H.P.M. Freihofer

Timing and transplant materials for closure of alveolar clefts: A clinical comparison of 296 cases*

A retrospective study of bone grafting of 296 clefts (165 unilateral and 131 bilateral was required) to answer questions about the most favourable timing and the most appropriate bone graft material. The results as such are not exceptional in comparison with earlier publications by the same or other authors, but it is of special interest that operations with different graft materials applied at different times in development, in (usually) a sufficient number of cases, can be compared together. The patients have been operated on during a period of 11 years, by the same surgeons, applying the same principles and techniques. It is shown that early secondary grafting, before the eruption of the canine, results in by far, the highest success rate. Similarly, chin bone is considerably better than any other type of transplant. Aspects of general planning, timing, technique and failures are extensively discussed. Besides the afore-mentioned most significant findings, it is also concluded that the results of grafting during osteotomies are better than they appear; that tertiary grafting is extremely difficult, and requires special surgical skill; that rib grafts score as high as iliac crest grafts and that materials other than these three types of bone should be avoided.

Latitude and limitation of midface movements

The starting point of midface osteotomies has been traced back to the last century (Cheever, 1867) by Moloney and Worthington (1981). Only occasional case reports can be found in the first half of this century. When Obwegeser (1962, 1965, 1969) described his standard approach to mobilise the maxilla, Tessier (1967, 1971a) discussed his extensive experience with the total midface advancement and finally Kufner (1971) and Souyris et al. (1973) proposed an intermediate midface osteotomy and Henderson and Jackson (1973) an approach to mobilise the midface according to a Le Fort II type osteotomy, the cornerstones were set further to develop techniques and modifications to solve functional and aesthetic needs of any patient with a midface deformity. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the actual knowledge of these basic procedures and their combinations, and to give a personal view on latitude and limitations concerning the planning, operative technique and results in treatment of deformities of the middle third of the face.

Secondary post-traumatic periorbital surgery: Incidence and results

Over a 6 year period 20 patients presented for secondary corrections of the periorbital region after trauma. Corrections after isolated fracture of the zygoma were necessary in 6 cases, mainly comprising re-osteotomies and contour corrections. A tertiary correction was needed only once (17%). Secondary treatment was indicated in 6 patients after fracture of the midface, necessitating mainly re-osteotomies of the zygoma, corrections of the nose and canthopexies. Tertiary corrections were performed in 3 cases (50%). In 8 patients the results of treatment of fronto-orbito-nasal fractures required further improvement. Again, osteotomies of the zygoma, corrections of the nose as well as corrections of scars and bony contours were often indicated. Four cases (50%) needed tertiary surgery. It is concluded that the more serious the primary trauma the greater the necessity for further secondary surgery. Independently of the kind of primary trauma the indication for secondary treatment was, in most cases, aesthetic. Not only was the number of re-osteotomies and nasal corrections high, but also the number of tertiary revisions. While this might not be very surprising for the nose, it is for the zygoma and proves the difficulties which arise for perfect positioning when there are no clear landmarks. Forty percent of all patients underwent tertiary and one patient needs a quaternary correction.

Palatal surgery without denudation of bone favours dentoalveolar development in dogs

The present study compared the dentoalveolar development in beagle dogs after palatal repair according to the partially split flap technique and the von Langenbeck method. It was concluded that palatal surgery according to the partially split flap technique resulted in significantly wider transverse distances of the maxillary dental arch than after the von Langenbeck procedure and that its final outcome closely resembled that of the control group.

Fracture of costochondral graft in temporomandibular joint reconstructive surgery: an unexpected complication

The case of a 35-year-old woman with a history of several temporomandibular joint (TMJ) operations, including condylectomy, is reported. She presented with myofacial pain and partial fibrous ankylosis of her right TMJ. The ankylosis was released and an autogenous costochondral graft was used to restore the vertical dimension of the ramus. About 3 months after surgery, a fracture of the graft occurred during physical therapy. The cause of this complication is discussed with reference to the literature.

Palatal mucoperiosteal expansion as an adjunct to palatal fistula repair : case report and review of the literature

Case report of conventional palatal soft-tissue expansion in an attempt at cleft palate fistula closure with a standard tissue expander. This technique may be an alternative to a tongue flap to promote closure of persistent oronasal fistula.

Neurofibroma in the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint: a case report

In classical Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (Type I), skeletal defects occur as a result of abnormalities of derivatives of the neuroectoderm and mesoderm. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders caused by neurofibroma in the joint capsule or disc have not been reported previously in the English language literature. A case of neurofibroma in the TMJ articular disc in a 29-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis Type I is presented.

Radiologic analysis of the effects of subperiosteal palatal soft-tissue expansion in growing cats

Palatal soft-tissue expansion might be appropriate for use in cleft palate surgery. Seventy-five cats were divided into four different experimental groups and one control group. Intraoral tissue expansion was started at the age of 14 weeks in normal or scarred mucoperiosteum. The experiment lasted until 24 weeks of age. Serial standardized lateral cephalograms from each animal were digitized, and the results were statistically analyzed. The results indicate that the effects are independent of the presence of scarred tissue, that sagittal growth is impaired by tissue expansion, and that the tissue expander induced resorption of palatal bone.

Three-dimensional morphometric analysis of the effects of subperiosteal palatal soft-tissue expansion in growing cats

A prospective longitudinal study in 75 growing cats was conducted to evaluate palatal soft-tissue expansion in cleft lip and palate surgery. In 31 cats, palatal scars were induced by simulated Langenbeck surgery at the age of 8 weeks. At the age of 14 weeks, custom-made tissue expanders were inserted in 61 animals. Tissue expansion was performed by weekly inflation in 33 cats (16 without and 17 with scars) for an 8-week period. The remaining 28 cats (14 without and 14 with scars) served as sham groups. A control group was formed by 14 animals (without scars and without tissue expander). The effects of the experimental interventions were evaluated on a series of dental casts during the inflation period and until 8 weeks after removal of the tissue expander. The results indicate that soft-tissue expansion of the palatal mucoperiosteum is feasible. Until 20 weeks of age, no differences were found between both expansion and sham groups. Thereafter, significant soft-tissue surface-area gain was quantified in relation to the base surface and base diameter of the tissue expander. Iatrogenic side-effects of active tissue expansion consisted of significant transversal growth retardation in the anterior part of the bony palate and dentoalveolar structures. After removal of the tissue expanders, some accelerated growth in the tissue-expansion, scarred-tissue group was seen. It is concluded that palatal soft-tissue expansion is possible in growing cats, with and without the presence of palatal scars; however, this technique, like other kinds of palatal surgery, impairs dentomaxillary growth and development.

Cranio-maxillo-facial tissue expansion, experimentally based or clinically empiric? A review of the literature

The literature over 10 years covering tissue expansion in cranio-maxillo-facial surgery is reviewed. Since 1981, an evolving set of indications for application of the soft-tissue expansion technique has been published. However, it seems to be based much more on clinical experience (empiricism) than on the results of thorough experimental research. The direction of future research should be aimed at effects on bone, cartilage and mucosa at a microscopical level, and at the influence on growth and development of cranio-maxillo-facial structures.