Claes Lauritzen

A New and Easier Way to Anastomose Microvessels: An Experimental Study in Rats

A new technique for microvascular anastomosis, telescoping one vessel into the other requiring only 2 sutures, is described. In 28 arterial and 15 venous anastomoses no failures were seen as recorded 3 weeks postoperatively by micro dissection, micro angiography, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It is concluded, from this experimental study in rats, that the new anastomosis is faster and easier to perform and at least as reliable as the conventional end to end anastomosis.

Classification and Treatment of Hemifacial Microsomia

On the basis of 37 surgically treated patients with hemifacial microsomia, an anatomical-surgical classification was developed which divides these patients into five categories to facilitate surgical planning and help standardize treatment. Treatment was founded on the cooperation of a large craniofacial team. Osteotomies of the jaws, construction of the TM joint with costochondral grafts, onlay bone grafts, and genioplasty were performed to improve facial form and function. Facial scars were avoided. After three-dimensional skeletal alignment, there was rarely a compelling need for subsequent soft tissue augmentation.

SPRING MEDIATED DYNAMIC CRANIOFACIAL RESHAPING: Case report

A new technique of using implantable springs as an adjunct after corrective surgery for craniofacial malformations is presented. A 6-month-old boy with multiple premature craniosynostoses and extreme turricephaly underwent surgery of limited extensiveness but supplemented with a set of indwelling springs for gradual postoperative skull reshaping. At spring removal three months later the skull was normalised both clinically and on cephalogram. A 5-year-old boy with Apert syndrome, severe midface retrusion, exorbitism, and sleep apnoea underwent a monobloc full face disjunction without repositioning, but was fitted with two springs for postoperative facial advancement. Three months postoperatively cephalometric analysis revealed 14 mm advancement at incisor level and at least 16 mm in the frontal region. There was no more exorbitism or clinically noticeable midface retrusion. Sleep studies revealed that the sleep apnoea was significantly improved, meaning complete cure except when sleeping flat on the back. It was concluded from these first clinical applications of spring assisted craniofacial distraction that springs hold significant promise for the future in many respects.

Airway Obstruction and Sleep Apnea in Children with Craniofacial Anomalies

Children with severe craniofacial anomalies and breathing problems are rare, and the accumulated experience of their treatment is limited. LeFort III midface advancements have been tried by many craniofacial teams, but no consensus has yet been reached as to the effectiveness of this procedure. In this report of seven patients with craniofacial malformations and severe breathing problems, three had a LeFort III midface advancement, one had release of bilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis, and two had tonsillectomies. Two patients without a tracheostomy suffocated, four had a long-term tracheostomy, and one was cured by a unilateral tonsillectomy. It was concluded that LeFort III midface advancement is ineffective in these types of cases without a very stable postoperative retention, and it was suggested that all patients with severe craniofacial anomalies and breathing problems, regardless of their planned subsequent treatment, should have a tracheostomy as an initial measure.

Bone Grafting At The Stage Of Mixed Dentition In Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Our results of bone grafting to the alveolar process during the mixed dentition were investigated in 55 consecutively treated patients (66 clefts). The amount of remaining bone and gingival retraction at the tooth mesial to the cleft after 3 and 12 months was measured and correlated with the following anatomical conditions present during surgery: width of the cleft, rotation of the adjacent incisor, stage of eruption of the tooth distal to the cleft. It was also considered if any deciduous lateral incisor or canine was extracted during surgery and if any flap dehiscence took place postoperatively. It was found that flap dehiscence resulted in significantly less bone at 3 months and at 1 year after surgery. Furthermore, extraction of a deciduous tooth was found to be significantly correlated to less bone 1 year after surgery, in which cases there were also persisting gingival retractions. The other factors had no significant influence on the outcome of surgery.

SPRING-MEDIATED CRANIOPLASTY COMPARED WITH THE MODIFIED PI-PLASTY FOR SAGITTAL SYNOSTOSIS

The aim of this study was to compare the safety, morphological outcome, and degree of parental satisfaction of the new spring-mediated cranioplasty with those of the modified pi-plasty in the management of sagittal synostosis. Ten patients with non-syndromic sagittal synostosis treated with the spring-mediated cranioplasty were followed prospectively. A control group of 10 sex-matched patients operated on with the modified pi-plasty procedure was chosen. Cephalometric radiographs were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 year of age. Cephalic index, axial width ratio, length ratio, width ratio and height ratio were used as objective measures of outcome. Parents were sent a questionnaire to obtain a subjective aesthetic assessment of outcome. Significantly less blood replacement was required (p = 0.003), and shorter duration of postoperative anaesthesia (p = 0.030) and postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.013) were found in the spring-mediated cranioplasty group. There were no complications or deaths in either group. Also significant was the inter-group difference in the postoperative change in the height ratio (p = 0.030), the most change being seen in the spring group. The change in the subjective parental aesthetic evaluation of skull shape was significant in both groups. In conclusion, the spring-mediated procedure was morphologically more effective than the modified pi-plasty procedure in the management of sagittal synostosis with the additional benefits of less blood transfusion needed and shorter duration of hospital stay.

Spring-assisted cranioplasty vs pi-plasty for sagittal synostosis--a long term follow-up study.

