Maria Mani

Quality of Life Varies With Gender and Age Among Adults Treated for Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Objective To evaluate health-related quality of life among adults treated for unilateral cleft lip and palate and to investigate whether patients were affected differently depending on gender and age. Design Cross-sectional population study with long-term follow-up. Patients/Settings All unilateral cleft lip and palate patients born 1960–1987 and treated at Uppsala University Hospital were invited (n = 109). Response rate was 79% (n = 86). Mean follow-up time was 35 years. Norm data matched for age and gender were used for comparison (n = 1385). Main Outcome Measures Health-related quality of life measured with the SF-36 questionnaire. High values indicate good level of health-related quality of life. Results The total patient group had lower values in the Mental Health subscale compared with norm data (p = .005). Values in all other subscales did not differ from norm data. Women had a higher positive difference than men in the subscale emotional role function compared with the matched norm population (p < .001). The younger age group (20 to 32 years old) consistently had a larger negative difference to matched norm data compared with the older age group (33 to 47 years old) in the subscales social function (p = .009), physical role function (p < .001), and emotional role function (p < .001). Conclusions Unilateral cleft lip and palate affected health-related quality of life differently depending on gender and age of the patient. Younger patients were affected more negatively than older patients on several subscales. However, except for the mental health subscale, health-related quality of life was similar among unilateral cleft lip and palate patients and norm data.

Objective Assessment of the Nasal Airway in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate—A Long-Term Study

Objective To objectively evaluate the nasal function in adults operated on for unilateral cleft lip and palate with one-stage or two-stage palate closure. Design The population consists of all unilateral cleft lip and palate patients born from 1960 to 1987 and treated at the Cleft Lip and Palate Center, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. The patients were treated according to the same protocol except for palate closure, which was performed in one stage until 1977 and in two stages thereafter. Eighty-three patients participated. Mean follow-up time after primary surgery was 32 years. An age-matched control group underwent the same examinations. Main Outcome Measures Nasal minimum cross-sectional area (cm2) and volume (cm3) were assessed (acoustic rhinometry). Airflow resistance (Pa s/cm3) (rhinomanometry), peak inspiratory flow (L/min) (peak nasal inspiratory flow), and number of identified odors (Scandinavian Odor Identification Test) were determined. Results The cleft side of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients had significantly lower values for all parameters compared with controls (p < .001). No difference was found between one-stage and two-stage procedures in values for the cleft side. However, the nasal area and volume of the noncleft side were significantly larger in patients who underwent one-stage as compared with two-stage procedures (p < .05). Conclusion The nasal airway of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients demonstrates a wide range of impairments that can be quantified by objective measurements. However, the measurements used did not differentiate between patients operated on with the one-stage and two-stage procedures except for values of the noncleft side.

Factors related to quality of life and satisfaction with nasal appearance in patients treated for unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Objective To identify factors related to quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with nasal appearance among patients treated for unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Design Cross-sectional population study with long-term follow-up. Patients/Settings All patients with UCLP born between 1960 and 1987, treated at Uppsala University Hospital, were invited (n = 109); 86 (79%) participated. Mean follow-up time was 35 years. Main Outcome Measures Quality of life was measured with Short Form–36 (SF-36) and analyzed using mental and physical cluster scores (MCS and PCS). Nasal appearance was self-assessed with the “Satisfaction With Appearance” questionnaire and by panel judgment. Multivariate regression analyses explored endogenous factors (age, gender, infancy cleft width, nasal function, nasolabial appearance) and exogenous factors (marital status, number of children, education level, operation method, number of rhinoplasties performed). Results A larger cleft width in infancy was associated with less satisfaction with nasal appearance as adults. A lower mental health QoL was associated with less satisfaction with nasal appearance. Despite female gender being linked to less satisfaction with nasal appearance, it was associated with higher mental health QoL. Higher resistance during nasal breathing was associated with lower physical health QoL. Conclusions Gender and infant cleft width may affect QoL and satisfaction with nasal appearance among adults. They are potential predictive factors for satisfaction with nasal appearance and QoL during adulthood. The correlation of nasal function impairment and decreased physical health QoL underlines the importance of treatment of nasal symptoms in these patients.

