The Journal of craniofacial surgery
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Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS), and Parkes-Weber syndrome (PWS) represent a wide range of congenital vascular abnormality syndromes. Although many of the diagnostic criteria overlap for these syndromes, there are important differences among these diseases that carry important prognostic and therapeutic implications. This review attempts to clearly distinguish among SWS, KTS, and PWS, although loosely categorizing them as a family of congenital vascular disorders. A review of literature reveals that a variety of diagnostic tools exist that can help differentiate between the syndromes and assess risk for certain complications, which may help tailor various treatment modalities for a particular patient.
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Different reconstruction techniques of the anterior and middle skull base as consequence of a defect after surgical treatment of neoplastic pathologies are described in the literature. The aim of the present study is to present our experience regarding the use of microvascular free flaps for reconstruction of the anterior or middle skull base after large defects caused by removal of malignant neoplasms. From 2000 to 2004, in the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and "Tor Vergata," 13 surgical procedures for reconstruction of anterior and middle skull base defects by free flaps were performed in 11 patients. ⋯ The mean operation time was 85 hours; patients were hospitalized for a mean period of 14 days. The method of choice for the reconstruction of anterior or middle skull base defect should be based upon careful evaluation of the single case and, particularly, the localization and entity of the residual defect. For defects that require large amounts of soft tissue, the latissimus dorsi free flap and the rectus abdominis free flap are the best appropriate choices for reconstructive procedures for anterior and middle skull base tumors.
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Craniofacial traumas are one of the most common clinical events of the 21st century. The possibility of associated injuries of the head and neck may also determine functional and cosmetic problems in these patients. The most frequent pathologic conditions observed are contusions, lacerations, abrasions, avulsions, and the inclusion of foreign bodies. ⋯ Ideally, imaging should be repeated postoperatively to confirm resolution of the initial clinical condition. In this article, the authors describe three unusual clinical cases of patients with penetrating injuries of the head and face together with the protocol adopted for treatment of such complex craniofacial injuries. The three cases described demonstrate that, despite the initial appearance of penetrating wounds, a correct diagnostic assessment followed by a suitable therapeutic protocol can reduce cosmetic and functional defects to a minimum.
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The aim of this study is to classify the nasal bone fractures based on computed tomography (CT) analysis and patterns of the nasal bone fractures, and review 503 cases treated between 1998-2004 at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, South Korea. The age, sex, etiology, associated injuries, pattern of fractures and treatments were reviewed and a radiographic study was analyzed. Plain simple radiographs of lateral and Waters view of the nasal bones combined with computed tomography scans were done. ⋯ Nasal reduction was carried out in average 6.5 days post the injury. The patterns of the nasal bones fractures classified by CT findings were type IIA (182 cases, 36%), IIBs (105 cases, 21%), IIB (90 cases, 18%), IIAs (66 cases, 13%), I (39 cases, 8%) and III (21 cases, 4.3%). We think the CT is necessary for diagnosing nasal bone fracture because the reliability of the plain film was only 82%.
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Reconstruction of mandibular defects after tumor resection in infants is a particular challenge. Although autogenous rib grafts have no relevance nowadays for restoration of mandibular bone defects after ablative tumor surgery because of limited bone stock and the availability of other donor areas, they are a useful surgical alternative after tumor surgery in infants. We here report on a 6-month, 5-year, and 10-year follow-up of three children who were diagnosed with benign tumors of the mandible with osseous destruction at the ages of 4 months, 6 months, and 2 years, respectively. ⋯ Although further growth of rib grafts is difficult to predict and occlusal disharmony may occur because of physiologic maxillary growth and growth of the unaffected mandible, we think that autogenous rib grafts can be ideally used for restoration of mandibular continuity defects in newborns and young children. Clinical follow-up visits on a yearly basis and orthodontic controls are useful for early orthodontic treatment of growth deficits. Further corrective surgery with bone augmentation or osseous distraction is required after completion of growth of the facial skeleton.