Spring-assisted cranioplasty (SAS) has been used for the treatment of selected cases of sagittal synostosis at our unit routinely since 1998. In order to assess the long-term outcomes of this procedure, we compared the clinical data and morbidity with the pi-plasty technique, our previous standard procedure for the treatment of such children. The first 20 consecutive patients who underwent SAS for isolated sagittal synostosis with complete records, and who were 3 years old at the time of this study, were included. Twenty patients with a pi-plasty performed in the period immediately preceding the spring group acted as a control group. Cephalograms (preoperative, 1-year and 3-year), clinical examination, medical record data, medical photography, and a questionnaire (spring-group only) were used to evaluate and compare these two groups. The mean age of the spring group was 3.5 months (2.5-5.5) and the pi-plasty group 7.1 months (4-15.5) of age at surgery. There were no deaths in either group. There was a higher rate of complications in the pi-plasty group. The skull morphology was similar preoperatively in both groups but slightly different at the 3-year follow-up. The mean cephalic index (CI) in the spring group was 72 at 1 year of age and 71 at 3 years of age, indicating a minor relapse. The pi-plasty group had a mean CI of 73 at 3 years of age. The length was the same in both groups however the pi-plasty group had a lower height (mean 2 mm) and wider biparietal distance (mean 5 mm). All parents of the spring group were highly satisfied with the aesthetic results achieved, would undergo the operation again, and would recommend it to others with scaphocephaly. It was concluded that the two groups of surgery resulted in a quite similar morphologic outcome. The pi-plasty group had a cephalic index marginally closer to the normal range at 3 years of age. The spring group was superior with respect to blood loss, transfusion requirements, operative time, ICU time, recovery time, and total hospital stay.

Clinical Outcome of the Modified Pi-plasty Procedure for Sagittal Synostosis

The aim of the study was to evaluate the modified pi-plasty procedure for the treatment of sagittal synostosis, assessing the issues of safety, complications, morphological outcome, and degree of parental satisfaction. A retrospective evaluation of 110 patients with nonsyndromal single suture sagittal synostosis operated on with the modified pi-plasty procedure was undertaken. Cephalometric radiographs were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at ages 3 and 5 years in three standardized projections. The Cephalic Index and the Axial Width Ratio were determined and used as objective outcome measures. An evaluation of the radiographic digital markings was carried out using a Beaten Copper Score. A parental questionnaire was used to obtain a subjective esthetical outcome assessment. The patient population consisted of 76% boys and 24% girls with a 20% incidence of a positive familial history of craniosynostosis. The mean age at surgery was 7.73 months. Morbidity from the procedure was minimal and there were no mortalities. The Cephalic Index changed from a mean preoperative value of 65% to a postoperative mean value of 72% (P = 0.00004). The mean Axial Width Ratio changed from a preoperative 80% to 72% at the 3-year evaluation (P = 0.00029). The Beaten Copper score changed from a mean preoperative value of 2.35 to 5.42 postoperatively at 3 years (P = 0.00001). The response rate to the questionnaire was 86%, and there were significant postoperative improvements in all studied aspects of the skull shape. The modified pi-plasty is a safe technique, and it induces significant objective changes in skull morphology toward normality. It also yields a high degree of parental satisfaction with regard to aesthetic outcome, as evaluated by a written questionnaire.

Mental Development After Modified π Procedure: Dynamic Cranioplasty for Sagittal Synostosis

A prospective developmental assessment was performed on 26 patients operated on with dynamic cranioplasty for sagittal synostosis. Because this technique entails the application of compressive force, it was of great concern to assess the effect of surgery on development and mental status. The surgical technique used was a modified &pgr; procedure. Perioperative variables were recorded. Six patients underwent preoperative intracranial pressure (ICP) measurements. To evaluate objectively the developmental outcome, the Griffiths’ Mental Development Scales was used for analysis before and after surgery. A parental questionnaire was used for subjective outcome measurement. Preoperative ICP recordings during sleep ranged from 12.8 to 22.8 mmHg (mean, 16.1 mmHg). The mean age at the time for surgery was 6.9 months (range, 4–16 months; standard deviation [SD], 2.32 months). The surgical technique included shortening of the anteroposterior diameter of the skull by a mean of 16.6 mm. The mean global development quotient (GDQ) preoperatively was 104.5 (range, 82–144; SD, 12.4) and the mean GDQ postoperatively was 101.4 (range, 62–129; SD, 13.6). Mean age at follow-up was 16.3 months (range, 9–40 months; SD, 4.04 months). There was no significant correlation between the amount of intraoperative shortening and mental development. In comparison of means, the GDQ preoperatively did not differ significantly from the GDQ postoperatively. The modified &pgr; procedure is safe and efficient. When surgery was performed before 1 year of age, no significant (p = 0.33) effect on mental development-either detrimental or beneficial-was demonstrated.

Trigonocephaly: Clinical and Cephalometric Assessment of Craniofacial Morphology in Operated and Nontreated Patients

Craniofacial parameters were studied clinically and by cephalometry in 11 trigonocephalic patients from infancy to 4 years of age. Six of the most severe patients had surgery between 6 and 18 months of age. Analysis of morphology indicated that bony interorbital distance was reduced in patients selected for surgery and hypotelorism persisted at final examination. All patients demonstrated orbital width measurements above the mean for the norm, while orbital height was essentially normal. All but one of the patients had a variably prominent forehead bony ridge that was eliminated or reduced as a result of surgery and/or growth. However, the forehead of most patients, whether operated or not, was too narrow when compared to normal skulls. Thus, although some of the striking features of trigonocephaly are eliminated, minor characteristics of the anomaly still persevere at 4 years of age.