Autogenous costal cartilage graft has been commonly used for reconstruction of auricular deformity. However, the risk of complication and discomfort at the donor site, as well as distortion of the graft due to morphological change in the cartilage have been serious drawbacks to this procedure. Previous studies examining the chondrogenic potential of perichondrium have suggested that perichondrium may be used as graft for cartilage reconstruction. When a perichondrial flap or a free perichondrium was used as graft, new cartilage formed appositional to the grafted perichondrium. However, the neocartilage was often irregular in shape and varied considerably in quantity. In this study, the feasibility of controlling the shape and the mass of neocartilage was investigated using coral, a porous biomaterial, as a template. A coral a template was wrapped with perichondrial flap from the ears of New Zealand white rabbits and placed into a subcutaneous pocket in the rabbits and placed into a subcutaneous pocket in the rabbit's back by incision. A total of 12 animals were used. Formation of new cartilage was later evaluated by gross and histological examination of the perichondrial flap and the coral template. New cartilage was formed in 11 animals. Immature chondrocytes were visible by 3 weeks after the surgery, and by 8 weeks the immature chondrocytes had formed a cartilage. New cartilage was formed only on the surface of the coral template. These results indicated that the shape and the mass of new cartilage may be controlled by using coral template. Therefore, the desired shape of cartilage may be achieved using a coral template of corresponding shape, and this may help in correcting subtle auricular contour defect and in correcting other structural defects that also require new cartilage formation.
Animals ; Anthozoa* ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Ear ; Humans ; Rabbits ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome is a rare disorder which developed hemiatrophy of brain, enlargement of ventricles and prominent pneumatization of petrous pyramid of the temporal bone. It manifests hemiparesis, varying type seizure, and mental retardation. We experienced two cases of Dyke-avidoff-Masson Syndrome, in a 6/12 year-old boy and a 1, 10/12 year-old girl who were admitted to our department of pediatrics, because of convulsion and hemiparesis The brain CT scan showed marked dilatation of lateral ventricle, prominent sylvian fissure and cortical sulci. So we report two cases of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome with review of literature.
Brain ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Paresis ; Pediatrics ; Petrous Bone ; Seizures ; Temporal Bone ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been reported to be effective reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the very thrombotic environment of AMI, primary PCI, with heparin-coated stents, has been known to reduce the early reocclusion of the stented vessel by preventing thrombosis. However, little data exist regarding the long-term clinical outcomes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility and long-term efficacy of heparin-coated stents in AMI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and July 2002, primary PCI with heparin-coated stents was performed in 132 consecutive patients (98 males, with a mean age of 56.3+/-0.7 years) admitted with the diagnosis of AMI within 12 hours from the onset of the chest pain. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, MI, TLR (target lesion revascularization) and CABG, were recorded during hospitalization and the follow-up period. Angiograms were obtained at the baseline, after stent implantation and at 6 months following implantation. RESULTS: The angiographic and procedure success rate was 96.2%. During hospitalization, there was no evidence of reocclusion of stented vessel, but 1 patient underwent a repeat PCI due to dissection. There were no bleeding complications. A six-month angiographic follow-up was completed in 47.2% of eligible patients and binary restenosis was present in 20.1%. During the long-term clinical follow-up (mean follow-up period 37.2+/-7.2 months), there were 12 deaths, 1 myocardial infarction and 18 TLR. The MACE free survival rate was 76.5%. CONCLUSION: Primary PCI, with heparin-coated stents, shows favorable long-term clinical outcomes.
Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Reperfusion ; Stents* ; Survival Rate ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with use of low-dose aspirin in children. METHODS: Among about 250 children who received low-dose aspirin (5 mg/kg/day) under the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease, from March 1995 to May 2001, at Eul-Ji general hospital, 100 children were enrolled in this study. We reviewed the medical records and interviewed the children's parents over the phone to confirm the existence of gross gastrointestinal bleeding. RESULTS: The age of the children at the beginning of medication ranged 4~118 months. About 75% of them was younger than 3 years old. The duration of medication ranged 0.5~17 months. About 70% of the children took the medicine for 2~3 months. Only 1 child (1%) had hematochezia during medication without any accompanying gastrointestinal symptom, and cimetidine for 1 week had cleared up the bleeding. The total duration of medication of 100 children was 341.5 months, and only 1 child had gastrointestinal bleeding. This translates into a rate of clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding of 3.5 episodes/100 children/year. CONCLUSION: The long-term use of low-dose aspirin is safe, but, is associated with the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in children. Careful follow-up and efforts to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding are necessary during long-term low-dose aspirin therapy in children.
Aspirin* ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Cimetidine ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Parents

A total of 21 patients were operated. Via a columellar labial incision, the upper lateral cartilages were separated from the septum. A submucous resection of the septal cartilage was carried out. After rasping the convex lateral nasal wall of the unaffected side, a low-to-low lateral nasal osteotomy was conducted. Along the deviated dorsal line at the bony vault passing the submucous tunnel, a paramedian nasal osteotomy was performed. The convex side of the nasal bone flap was contoured by rasping. The convex side of the "T"-shaped dorsal septum was trimmed. A total direct septal extension graft of the septal cartilage was done and the alar cartilages were suspended to it. The postoperative results were evaluated by photogrammetric analysis processed by a "neon glow" filter in Adobe Photoshop. The distance from the nasal midline to the most deflective point at 5 levels was measured, and the proportion indices were obtained in regard to intercanthal distance. The results revealed improvement in all levels (p < 0.05), although not perfect. In summary, this technique can result in a clinically good-looking in spite of a slight deflection that still exists.
Cartilage ; Humans ; Nasal Bone* ; Nose* ; Osteotomy ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Alcoholism* ; Porphyria Cutanea Tarda* ; Porphyrias*

