Henri Friedhofer

Correction of blepharophimosis with silicone implant suspensor.

Background: Blepharophimosis is a rare autosomal-dominant syndrome involving the periorbital region. It is characterized mainly by eyelid ptosis, palpebral phimosis, telecanthus, and epicanthus inversus. Methods: Ten patients ranging in age from 2 to 22 years who presented with blepharophimosis were retrospectively studied over the past 14 years; they had an average follow-up of 7 years and 5 months. They were treated at the Division of Plastic Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo. Eight patients presented with the complete form, including epicanthus, telecanthus, and severe palpebral ptosis, and two presented with the incomplete form. The epicanthi and telecanthi were corrected with Mustardé’s technique, and the ptosis was treated by frontalis suspension with a soft, preformed silicone device called the silicone implant suspensor. Results: The results were classified as good, fair, and poor, according to the postoperative position of the upper eyelid in relation to the scleral limbus, medial canthus position, and residual epicanthal fold. The results were assessed as good in seven cases and fair in three. Conclusions: The silicone eyelid suspensor was effective in improving the patients’ difficult condition. It was a better alternative than the use of fascia lata, because it permitted an easier readjustment of the eyelid margin and it offered the possibility of creating a well-defined palpebral fold, which is usually absent in this group. The results were maintained with long-term follow-up. The silicone suspensor was safe and long-term results were good in both children and adults.

Comparative analysis of the influence of perichondrium on conjunctival epithelialization on conchal cartilage grafts in eyelid reconstruction: experimental study in rabbits.

Background: Although the role of cartilage grafts in reconstruction of the posterior eyelid lamella is well established, spontaneous conjunctival epithelialization on such grafts has yet to be fully proven. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the influence of perichondrium on conjunctival epithelialization over conchal cartilage grafts used in eyelid reconstruction in rabbits. Methods: The posterior lamellae of 100 lower eyelids from 50 rabbits were reconstructed with autogenous grafts of conchal ear cartilage. In the right eyelids, cartilage was grafted with the perichondrium in direct contact with the eyeball, and the left eyelids were reconstructed in a similar manner but using cartilage grafts without perichondrium. The animals were killed after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks, and their lower eyelids were analyzed macroscopically and histologically. Results: The percentage difference in conjunctival epithelialization on the cartilage with perichondrium and that without perichondrium was 11.41 percent in the first week of the experiment, 13.64 percent in the second week, 18.69 percent in the third week, 10.38 percent in the fourth week, and 6.17 percent in the fifth week. The average percentage conjunctival epithelialization in the eyelids reconstructed with a cartilage graft with perichondrium was significantly higher throughout the 5 weeks of the experiment than in the eyelids reconstructed with cartilage without perichondrium (p < 0.0002). Conclusion: It was found that the perichondrium had an important role in conjunctival epithelialization in eyelids reconstructed with a cartilage graft in the present study.

Correction of severe ptosis with a silicone implant suspensor: 22 years of experience.

Background: Patients with severe ptosis caused by poor or absent function of the levator muscle but with good frontalis muscle excursion usually benefit from a frontalis sling procedure. This is currently carried out using organic or inorganic material to connect the upper eyelid to the frontalis muscle. Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively 112 patients who underwent frontalis sling procedures between 1989 and 2011 using a preformed silicone implant suspensor to correct severe ptosis. Results: The results obtained using this technique were good or fair in 95.54 percent of the cases and poor in 4.46 percent of the cases. The authors discuss the results of the study and the cases in which the procedure should be indicated and highlight the advantages of the method. Conclusion: The availability of this low-cost sterile device, together with the fact that it is ready to use, requires less invasive surgery, saves time, and is sufficiently versatile to allow adjustments to be made at any time, makes the silicone eyelid sling an attractive choice for correcting ptosis. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Primary cutaneous melanoma: an 18-year study

