Bryant A. Toth

Modified skin incisions for mastectomy: the need for plastic surgical input in preoperative planning.

Skin-sparing mastectomy by definition describes the procedure of mastectomy, either simple or modified radical, with a minimum amount of skin excision. The surgical skin excision must: (1) include the nipple-areola complex, (2) include the biopsy site, and (3) allow for access to the axilla for possible dissection. In 27 mastectomies, the senior author has had direct input in the preoperative skin planning. All patients underwent immediate breast reconstruction. In large-breasted women, the mastectomy was performed to a Wise-type pattern. In small-breasted women, the mastectomy involved minimal skin excision followed by reconstruction. Non-continuous incisions were frequently used in small-breasted women, thereby minimizing breast scarring. When appropriately applied, skin-sparing mastectomy can greatly improve the final aesthetic result of the breast.

Le Fort III Advancement with Gradual Distraction Using Internal Devices

&NA; The purpose of this report is to demonstrate a practical clinical method for advancement of the midface using a combination of Le Fort III osteotomy and gradual distraction. Use of internal, submergible distraction devices and modification of the Ilizarov distraction protocol are presented. Case reports show the effect of departing from the Ilizarov protocol by eliminating the latency period, initiating distraction intraoperatively, and rapidly distracting the segments postoperatively. A method of controlling fragment distraction rate by regulating pressures within the osteotomy site is described. The design and surgical application of internal distraction devices are shown. Nine patients with midface hypoplasia related to craniofacial anomalies underwent Le Fort III osteotomies assisted by gradual distraction. Ages ranged from 4 to 13 years. Custom internal distraction devices were employed to meet the unique requirements of each patient. Activation of the distraction device was accomplished by a percutaneous pin that remained in place for 3 to 5 days. The rate of transport was determined by regulating the forces within the distraction site. The internal devices remained in place for 6 months for fixation of the transported fragment. Midface advancement, measured as the anterior displacement of the infraorbital rim, ranged from 16 to 30 mm, with a mean of 20 mm. The typical force required to produce incremental movement of the Le Fort III osteotomy was found to be between 7 and 9 kg as transport exceeded 10 mm. Four patients with obstructive sleep apnea prior to surgery had resolution of the disorder. All the midface advancements remained clinically stable. Establishment of osseous continuity was verified by surgical examination in the four patients in whom the distraction devices have been removed. Combining intraoperative advancement of the Le Fort III osteotomy with gradual distraction consistently resulted in larger movements than could be achieved with conventional osteotomies and rigid fixation alone. The pediatric craniofacial skeleton responds differently to distraction than does the orthopedic skeleton. Eliminating the latency period, establishing a substantial bone gap intraoperatively, and rapidly distracting the fragment postoperatively did not adversely affect the osseous union in these patients. The internal, submergible feature of the device design offers advantages in patient acceptance, fixation stability, and wound management. This method of Le Fort III midface advancement has been shown to be clinically practical and effective. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 100: 819, 1997.)

Retrospective study of the skin-sparing mastectomy in breast reconstruction.

The final appearance of the reconstructed breast is greatly dependent on the relative amounts of skin and breast tissue excised at the time of the mastectomy and on the exact location of the skin incision. A complete mastectomy may be performed using modified skin incisions to avoid the sacrifice of unnecessary breast skin. The type of skin-sparing incision used varies based on the exact location of the tumor and the size of the breast, but it always includes the nipple-areola complex and the biopsy site. The presence of local recurrence, distant disease, or death was determined in 50 consecutive patients who had skin-sparing mastectomies and immediate breast reconstruction between 1985 and 1991 to ascertain the safety of the procedure. The period of follow-up ranged from 23 to 121 months, with a mean of 57 months and a median of 51.5 months. There was no local recurrence, active distant disease was present in five patients, two patients died of distant disease, and there were two unrelated deaths.

The axial frontonasal flap revisited

After 15 years of experience and 50 cases, we think that the axial frontonasal flap is of great value for the repair of large skin defects of the nose. This flap mobilizes all the skin cover of the nose located above the defect and the adjacent frontal skin and rotates it on a vascular pedicle existing at the level of the inner canthi. The excess of skin of the glabella is then transferred to the nose, and this large flap allows coverage of the defect without tension or distortion. The long-term results are very good, with a hardly visible repair in 26 of 50 patients, the long scar being very well hidden at the periphery of the nose.

