Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of ultra-pulsed fractional carbon dioxide laser (UFCL) in the treatment of mild to moderate microstomia after burns. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 19 patients with mild to moderate microstomia after burns who were admitted to Inner Mongolia Baogang Hospital from January 2018 to January 2022, including 15 males and 4 females aged (35±14) years. Patients had an average course of 71 d of microstomia, with 8 cases of moderate microstomia and 11 cases of mild microstomia. All the patients received UFCL treatment every 2-3 months until the microstomia was corrected or the treatment bottleneck was reached. The times of UFCL treatment for patients and the time interval from the last treatment to the last follow-up were recorded. Before the first treatment and at the last follow-up, the opening degree of mouth (finger measurement method), oral gap width, and the distance between the upper and lower incisors during mouth opening were recorded. Before the first treatment and at the last treatment, the new Vancouver scar scale (VSS) was used to evaluate the scar. At the last follow-up, the degree of satisfaction was evaluated by the Likert 5 scale by the patients themselves, and the satisfaction ratio was calculated; the adverse reactions such as pigmentation, blisters, infection, and persistent erythema in the treatment area were counted. Data were statistically analyzed with Mann-Whitney rank sum test or paired sample t test. Results: Patients received UFCL treatment of 3 (2, 6) times. The interval from the last treatment to the last follow-up was 26 months at most and 4 months at least. At the last follow-up, the opening degree of mouth of patients was significantly improved than that before treatment (Z=4.68, P<0.01). At the last follow-up, the oral gap width of patients was (35±6) mm, and the distance between upper and lower incisors during mouth opening was (3.2±0.4) cm, which was significantly improved compared with those before treatment (with t values of 10.73 and 18.97, respectively, P<0.01). The VSS score after the last treatment was 4.1±1.6, which was significantly better than that before treatment (t=22.96, P<0.01). At the last follow-up, the satisfaction ratio of patients with treatment was 18/19, and no pigmentation, blisters, infection, persistent erythema, and other adverse reactions of all patients in the treatment area occurred, however, one of the patients reported that the disease recurred about half a year after treatment. Conclusions: UFCL is an effective method for treating mild to moderate microstomia after burns, with which patients are highly satisfied, and it is worth of further study and promotion.
Blister ; Burns/therapy* ; Cicatrix/therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Microstomia ; Treatment Outcome

It is difficult to make impression and fabricate conventional dentures for patients with microstomia and flat ridge. This is a case report of 53-year-old female with limited mouth opening (25 mm) who had been wearing denture for 7 years and which was recently broken. Close mouth with suction impression method was used. Proper diagnosis and appropriate set of procedures and methods were needed for this patient. The conventional complete denture fitted with closed mouth method for this condition resulted in retentive and stable denture which was inserted and removed easily.
Microstomia ; Denture, Complete

The Abbé-Estlander flap surgery is a cross-lip procedure that is valuable in repairing a defect on the lower lip using a full-thickness flap, consisting of the skin, muscle and mucosa, from the upper lip. As usefulness and practicality of the flap in reconstruction of lower lip surgical defects in Asian ethnicity have not been documented, the authors present a case of successful lower lip reconstruction with a staged, Abbé-Estlander lip switching flap with commissuroplasty as an illustrative example. A 71-year-old male has presented with an ulcerating lip nodule in the middle one third of the lower lip, measuring about 1.5×2 cm across its long and short axes. Wide excision of the tumor was followed by delineation of the triangular Abbé-Estlander flap from the upper lip, in which the medial hinge point of the base was chosen as the pedicle. Then, the flap elevation was carried out from the lateral commissure and then was transferred into the lower lip defect. Three weeks later, commissuroplasty was performed to correct the rounding at the new commissure. The patient is currently performing his daily activities with no apparent compromise in orbicularis oris strength or oral continence. Given the size of the primary defect and the flap-to-defect ratio of size, the degree of microstomia was acceptable. Even with other myriad of reconstructive options at surgeons' disposal, the Abbé-Estlander lip-switching flap is a reliable, and less morbid method of lower lip reconstruction for Asian surgical candidates. The authors illustrate an exemplary case in which a relatively large lower lip defect was successfully repaired using an upper lip flap of a significantly smaller size in an Asian subject of advanced age, without any remarkable long term sequelae which have traditionally been associated with the trans-oral lip switching flap technique.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Lip Neoplasms ; Lip* ; Male ; Methods ; Microstomia ; Mucous Membrane ; Skin ; Ulcer

Although it is a rare developmental malformation, van der Woude syndrome is the most common form of syndromic orofacial clefting, accounting for approximately 2% of all cleft cases. The lower lip pits with or without a cleft lip or palate is characteristic of the syndrome. Findings, such as hypodontia, limb deformities, popliteal webs, ankylogossia, ankyloblepheron, and genitourinary and cardiovascular abnormalities, are rarely associated with the syndrome. This paper reports a rare case of van der Woude syndrome in a 10-year-old male patient with a single median lower lip pit and a repaired bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate that were associated with microstomia, hypodontia, and clubbing of the left foot with syndactyly of the second to fifth lesser toes of the same foot.
Anodontia ; Cardiovascular Abnormalities ; Child ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Extremities* ; Foot ; Humans ; Lip* ; Male ; Microstomia ; Palate ; Syndactyly ; Toes

