Takayuki Okumoto

Treatment of cranium bifidum occultum of the frontonasal region with a pericranial flap

Cranium bifidum is a congenital anomaly caused by abnormal development of the cephalic neural tube. We report two cases of cranium bifidum occultum with defects of both the frontal bone and anterior cranial base accompanied by infection and enlargement of frontonasal dermoid cysts. Surgery successfully interrupted the communication between the intracranial space and nasal cavity by inserting a pericranial flap after removal of the dermoid cysts.

Salt as a new colored solid model for simulation surgery.

Background:Simulated craniomaxillofacial surgery is critical for planning the procedure, shortening operative time, and practicing the procedure. However, typical models are expensive, given their solid materials, and the surgical sensations do not accurately reflect the procedure performed using human bone. To solve these problems, a new solid salt model has been developed. Method:Stereolithography data was generated using computed tomography data, and a salt model was created using a 3D inkjet printer. By extracting specific data for elements such as the teeth and mandibular canal, these elements were highlighted in the solid model using different colored material. Also, we compared the maximum load and plastic deformation of the salt model, a stereolithographic resin model, and a pig limb. Result:The salt model had similar tenacity to bone, and the risk of damage to the teeth and inferior alveolar nerve was easily confirmed. Conclusion:The material cost of the salt model is extremely low, and the salt model may provide a more accurate sensation of cutting human bone. Thus, this model is useful for both simulated operation and practice for inexperienced surgeons.

Reduced nasal growth after primary nasal repair combined with cleft lip surgery

Nasal growth after cleft lip surgery with or without primary nasal repair was evaluated using lateral cephalograms. In 14 patients who underwent simultaneous nasal repair with primary cleft lip repair and 12 patients without simultaneous nasal repair, lateral cephalograms were obtained at 5 and 10 years of age. Lateral cephalograms of normal Japanese children were used as a control. At 5 years of age, there were significant differences in the nasal height and columellar angle among the three groups. Children without simultaneous nasal repair had shorter noses with more upward tilt of the columella compared with the controls, while children with simultaneous nasal repair had much shorter noses and more upward tilt than those without repair. At 10 years of age, the children without simultaneous nasal repair showed no differences from the control group, while those with simultaneous repair still had shorter noses and more upward tilt of the columella. These findings suggest that performing nasal repair at the same time as primary cleft lip surgery has an adverse influence on the subsequent growth of the nose.

Secondary reconstruction of a mobile eye socket 30 years after enucleation of the eyeball for retinoblastoma: A case report

A mobile eye socket is generally reconstructed by inserting an implant into the scleral pocket immediately after bulbar exenteration, or by attaching the extra-ocular muscles to the implanted artificial eyeball immediately after enucleation. However, exposure of the implanted material and other problems can occur. We achieved satisfactory reconstruction of a mobile eye socket by using an autogenous cartilage graft and a pericranial flap in a patient with long-standing anophthalmia due to enucleation. This case is presented with a review of the relevant literature.

Long-term follow-up of a patient with Romberg's disease reconstructed with free groin flaps.

Sixteen years ago the result of an operation that was performed on a 5-year-old boy with Rombergs disease was described in this journal. Nineteen years have passed since the first operation, and the authors now report the long-term follow-up. The volume of the transferred free groin flaps was maintained. Although these flaps covered the patients atrophic tissues as vascularized tissues, these flaps could not normalize the atrophy of the surrounding tissues, especially the bone. As for the orbital content, bony atrophy was more remarkable than the other tissues.