Distraction osteogenesis and its application to the midface and bony orbit in craniosynostosis syndromes.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the potential advantages of applying distraction osteogenesis techniques to the correction of orbital and midfacial hypoplasia in craniosynostosis syndromes. Fifteen children with various craniosynostosis syndromes underwent Le Fort III advancement assisted by gradual distraction utilizing a pair of internal distraction devices custom-fabricated for each child. The surgical procedure consisted of a Le Fort III osteotomy, implantation of internal devices with initiation of distraction intraoperatively, and an accelerated rate of midfacial advancement over the next 3 to 5 days. Activation of the distraction hardware was accomplished by a percutaneous pin, which was removed at the end of the distraction protocol, allowing the internal devices to fixate the fragment for a minimum of 6 months during the period of consolidation. With follow-up ranging between 3 to 38 months, the average orbital and midfacial advancement was 19.7 mm (range, 12.0–30.0 mm). Proptosis was lessened and facial proportions significantly improved in all patients. Serious complications were not encountered. The modified distraction protocol utilized in this group of patients was aimed at addressing the unique requirements of pediatric craniofacial surgery, and resulted in almost twice the amount of correction previously reported for traditional rigid fixation techniques.

Computer-Designed Prostheses for Orbitocranial Reconstruction

Three-dimensional imaging is an adjunct to preoperative evaluation and surgical management in some patients with complex anatomic defects of various etiologies. Deformities defined by conventional computerized tomography can be viewed as accurate three-dimensional images calculated from the original scan. The images are viewed on a high-resolution video monitor and can be photographed for a permanent record. A computer-controlled milling device can use these data to fabricate prostheses. The prostheses aid reconstructive surgery through use as an alloplastic implant, as a template to fashion autogenous bone grafts, or as a model for tissue removal. We have utilized three-dimensional imaging in combination with computer-assisted prosthesis manufacture in six patients with complex orbitocranial deformities. Four patients have undergone reconstructive surgery with satisfactory results and no complications thus far. The use of computer-designed prostheses adds a new aspect to orbitocranial reconstructive surgery that facilitates increased accuracy in the correction of anatomic defects.

Digital replantation distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint.

Microvascular replantation of digits distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint were reviewed in 24 digits in 18 patients. Of the 24 digits studied, five were seen in patients who had a single digit amputated and replanted, 10 were seen in patients who had multiple distal digital amputations and replantations, and eight were seen in patients who had other proximal digital replantations or other associated hand injuries in addition to the distal replantations. Survival rate in this study was 96%, and the mean active range of motion at the proximal interphalangeal joint was 95 degrees with 8.9 degrees active motion at the distal interphalangeal joint. Two-point discrimination averaged 11 mm, and all patients had some cold intolerance. The nine students in this study required a mean 1.7 months to return to school; nine patients were workers and required a mean of 5.1 months to return to work. Acceptance for the procedures was overwhelmingly good. Replantation of an amputated digit distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint in selected cases can be a worthwhile procedure.

Orbital exenteration. The reconstructive ladder.

Following orbital exenteration, there is a spectrum of immediate and delayed options for orbital reconstruction. Goals of reconstruction after exenteration include detection of recurrent disease, restoration of boundaries between the orbit and surrounding structures, and optimal aesthetics. Local solutions to problems of the exenterated orbit, such as healing by granulation or application of split-thickness skin grafts, are advantageous for detecting recurrent disease. Regional solutions, involving transfer of periorbital tissue into the orbit, may mask recurrent disease and create adjacent deformity; however, these solutions can be used to restore orbital boundaries and shallow the orbital cavity. Distant solutions, such as skin-muscle flaps and free tissue grafts, allow for facial reconstruction in patients with extensive orbital and periorbital defects.

Temporoparietal fascial flap for orbital and eyelid reconstruction

The temporoparietal fascial flap is a recognized technique for the transfer of vascularized tissue in the craniofacial region. The flap has a predictable axial vessel, provides thin vascularized tissue, and can be harvested with minimal donor-site morbidity. The temporoparietal fascial flap is well suited for orbital or eyelid reconstruction because of its proximity to the orbit. The flap is useful for reconstruction of anatomic barriers between the orbit, intracranial cavity, and paranasal sinus spaces. We present four patients in whom the temporoparietal fascial flap was used for orbital reconstruction following extirpative surgery for orbital neoplasm and two patients in whom the flap was used for lower eyelid and malar reconstruction.

The role of tissue expansion in the treatment of atypical facial clefting

Tissue expansion can be a valuable tool in the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in craniofacial clefts. To our knowledge, there have been no reports in the literature of the use of tissue expanders to help solve this problem. We report the case of a child with an atypical Tessier no. 3 craniofacial cleft who had a forehead tissue expander placed, inflated, and thus used to provide sufficient local facial skin for repair of the soft-tissue defect.