Published papers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the initial defect and the outcome of bone grafts for unilateral alveolar cleft. To determine the absorption of the bone graft in patients with unilateral cleft, computer-aided engineering (CAE) with multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) was used. MDCT scans of 29 patients were taken immediately preoperatively and at 1 month and 6 months postoperatively. The patients underwent bone grafting between 8 and 14 years of age using iliac crest bone grafts. Three-dimensional models were created in each period, and the defect at the alveolar cleft and volume of the bone graft were determined in each patient using CAE. Cleft volume and success of alveolar bone grafting were significantly correlated (P < .01). Alveolar clefts with cleft palate required more bone volume than those without cleft palate (P < .01), but the resorption rate did not significantly differ between alveolar clefts with and without cleft palate (0.48 ± 0.14 and 0.49 ± 0.18, respectively; P = .93). In conclusion, three-dimensional reconstruction of bone grafts using CAE based on MDCT provides a valuable objective assessment of graft volume.

Objective: In any immediate reconstruction of the maxillofacial defect after total maxillectomy, the defect is often covered with a flap, however, dentures cannot be maintained stably by the flap, because of the high mobility and large amount of displacement of the flap under pressure. Therefore, we developed a method in which a muscle flap is transplanted without creating a skin island in the oral cavity and a denture is immediately fixed with titanium screws, and obtained favorable results. Patients and methods: The subjects were 9 patients who underwent resection for maxillary sinus cancer. In all patients, a free rectus abdominis muscle flap was used for the reconstruction and the raw surface of the muscle tissue was left in the oral cavity without creating a skin island. Dentures that had been made preoperatively were fixed on the remaining palate and alveolus with titanium screws for one month, so that they covered the muscle tissue. Results: Good palatal morphology was formed without hanging down after epithelialization of the surface of the muscle tissue. In comparison with the preoperative levels, the masticatory and conversational functions recovered to 77% and 90%, on average. Conclusions: Our method is considered to be one of the useful reconstruction methods for maxillofacial defects.

The number of patients with mild exophthalmos, without severe eye symptoms, who wish to undergo aesthetic orbital decompression, is increasing. Removal of the lateral and inferior orbital walls is a common procedure for mild to moderate exophthalmos. However, the limited space between the globe and the orbital wall is often troublesome for surgeons introducing surgical devices. As a result, the decompression tends to be insufficient in the posterior region of the orbit. We describe a simple adjuvant surgical technique to address this limitation. Through a laterally extended, transconjunctival approach, the inferior and lateral margins of the orbit are removed in a crescent shape before the actual decompression. This manoeuvre widens the working space and offers better visibility, enabling sufficient removal of the orbital walls. The technique presented facilitates the approach to the posterior regions of the orbit, enabling surgeons to more easily perform orbital decompression.

Patients and methods: Eight patients who failed to respond to at least 2 years of medical treatment and who underwent blepharoptosis surgery, from January 2008 to December 2011, were enrolled in this study. Medical records, photographs, and questionnaire results regarding postoperative status were evaluated. Of the eleven procedures performed, four involved frontal suspension, four involved external levator advancement, one involved nonincisional transconjunctival levator advancement, and two involved subbrow blepharoplasty with orbicularis oculi muscle tucking. The margin reflex distance improved postoperatively in seven patients.Purpose: Currently, only a few reports have recommended surgery as a suitable treatment for blepharoptosis associated with myasthenia gravis. The present study aims to introduce our surgical criteria, surgical options, outcomes, and precautions for medically refractory myasthenic blepharoptosis.Results: Seven patients had very minimal scarring, and one had minimal scarring. Five patients showed no eyelid asymmetry, one had subtle asymmetry, and two had obvious asymmetry. Seven patients were very satisfied, and one patient was satisfied with the overall result. Postoperative complications included mild lid lag with incomplete eyelid closure, prolonged scar redness, and worsened heterophoria. No patient experienced postoperative exposure keratitis or recurrent blepharoptosis during the study period.Conclusion: Our results indicate that blepharoptosis surgery is effective for patients with myasthenia gravis, especially those with residual blepharoptosis despite multiple sessions of medical treatments. We recommend that neurologists and surgeons collaborate more systematically and discuss comprehensive treatment plans to increase the quality of life for patients with myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow aspirates contain primarily red blood cells. To achieve efficient cell transplantation for regeneration, the red blood cells need to be removed from the aspirates. Cell isolation is typically performed using density gradient centrifugation. However, this method entails issues of clinical safety and convenience. This study describes an efficient method to concentrate bone marrow nucleated cells by hypo-osmotic hemolysis. METHODS: The optimal hemolysis conditions were determined by diluting the bone marrow suspensions with distilled water in various dilution ratios. Then, the resulting cell fractions were transplanted in a rat cranial defect model to evaluate their effects on bone formation and their angiogenic effects. RESULTS: The optimal hemolysis conditions were a 3.3-fold dilution in distilled water and a hypo-osmotic exposure time of 45 seconds. Nucleated cells obtained using this method included granulocytes and mononuclear cells. These cells contain cytoplasmic angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor. In a rat cranial defect model, callus formation and angiogenesis were significantly increased following transplantation of concentrated marrow nucleated cells in this manner. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest angiogenic and osteogenetic effects of transplanting marrow nucleated cells using this hypo-osmotic method.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License, where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0. American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Background: We recently encountered a case of a midline upper lip sinus, one of the rarest congenital lip sinuses. Several embryological hypotheses have been proposed regarding the etiology of this rare disease, but it remains obscure. Methods: We reviewed all cases of upper lip sinus reported in the English language through 2011, and classified them into three types according to accompanying anomalies and the site of the fistula. Results: Twenty-eight studies involving 31 cases were reviewed and classified. A type I sinus was a midline sinus without accompanying anomalies. There were 13 such cases, with a female predilection. Type II sinuses were midline sinuses with accompanying anomalies, and there were nine such cases. Type III sinuses were lateral sinuses with or without accompanying anomalies; there were nine cases. Conclusions: Our classification scheme is not only convenient for clinical application, but also reflects the embryological process responsible for congenital lip sinuses.

The aetiology of scaphocephaly is often described as premature fusion of the sagittal suture. This study observed wave-like deformations in abnormally long and narrow skulls typical of scaphocephaly, and these deformations were divided into two types: type I deformations (one wave) and type II deformations (two waves). However, the pathogeneses of these deformations are unknown. Computed tomographic data sets were retrospectively analyzed from 18 patients with scaphocephaly who were admitted to the hospital between 2000-2010. Using three-dimensional reconstructions of the computed tomographic images, the relationship was analysed between the wave deformation types and the state of the sutures and fontanelles. The results demonstrate that the type of wave deformation was dependent on the location of the sagittal suture closure. Specifically, the premature closure of the posterior half of the sagittal suture caused a type I deformation, while total closure resulted in a type II deformation (p < 0.001). It is hypothesized that restricted growth of the fused suture causes billowing, which results in a waving deformation. The deformities that are often observed in sagittal synostosis can be explained more accurately.

Patients are occasionally unhappy with the size, shape, and positioning of breast implants. An option to improve their satisfaction with breast augmentation includes directly involving them in the process with awake surgery done under nerve block and tumescence. This study describes the resultsof using such an awake anaesthesia technique in 35 patients. After the intercostal nerves dominating the Th3 to Th6 regions were anaesthetized using 0.5% bupivacaine, a tumescent solution consisting of lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline was injected around the mammary gland, and breast augmentation was conducted using silicon implants. The majority of patients (31/35) reported no pain during the procedure and all patients were able to choose and confirm their final implant size and positioning. In all cases, blood loss was less than 10 ml. No patient experienced pneumothorax or toxicity of local anaesthetics. Combined usage of the intercostal nerve block and tumescent anaesthesia effectively reduces pain during breast augmentation. Keeping patient conscious enables meeting their requests during operation, contributing to increased satisfaction. For these advantages, combined usage of the intercostal nerve block and tumescent anaesthesia is recommended as a useful anaesthetic technique for breast augmentation.

The precise venous anatomy of the glabellar to the forehead region remains unknown. This study aimed to detail the venous architecture of the glabellar region to the forehead in conjunction with that of the supratrochlear artery to reduce the risk of venous congestion of flaps in this area. Fifteen fresh human cadavers were examined here. In five specimens, contrast medium was injected only into the venous system; in 10 specimens, two different types of contrast media were injected into the arterial and venous systems, respectively. A total of 30 hemifacial specimens were radiographed stereoscopically and observed microscopically. In all the cadavers, a distinct vein (termed as the "transverse nasal root vein") connected the bilateral angular veins. One or two large ascending veins branched from the transverse nasal root or angular vein, coursing toward the forehead skin. Numerous small veins branched out from the large ascending vein(s), forming a subdermal polygonal venous network. Small ascending veins arose from this network and coursed toward the dermis, draining venous flow from the dermis. Three different-sized valves prevented the reflux of blood in the venous pathway. The large ascending vein(s) and supratrochlear artery ran parallel only in the medial canthal area. Tiny venous vasa vasorum surrounded the adventitia of the supratrochlear artery and anastomosed with the polygonal venous network, while a few small veins from the vasa vasorum ascended toward the dermis. Understanding the venous architecture of this region is expected to facilitate the safe elevation of various flaps in the area. Clin. Anat. 2013.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has had a great impact on the staging and treatment of cancer. The purpose of this study was to study the lymphatic anatomy of the lower extremities by constructing three-dimensional images using multi-detector-row computed tomography (MDCT). To select appropriate contrast media for MDCT lymphatic imaging in a cadaver, we tested four kinds of contrast media by injecting them into fresh swine kidneys. After the suitable contrast medium was selected, 10 lower extremities from 5 fresh cadavers were studied. After injection of the contrast medium, each lower extremity was scanned with high-spatial-resolution MDCT. The zinc oxide mixture was found to be the most appropriate contrast formula for MDCT imaging of cadaver lymphatics in terms of CT value and no extravasation. The high-resolution MDCT imaging revealed two different superficial lymphatic pathways in the legs. One lymphatic pathway accompanying the great saphenous vein had a constant course and was connected to the superficial inguinal lymph nodes. However, another pathway, along the small saphenous vein, was variable. Some of the deep lymphatic vessels bypassed the inguinal lymph nodes. Using a new protocol, we were able to construct three-dimensional images of the lower extremity lymphatics in a cadaver model. MDCT imaging provided novel information about two different superficial lymphatic pathways in the lower extremities. Clin. Anat., 2013.

The present study aims to elucidate the relationship between preoperative deviation patterns of fractured zygomas and treatment outcomes. Forty-five randomly selected patients with tri-pod type zygoma fractures were classified into a medial rotation group and a lateral rotation group, depending on preoperative deviation patterns. A minimum of 6 months after the operation, symmetry of the cheek was evaluated by three plastic surgeons using a VAS system. The evaluated scores were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, simulation of postoperative secondary deformity was performed by applying hypothetically defined relapse forces on CAD models produced by referring to the CT data of 20 patients. The deviation values obtained by the simulation were compared between the two groups. The results demonstrate that VAS scores were higher for the lateral rotation group than for the medial rotation group and that the deviation values were higher for the medial rotation group than for the lateral rotation group. It is concluded that treatment outcomes of zygoma fractures are affected by preoperative deviation patterns. Cases with medial rotation are likely to present poorer outcomes than those with lateral rotation.