Predictors of Reoperations in Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background: The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) procedure is regarded a safe option for autologous breast reconstruction. Reoperations, however, may occur, and there is no consensus in the literature regarding the risk factors. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with reoperations in DIEP procedure. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing DIEP breast reconstruction 2007 to 2014 was performed and included a review of 433 medical charts. Surgical outcome was defined as any unanticipated reoperation requiring return to the operating room. Multivariate regression analysis was utilized to identify predictors of reoperation. The following factors were considered: age, body mass index, comorbidity, childbearing history, previous abdominal surgery, adjuvant therapy, reconstruction laterality and timing, flap and perforator characteristics, and number and size of veins. Results: In total, 503 free flaps were performed in 433 patients, 363 (83.8%) unilateral and 70 (16.2%) bilateral procedures. Mean age was 51 years; 15.0% were obese; 13.4% had hypertension; 2.3% had diabetes; 42.6% received tamoxifen; 58.8% had preoperative radiotherapy; 45.6% had abdominal scars. Reoperation rate was 15.9% (80/503) and included flap failure, 2.0%; partial flap loss, 1.2%; arterial thrombosis, 2.0%; venous thrombosis, 0.8%; venous congestion, 1.2%; vein kinking, 0.6%. Other complications included bleeding, 2.2%; hematoma, 3.0%; fat necrosis, 2.8%, and infection, 0.2%. Factors negatively associated with reoperation were childbearing history (odds ratio [OR]: 3.18, P = 0.001) and dual venous drainage (OR: 1.91, P = 0.016); however, only childbearing remained significant in the multivariate analyses (OR: 4.56, P = 0.023). Conclusions: The history of childbearing was found to be protective against reoperation. Number of venous anastomoses may also affect reoperation incidence, and dual venous drainage could be beneficial in nulliparous patients.

Photographic Measurements Partially Correlate to Nasal Function and Appearance among Adult Cleft Patients

Background: Unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) affects nasal function and appearance. There is a lack of objective measurements to evaluate these features. This study analyzes whether objective measurements on photographs correlate with nasal function and/or appearance among adults treated for UCLP. Methods: All patients with UCLP born from 1960 to 1987 treated at the Uppsala University Hospital were invited (n = 109). Participation rate was 68% (n = 74); mean follow-up was 35 years. An age-matched control group (n = 61) underwent the same tests. Nostril area, nasal tip deviation angle, and width of the nostril were measured on photographs and were compared with functional tests and with appearance as assessed by self-assessment questionnaire, professional panel, or laymen panel. Results: The photographically measured nostril area correlated with nasal volume (acoustic rhinometry) among UCLP patients, both cleft side and noncleft side, and controls (0.331, P = 0.005; 0.338, P = 0.004; and 0.420, P < 0.001, respectively). For the patients’ noncleft side and controls, the area correlated inversely with airflow resistance at inspiration (noncleft side: −0.245, P = 0.043; controls: −0.226, P = 0.013). Laymen assessment of nasal appearance correlated with width ratio of the patients (0.27, P = 0.022) and with nasal tip deviation angle and area ratio of the controls (0.26, P = 0.041, and 0.31, P = 0.015, respectively). Conclusions: Photographic measurements correlate partially with both functional tests of the nose and panel ratings of appearance. No correlation was found with self-assessment of appearance. Evaluation of photographs needs to be combined with patient-reported outcome measures to be a valuable endpoint of nasal appearance.

Reconstruction of late esophagus perforation after anterior cervical spine fusion with an adipofascial anterolateral thigh free flap: A case report

Reconstruction of late esophageal perforation usually requires flap surgery to achieve wound healing. However, restoring the continuity between the digestive tract and retropharyngeal space to allow for normal swallowing remains a technical challenge. In this report, we describe the use of a thin and pliable free adipofascial anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap in a 47‐year‐old tetraplegic man with a history of C5–C6 fracture presented with a large posterior esophagus wall perforation allowing an easier flap insetting for a successful wound closure. The postoperative course was uneventful and mucosalization of the flap was confirmed by esophagoscopy 4 weeks postsurgery. The patient tolerated normal diet and maintained normal swallowing during a follow‐up of 3 years postoperatively. The adipofascial ALT flap may provide easier insetting due to the thin and pliable layer of adipofascial tissue for reconstructing large defects of the posterior wall of the esophagus by filling the retroesophageal space.

Free anterolateral thigh flap and masseter nerve transfer for reconstruction of extensive periauricular defects : Surgical technique and clinical outcomes

Radical tumor ablation in the periauricular area often results in extensive soft tissue defects, including facial nerve sacrifice, bone and/or dura defects. Reconstruction of these defects should aim at restoring facial reanimation, wound closure, and facial and neck contours. We present our experience using free anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) in combination with masseter nerve to facial nerve transfer in managing complex defects in the periauricular area.

Use of a pedicled fillet foot flap for knee preservation in severe lower extremity trauma: A case report and literature review

Abstract We report the sequential use of a pedicled fillet foot flap in a clinical case of complex bilateral lower extremity trauma to achieve stable wound closure, maximizing length preservation and gait rehabilitation. In addition, we perform a literature review of the use of fillet foot flaps in lower extremity trauma.