry of the repaired lip and nose, demands that the surgeon possess complete understanding of the embryology and anatomy of the midfacial defects. The surgical approach to repair of the unilateral cleft lip/nose should place great emphasis on achieving symmetry, not only with the lip segments but also perhaps even more importantly with the nasal tip. The reconstruction should recreate an intact fully functional orbicularis oris muscle across the cleft and camouflage the scar optimally. We have found that modification of the Millard rotation-advancement flap technique, with particular attention to the primary nasal repair, provides the best outcomes. In patients who have undergone primary repair of the lip and/or nose deformity, secondary rhinoplasty is generally required, regardless of the technique used at the primary repair. The degree of nasal deformity, however, is less severe following primary repair of the asymmetric nasal tip. We have found that the sliding flap cheliorhinoplasty, Wang's modification of the Vissarionov technique, provides excellent results for most secondary cleft rhinoplasties.
Non-Caucasian patients seeking rhinoplasty often have similar goals as their Caucasian counterparts. However, surgeon sensitivity to ethnic variations and patient desires are crucial to a successful outcome. This article presents some of the commonly encountered issues seen in non-Caucasian rhinoplasty, including minimal modification, augmentation materials, and complications with infected and extruded implants.
BACKGROUND: The endoscopic brow-lift is a popular technique for rejuvenation of the aging brow and forehead. Long-lasting results depend on readherence of the pericranium to the underlying skull in the newly elevated position. Determination of the time required for pericranial readherence to occur is important when considering optimal brow fixation time postoperatively; however, few studies of pericranial healing exist in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the time required for pericranial adherence after pericranial elevation in a rabbit model. DESIGN: Anesthetized New Zealand white rabbits underwent elevation of a pericranial flap on day 0. The flap was then repositioned and the skin sutured. One unoperated-on group served as a control. A tensiometer was used to measure the force required to separate the pericranial flap from the skull of the control animals and of test animals killed on postoperative days 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 17, 20, 25, and 28. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the effect of healing time on the strength of pericranial readherence. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the force required for pericranial separation at 3 and 5 days after surgery compared with the control group. By 8 days postoperatively and throughout the subsequent times examined, no statistically significant differences from the control group were observed. CONCLUSION: In this rabbit model, pericranial adherence (as measured by tensile strength) is decreased postoperatively and does not return to baseline levels until postoperative day 8.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of subcutaneous augmentation material preformed shapes for facial implantation. DESIGN: One-year prospective multicenter evaluation of implant performance. SETTING: General community hospital; private and institutional practice; and ambulatory care setting. PATIENTS: Eighty-two patients undergoing elective cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received nasal dorsal implants (31 patients); chin implants (38 patients); and malar implants (13 patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complications and aesthetic outcome, including implant position, projection, contour, symmetry, and overall aesthetic index. RESULTS: Complication rates for infection that required implant removal included nasal dorsal implants, 3.2%; chin implants, 5.3%; and malar implants, 3.8%. The overall aesthetic outcome was judged by an independent panel of facial plastic surgeons on a scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent): nasal dorsal implants scored 4.1; chin implants, 3.8; and malar implants, 3.6. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that subcutaneous augmentation material preformed shapes offer a relatively safe and effective treatment alternative for permanent facial augmentation.
BACKGROUND: Nasal ulcerations have many causes. Ulcerations that are self-induced are difficult to diagnose and treat. Two rare conditions with self-induced nasal ulceration are trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) and factitious disorder (FD). Trigeminal trophic syndrome is characterized by trigeminal anesthesia, nasal alar ulceration, and facial paresthesia. Appearance of the nasal ulcer after trigeminal ablation for neuralgia is diagnostic. Self-induced nasal lesions that occur in FD are primarily distinguished from those in TTS by the presence of normal trigeminal nerve function and frequent patient denial of lesion manipulation. OBJECTIVES: To increase physician awareness of the disorders leading to self-induced nasal ulceration and to discuss management issues in our patient series. DESIGN: A retrospective review of 7 cases in which the patients presented for reconstructive consultation between March 1985 and October 1997 and were found to have self-induced nasal ulcerations. SETTING: Tertiary university medical center. RESULTS: Five patients were identified with TTS and underwent nasal reconstruction an average of 43 months (range, 4-72 months) after nasal ulcer presentation. Four of the 5 patients developed ulcer recurrence between 1 and 58 months after reconstruction; secondary reconstruction resulted in recurrence in 2 of these patients. Two patients were identified with FD and self-induced nasal ulceration. One of these 2 patients underwent total nasal reconstruction 15 months after ulcer occurrence and developed recurrence 2 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Self-induced nasal ulceration remains a difficult condition to diagnose and treat. Readily treatable conditions should be excluded, and diagnostic workup should include tissue biopsy and laboratory studies. Patients with TTS may have associated ocular findings, and those who do should be referred for ophthalmologic consultation. Surgical reconstruction can be considered in the highly motivated patient with TTS; however, delayed ulcer recurrence is common. Patients with FD should be treated primarily with local wound care and referred for psychiatric intervention. We strongly recommend nasal prosthetic devices as the primary means of aesthetic correction and discourage surgical repair in the patient with FD.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term structural, functional, and cosmetic results as well as resorption with the use of irradiated homologous rib cartilage grafts (IHRGs). DESIGN: Cases in which IHRGs were used were reviewed for a long-term follow-up study for nasal and auricular reconstruction, dating back 18 years. A retrospective medical chart review was conducted in the cases in which the patients had returned for clinical examination with photographic documentation. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients who had undergone nasal reconstruction with a mean follow-up of 36 months were identified from our database. There were 12 patients who had undergone auricular reconstruction, with a mean follow-up of 82 months. Resorption with compromise in cosmesis was noted in 11% (11/102) of the grafts used in nasal reconstruction but in 71% (5/7) of those used in auricular reconstruction. Minor resorption without change in form or function was found in 29% (30/102) of the cases. Loss of support, which was related more to graft displacement rather than resorption, was identified in 19% (21/109) of the cases, and loss of support affecting cosmesis was observed in 8% (9/109) of the cases. Maintenance of form and function appeared to be unrelated to the amount of resorption noted for the nasal grafts but was significant for the auricular grafts (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The longevity of IHRGs has been favorable for functional, structural, and cosmetic nasal reconstruction, with low levels of resorption identified clinically. The use of IHRGs was associated with an unacceptable rate of graft failure in auricular reconstruction; therefore, they are no longer selected for use in such cases.