A Family With Craniofrontonasal Syndrome: The First Report of Familial Cases of Craniofrontonasal Syndrome With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS) is a very rare genetic disorder, the common physical malformations of which include coronal synostosis, widely spaced eyes, clefting of the nasal tip, and various skeletal anomalies. Mutations of EFNB1, which encodes a member of the ephrin family of transmembrane ligands for Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, is the cause of CFNS. Although familial CFNS cases have been reported, no studies in the literature describe familial cases of CFNS expressing bilateral cleft lip and palate. Here, we describe a Japanese family with three cases of CFNS expressing bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Nasal dermoid sinus cyst in a young girl: A case report

Dear Editor, Nasal dermoid sinus cyst (NDSC) is a rare congenital anomaly caused by a cephalic neural tube defect occurring in the early embryonic period. It primarily occurs in the midline and is associated with a defect in the bone without herniation of neural tissue, while it is often accompanied by the presence of dermoid sinuses and cysts. These lesions rarely result in definite and striking clinical findings and therefore the diagnosis is

Anatomical Study of Perfusion of a Periosteal Flap with a Lateral Pedicle

Background: Pedicled periosteal flaps are commonly used for tissue defects between the base of the skull and the midfacial area. This study aimed to clarify the 3-dimensional vascular distribution of temporal region flaps. Methods: Ten fresh cadavers were used. Full-thickness cranial flaps were elevated from the cranial bone and each layer was detached separately. Contrast enhancement of the full thickness of the scalp, macroscopic evaluation, and histologic analyses were performed. Radiographs were obtained and image analysis was performed using a 3-dimensional monitor. Results: The mean number of deep vessels extending from the parietal branch of the superficial temporal artery was 68.7, including 14.2 and 54.5 vessels on the proximal and distal sides, respectively. The mean number of deep vessels extending from the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery was 71.6, including 17.6 and 54.0 vessels on the proximal and distal sides, respectively. There were significantly more perforating branches in the distal area than in the proximal area of both the frontal and parietal branches (P = 0.005). There was no significant difference in the number of perforating branches between the frontal and parietal branches. Conclusions: Contrast-enhanced images of the loose areolar tissue and periosteal layers revealed vessels that extended radially. We successfully identified the 3-dimensional structure of the perforating vessels peripheral to the temporal fossa. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for the feasibility of elevating a periosteal/loose areolar tissue flap with a reliable blood supply without sacrificing the temporal muscle.

Characterization of the Capsule Surrounding Smooth and Textured Tissue Expanders and Correlation with Contracture

Background: Capsular contracture is a common complication after breast augmentation surgery. This study pathologically evaluated the soft-tissue response to surface modifications in both smooth and textured tissue expander prostheses. Methods: Smooth tissue expanders and textured tissue expanders in 5 cases each were used for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Histological samples were harvested from the capsules when the tissue expanders were replaced by silicone implants. Collagen orientation and cellular responses were assessed histologically. Capsular contracture was evaluated using the Baker classification 6 months and 2 years after the removal of the tissue expander. Results: The capsules surrounding the smooth tissue expanders tended to produce more contracture than those surrounding the textured tissue expanders. The collagen architecture of the capsules of the smooth tissue expanders showed random orientation with fragmentation. Conversely, the capsules of the textured tissue expanders showed parallel orientation with collagen bundles of almost normal structure. Significantly more fibrils of elastin and myofibroblasts were found in the capsules surrounding the smooth tissue than in those surrounding the textured ones. Conclusions: The collagen fibers surrounding the smooth tissue expanders could be cracked during expansion, which may lead to scarring and contracture. Conversely, the collagen orientation surrounding the textured tissue expanders was excellent. Moreover, the increase in elastic fibers and myofibroblasts in the capsules surrounding the smooth tissue expanders may be associated with in vivo contraction patterns. Therefore, the surface type of tissue expanders affects capsular contraction after replacement with definitive implants.

Venous drainage of the face

The venous anatomy of the face was examined in 12 fresh cadavers. Venograms and arteriovenograms were obtained after the injection of contrast medium. In 8 of the 12 cadavers, a large loop was formed by the facial vein, the supratrochlear vein, and the superficial temporal vein, which became the main trunk vein of the face. In 4 of the 12 cadavers, the superior lateral limb of the loop vein was less well developed. The loop vein generally did not accompany the arteries of the face. Cutaneous branches of the loop vein formed a polygonal venous network in the skin, while communicating branches ran toward deep veins. These findings suggest that blood from the dermis of the face is collected by the polygonal venous network and enters the loop vein through the cutaneous branches, after which blood flows away from the face through the superficial temporal vein, the facial vein, and the communicating branches and enters the deep veins.