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, connective tissue  disease  with  multisystem involvement.This is due to immunological processes,vascular endothelial cell injury  and extensive activation of fibrolast that commonly affects the skin and other internal organs such as the esophagus, lungs, heart, and kidneys. SSc has one of the highest mortality among  the  autoimmune  rheumatic  diseases,  hence  the  emphasis  on  the  early  recognition  and  management  to  prevent significant progression of the disease.
CASE: A 22-year-old  female  presented  with  a  one-year history of multiple hard and hypopigmented patches on the face, neck, trunk and upper extremities. Further examination revealed mask-like facies, microstomia, frenulum sclerosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, pitted scars on the digital pulp of hands  and  sclerodactyly.Baseline  blood  chemistry,chest radiograph and electrocardiography  were  all  negative  for systemic involvement. Autoantibodies were positive for dsDNA, SS-A/Ro and Scl-70. Skin biopsy revealed sclerosing dermatitis, which was consistent with SSc.
OUTCOME: The  patient  was  initially  started  with  oral prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/day and was increased to 0.75 mg/kg/day for eight weeks. Prednisone was slowly tapered to 5.0 mg/day and methotrexate 15.0 mg/week was included in  the  management for eight weeks which resulted in decreased joint pains, halted the progression of skin induration, decreased in pruritus and palmar edema.
CONCLUSION: The characteristic dermatological findings of SSc are not only important signs to dermatologists, but these serves as diagnostic clues for clinicians from other disciplines as well. In our case, the presence of the autoantibody Scl-70 indicated the potential risk of pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension that accounts with high mortality.Hence,physicians should be aware of the possible risk of organ damage,even when asymptomatic because there is a high risk of disease progression. The importance of early recognition and a multidisciplinary approach lead to the good outcome in this case.

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Autoantibodies ; Prednisone ; Methotrexate ; Cicatrix ; Microstomia ; Sclerosis ; Raynaud Disease ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Edema ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Scleroderma, Diffuse

Prosthodontic rehabilitation and management of microstomia patient presents challenges at all stages during prosthesis fabrication; from making primary impressions to the prostheses insertion. These patients have reduced mouth opening, and hence it can be extremely challenging to make impressions and to fabricate dentures using the conventional methods. The present case report describes prosthodontic management of a partially dentate patient with microstomia that developed secondary to surgical resection and radiation therapy of head and neck cancer. A simplified novel approach has been advocated using the patient’s existing metal removable partial denture as a key in master cast preparation.
Microstomia

Microstomia can be occured as a result of direct injury to tissues such as chemical, thermal and electrical burns, and animal bites. It also may be secondary to contracture of burned perioral skin, or may result from scarring after reconstructive lip surgery. Narrowing of the oral aperture is not only disfiguring, but also limiting the oral access needed for introduction of food, insertion of dentures, oral hygiene, and dental treatment. Limited mouth opening may also interfere with mastication and speech. Few reports exist regarding correction of microstomia and reconstruction of the corners of the mouth. A 16-year-old girl with a bilateral cleft lip and palate presented with the limited mouth opening (approximately 20 mm), the esthetic problem due to the small lip, and the cleft lip-nasal deformity. The microstomia was corrected by bilateral commissuroplasty using "over and out" buccal mucosa flaps proposed by Converse. The intercommissure distance was increased from the preoperative 40 mm to the postoperative 60 mm. The one-year postoperative intercommissure distance was 54 mm, because the 6 mm relapse was occured. The bilateral commissuroplasty using "over and out" buccal mucosa flap could increase the width and general size of the oral aperture and improve the lip appearance.]]>
Adolescent ; Animals ; Bites and Stings ; Burns ; Cicatrix ; Cleft Lip ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Dentures ; Humans ; Lip ; Mastication ; Microstomia ; Mouth ; Mouth Mucosa ; Oral Hygiene ; Palate ; Recurrence ; Skin

PURPOSE: To report a patient with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome with blepharophimosis. METHODS: A 4-year-old girl with congenital facial abnormalities consistent with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome presented with complaints of blepharophimosis. The characteristic features of microstomia, down-slanting palpebral fissure, blepharoptosis, and telecanthus were also found. Y-V epicanthoplasty and levator aponeurosis resection were performed. RESULTS: Surgical intervention to correct ptosis and telecanthus led to initially fair cosmetic results, but one month later an unexpected decrease in interpalpebral fissure height was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Freeman-Sheldon syndrome with blepharophimosis is very rare. It was necessary to correct blepharoptosis, telecanthus, and blepharophimosis in the oculoplastic service in this case.
Blepharophimosis ; Blepharoptosis ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Microstomia

microstomia using the Converse flap which yielded a satisfactory outcome.]]>
Facial Expression ; Humans ; Lip ; Microstomia ; Mouth ; Surgery, Oral

BACKGROUND: The lips have an asethetic and functional importance. There are various types of lip defects, and these are mainly due to tumor excision. Although there are numerous techniques available to repair the lips, no universal reconstruction method is presently available, and reconstruction of lip defects are inherently difficult. OBJECTIVE: To report surgical reconstruction results of lip defects. METHOD: Our study involved eleven patients, who had visited our dermatologic surgery clinic between 1995 and 2003, and had been histopathologically diagnosed as having either a basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma on the lips. The medical records were reviewed, and clinical features, surgical methods, and cosmetic and functional results were evaluated. RESULTS: Wedge resection, resection with W-plasty, the subcutaneous pedicle flap, and dual mucosal flap technique were used to repair lip defects surgically. The vermilion border was aligned well in all the patients, and a post-operative scar was not apparent. However, a microstomia developed in one patient. CONCLUSION: The dermatologic surgeon should be familiar with various reconstruction options for lip defects. An appropriate choice depends on the size, location and depth of the defect. Specific functional and aesthetic aspects of the lips should be taken into account when planning and performing an operation.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cicatrix ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Lip* ; Medical Records ; Microstomia