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous melanoma still constitutes the main cause of skin cancer death in developed countries, and its incidence in recent years has been increasing in a steady, worrisome manner. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the clinical, epidemiological and demographic aspects of this disease, and correlated them with patient prognosis. METHODS: Using epidemiologic and clinical data, we analyzed 84 patients with mild to severe primary cutaneous melanoma treated between 1990 and 2007. Slides containing surgical specimens were analyzed, and new slides were made from archived paraffin sections when necessary. RESULTS: The melanoma incidence was higher in areas of sun exposure, with lesions commonly observed in the trunk for males, and lower limbs for females. In addition to Breslow’s thickness and ulceration (p = 0.043 and p < 0.001, respectively), the mitotic rate per mm2 also correlated with worse patient outcome (p = 0.0007). The sum of ulceration (0 when absent or 1 when present), the Breslow index (1 when <1 mm, 2 when >1 mm and <4 mm, 3 when >4 mm) and the mitotic index (0 when absent or 1 when ≥1 per mm2) allowed the establishment of a prognostic score: if the sum was equal to or over three, nearly all (91.7%) patients had systemic disease. The 5-year survival was approximately seventy percent. CONCLUSION: Because American Join Committee of Cancer Staging will update the classification of malignant tumors (TNM) staging in the near future, and introduce mitosis as a prognostic factor, our results show the importance of such a feature. Additional studies are necessary to confirm the importance of a prognostic score as proposed herein.

Lacrimal Gland Prolapse: Management During Aesthetic Blepharoplasty: Review of the Literature and Case Reports

AbstractProlapse of the lacrimal gland is an acquired clinical condition caused mainly by relaxation of the local suspending ligaments. Before an aesthetic blepharoplasty, there should be a preoperative clinical suspicion of lacrimal gland pathology for patients with bulging lateral thirds of the upper eyelids. It should be borne in mind that inadvertent removal of the lacrimal gland can lead to important alterations in ocular lubrication. This report describes two clinical cases of patients with lacrimal gland prolapse associated with dermatochalasis and their treatment.

Correction of eyelid anomalies in pachydermoperiostosis.

PURPOSE Pachydermoperiostosis, or primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, is a rare disease, characterized by pachydermia, acropathy, and periostosis. The authors propose the surgical correction of the eyelid anomalies in one stage. METHODS A 30-year-old patient with moderate blepharoptosis (3 mm) and increased vertical and horizontal dimensions of the upper eyelids underwent fusiform transverse excision of skin, orbicularis muscle, and tarsus; shortening of the levator palpebrae superioris apeoneurosis by 13 mm; and 8-mm-wide wedge excision. RESULTS Histologic findings included hyperplasia of the tarso-conjunctival plate, obstructive cystic dilatation of the sebaceous glands, extensive fibrosis, and granulomatous reaction. Satisfactory functional and aesthetic results were observed after surgery. CONCLUSION Upper eyelid anomalies in pachydermoperiostosis can be corrected in a single stage bilaterally with good results.

The role of micro-anchor devices in medial canthopexy.

Telecanthus, the lateral displacement of the medial canthus, can be a congenital deformity or can occur after facial trauma or tumor resection. Treatment of telecanthus remains a challenge for plastic surgeons. For proper correction, it is necessary to shift the medial canthus medially, fixing its tendon to the bone. The ideal technique would allow easy, safe, and stable fixation of the tendon, permit a unilateral approach with minimal incisions, and be cost-effective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and results (immediate and long-term) of medial telecanthus repair using ipsilateral titanium microanchor fixation. Nine patients, 7 with unilateral telecanthus and 2 with bilateral telecanthus, underwent ipsilateral canthopexy involving a microanchor device. Anthropometric measurements of the orbital regions were taken before, immediately after, and at 1 year after surgery. Data for the affected sides were compared with those for the unaffected sides, and the evolution of those values was assessed throughout the 1-year follow-up period. For all patients, the final values were lower than those initially obtained. At 1 year after surgery, the intercanthal distance was reduced to age-adjusted normal values in all cases. On the operated side, stable improvement was observed in terms of the distance from the medial canthus to the midline, although some degree of recurrence was noted in most of the patients. The use of a microanchor system for medial canthopexy can be considered an easily performed and effective option for treating canthal dystopia, especially when an ipsilateral approach is preferred.

Eyelid reconstruction using cartilage grafts from auricular scapha

Abstract The main goal, in eyelid reconstruction, is to promote an adequate protection to the ocular globe, through the reconstitution of all anatomic plans. In order to obtain adequate stability, cartilage grafts are often used in the repair of the internal lamella. Cartilage grafts from auricular scapha in contact with the bulbar conjunctiva were used in this study. Nineteen patients with various pathologies had 20 eyelid reconstructions using this technique (10 cutaneous tumors, 7 post-traumatic, and 3 cases of lower eyelid retraction). Local cutaneous flaps (glabella, Mustardè, etc) were used to reconstruct the external lamella. Epithelialization on the perichondrium (confirmed by the histological examination) occurs between 3 to 4 weeks. The functional and aesthetic result was considered good in 14 cases (70%), acceptable in 5 (25%) and poor in one case (5%). The donor area showed no complications or deformities. The shape of the scapha allows satisfactory conformation of the graft to the curvature of the ocular globe; it is not flat like the nasal septum, and has a smoother curvature than the auricular concha. Furthermore, it is thinner and that is another reason why the aesthetic result was superior to the technique previously used. The functional results were similar.

Alternative surgical treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos using autogenic cartilage grafts and canthopexy.

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the use of autogenic auricular cartilage grafts as weight for the upper eyelid in conjunction with lateral canthopexy for patients with mild paralytic lagophthalmos. This procedure was also accompanied by elevation of the lower eyelid using the cartilage graft for moderate cases. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study including case series of 30 patients with paralytic lagophthalmos from 1997 to 2010. For mild cases, cartilage from the auricular scapha was placed in pretarsal space of the upper eyelid and cartilage from the concha was inserted in preaponeurotic space and then sutured to the levator aponeurosis in conjunction with lateral canthopexy. For moderate cases, lower eyelid was also elevated by suturing cartilage graft to tarsum and resting it by the inferior orbital rim. ResultsAll patients had some degree of keratopathy before the intervention. After treatment, they presented with evident clinical improvement, reduction of eye symptoms, and resolution of keratopathy. During the mean postoperative follow-up of 37.3 months, none of the patients presented with cartilage graft exposition, reabsorption, visibility, infection, or warping. Complete eye closure was achieved in 24 (80%) patients, whereas the remaining 6 (20%) patients had residual asymptomatic lagophthalmos. ConclusionsThe intervention using autogenic auricular cartilage grafts explained in this study was only effective for the treatment of mild and moderate cases of paralytic lagophthalmos. This outpatient surgery is associated with low morbidity and achievement of functional and aesthetic improvement.

Surgical treatment for eyelid deformity in Crouzon syndrome associated with acanthosis nigricans: case report

The combination of Crouzon syndrome with acanthosis nigricans is unusual. The incidence of this combination is still uncertain, and there are only 30 cases reported in the medical literature. 1–3 Crouzon syndrome is caused by mutation of the gene FGFR3 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3). In this gene, other mutations can cause a kind of nanism that is lethal during the first weeks of life. Recent biomolecular studies have indicated that the association of Crouzon syndrome with acanthosis nigricans should be considered as a different pathology, as opposed to Crouzon syndrome in isolation, because acanthosis nigricans would originate from a different gene and from a diverse chromosome mutation. 4 Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease that involves craniosynostosis, exophthalmia, hypoplasia of the middle third of the face, and irregularities of dental occlusion. Its incidence is about 1 in 300,000 live births. Acanthosis nigricans is a rare illness related to the skin. It is characterized by hyperplasia and hypertrophy, with hyperkeratosis and slight hyperpigmentation on the inner skin layer, without melanocytic hyperplasia. The epidermis presents as a wavy surface (Figure 2). It can affect the neck, armpits, normally folding areas, and the orbital region. The etiology of acanthosis nigricans is variable and can be one of the following: - Hereditary with dominant autosomal transmission. - Associated with genetic abnormalities or endocrine dis