The Journal of craniofacial surgery
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Case Reports
Severe subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum associated with minor maxillofacial trauma.
In the maxillofacial region, subcutaneous emphysema, which occurs after fractures of the pneumatic paranasal sinuses, is a common finding in a maxillofacial surgeon's daily practice. Pneumomediastinum secondary to these fractures is a less frequent event, however, without thoracic or abdominal injuries. The authors report a case of severe subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum that occurred after fractures of the nasal bones and medial orbital wall. The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment modalities of mediastinal emphysema are discussed.
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Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) has been a recognized complication of general anesthesia after the first case reports in the 1940's. Since then a great deal has been discovered about the genetics, pathophysiology and treatment of this once fatal syndrome. MH is the only clinical entity specifically related to and caused by anesthetic agents. ⋯ It is imperative that the patient and their family are counseled, Medalert bracelets provided and registration with the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS), encouraged. The caffeine/halothane testing of muscle biopsies is currently the most definitive test for malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. The routine use in suspected cases or the immediate family of known cases remains a matter of contention.
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In patients with a prominent ear, the most common deformities are a poorly developed antihelical fold and the formation of excessive conchal cartilage, particularly in the posterior conchal wall. As such, the main goal for surgical correction of a prominent ear is to narrow the conchoscaphal angle by folding the antihelix and reducing the concha. In the current study, cartilage-sparing tubing otoplasty is refined by the addition of a minimal dissection of the edge of the conchal and scaphal cartilages, and horizontal mattress sutures between the two edges. ⋯ A mild recurrence of the upper antihelical fold was experienced in one case, and the patient required further surgery. Suture extrusions developed in two cases. In conclusion, the proposed technique is a simple and safe procedure with reliable results and no anterior scarring.
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Sternal wound infection (SWI) is a life-threatening complication in both the pediatric and adult population. The morbidity and mortality of SWIs have decreased with the use of muscle flap reconstruction of the chest wall. Although the pectoralis muscle flap is the most frequently used flap in adults for reconstruction after SWI, its use in children has not been well described. ⋯ Sternal wound infection is a serious postoperative complication of median sternotomy. Aggressive operative management with the use of muscle flap reconstruction has helped to lower the morbidity and mortality of this infection. The successful use of pectoralis muscle flap advancement for functional and esthetic reconstruction of the chest wall in children is described.