PURPOSE: As the traditional treatment of the Wassel's type I or II of bifid thumb, Bilhaut-Cloquet, has always been the standard method despite several disadvantages such as tearing of the finger nail, injuries of the growth plate, joint instability, and long visible scarring. To overcome these drawbacks, we applied a modified Bilhaut-Cloquet Method. METHODS: The subjects used for the this study were 10 of 20 patients evaluated. The patients underwent modified methods under every type of Wassel's classification. We designed a central wedge Zig-Zag incision and removed the nail and bony tissues in the remaining digit, but not soft tissue if possible, and transferred the ligaments, tendons, and soft tissue to the remaining thumb from the extra digit. We evaluated the patients' lack of extension, the total ROM of the MP and IP joints, the ROM of IP joints, and the lateral deviations of the reconstructed thumb. RESULTS: The results were encouraging, with all patients showing a good functional and aesthetic outcome. CONCLUSION: The modified method proved a very effective procedure in the treatment of bifid thumb in all types, especially types I or II.
Cicatrix ; Classification ; Fingers ; Growth Plate ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Polydactyly ; Tendons ; Thumb*

The challenge of accurately predicting eyelid height after blepharoptosis surgery is well-known problem even in complete hands. From May 1988 to December 2004, authors reviewed 182 cases(240 eyes) of blepharoptosis corrected by frontalis muscle transfer or levator resection and had experienced 10 cases(15 eyelids) of early reoperation around the first week. The period from initial operation to reoperation are between six to eight days and mean period is seven days. Initial operative procedures were frontalis muscle transfer in 3 cases(4 eyelids) and levator resection in 7 cases(11 eyelids). Follow up period ranged from 6 months to 16 years. Early adjusting surgery was performed in accordance with the preoperative and postoperative degree of ptosis of patient and by previous operative technique. The results are evaluated according to the criteria of an ideal correction by Souther and Jordan. Seven patients have good or satisfactory results(less than 1 mm asymmetry, good in 5 cases and satisfactory in 2 cases). Three patients(5 eyelids) recorded as poor results(more than 2 mm asymmetry). Even if early or late reoperation can be effective in correcting unsatisfactory results after correction of blepharoptosis, early reoperation may lead to better results than late reoperation because early reoperation can offer a reduction in time to final result, the ease with which it is performed and potential cost savings. The experience of surgeon is also important factor for the treat ment of recurred blepharoptosis.
Blepharoptosis ; Cost Savings ; Eyebrows ; Eyelids ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forehead* ; Hand ; Humans ; Jordan ; Reoperation ; Rhytidoplasty ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

The upper and lower lateral cartilages provide the key to the lower cartilaginous portion of the nose. Lifting the cartilages is essential procedure for correction of unilateral cleft lip nose deformity. After correction of cleft lip nose deformity, authors used acoustic rhinometry (AR) to compare the lower nasal cavity of cleft side with non-cleft side. AR is a well known new, non-invasive diagnostic technique in which nasal geometry is assessed by means of acoustic reflection. From June 1996 to January 2004, we performed acoustic rhinometric analysis after correction of unilateral cleft lip nose deformity. This study involved 40 children of age ranged from 3 months to 8 years. Subjects were divided into the group of incomplete unilateral cleft lip nose deformity(20 subjects), and the group of complete unilateral cleft lip nose deformity(20 subjects). Results show that lower nasal cavity volume between non-cleft side and cleft side has no difference, and better results were obtained when nasal molding prong was applied at cleft side nostril. The results between incomplete type and complete type have no significant difference. In conclusion, AR is an effective method to calibrate cross sectional area and nasal cavity volume of unilateral cleft lip nose deformity, and furthermore effective in comparing the volume of cleft side with non-cleft side after unilateral cleft lip nose deformity correction with lifting the lower lateral cartilages to the upper lateral cartilages.
Acoustics* ; Cartilage ; Child ; Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Lifting ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose* ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

A traditional tie-over dressing may be applied to support the take of a skin graft. Although there are many advantage of this method, it has significant disadvantages, including time-consuming application. Furthermore, when the dressing is changed, the gauze becomes hard and can be stuck to the graft, causing damage and pain upon removal. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the effect of semi-occlusive dressing using polyurethane foam and film dressing(Allevyn(R), Opsite(R)) after full thickness skin graft. The authors treated 45 cases including burn scar contracture(n=38), syndactyly (n=1), absence of nipple-areolar complex(n=4), traumatic skin defect(n=1) and contact burn(n=1) with authors' method and 39 patients including burn scar contracture (n=39) with the tie-over dressing between 2000 and 2004. The patients in polyurethane foam and film dressing group ranged from 1 to 62 years of age (mean age, 15.1 years) and the patients in tie-over dressing group ranged from 2 to 60 years of age(mean age, 21.3 years). The postoperative results were analyzed according to the following measures: (1) the duration of graft-taking, (2) the admission period, (3) complications. Compared with the traditional tie-over dressing, polyurethane foam and film dressing was shown to be more successful in a reduced duration of graft-taking, in which was similar to the former in the rate of graft-taking, a reduced admission period and patient's discomfort. We concluded that semi-occlusive dressing using Allevyn(R) and Opsite(R) was an effective method after full thickness skin graft, which was easy to shape to difficult body locations, such as web spaces, fingers and maintains a moist environment for wound healing and does not stick to the wound.
Bandages* ; Burns ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Fingers ; Humans ; Occlusive Dressings ; Polyurethanes* ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin* ; Syndactyly ; Transplants* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries