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Highlights of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery
Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2008;10(5):299.
Immediate Nasal Valve Reconstruction After Facial Nerve Resection
When reanimation of the paralyzed face is performed after the facial nerve has been sacrificed, repair of functional nasal valve collapse is often overlooked. This study highlights the problem of valve collapse after facial paralysis and reviews the efficacy of performing immediate reconstruction using suture suspension technique. Zachary M. Soler, MD, and colleagues reviewed the cases of 18 patients who underwent nasal valve reconstruction with the suture technique. Patients were evaluated using the Nasal Obstruction Septoplasty Evaluation survey. Those who did not undergo reconstruction experienced markedly more congestion, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, and trouble sleeping. Patients had acceptable cosmesis and no complications.
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The Importance of Auricular Prosthetics for Speech Recognition
Auricular prosthesis is one of the most natural methods to restore the appearance of the auricle in large auricular defects from cancer resection or traumatic injury. The effect of an auricular prosthesis on the gain of hearing is unknown. William E. Walsh, MD, CMI, and colleagues examined the effects of an auricular prosthesis transfer function to determine its effect on speech recognition in noisy hearing conditions. The auricular prosthesis transfer and gain function varied with head position relative to the speaker, with largest gains occurring at zero degrees. The authors concluded that acoustic gain provided by auricular prosthesis increased speech recognition in noisy environments.
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Hemangiomas of the Nose: Surgical Management Using a Modified Subunit Approach
Hemangiomas are the most common benign infantile tumor. Nasal hemangiomas constitute about 15% of facial hemangiomas. Many of the affected children experience functional problems and social ridicule; hence, parents often seek early treatment. Milton Waner, MD, and colleagues review their experience with 44 consecutive patients and describe a surgical approach based on a nasal subunit principle. They find that this produces superior results compared with conventional techniques and advocate early surgical intervention for nasal hemangiomas.
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Aging of Orbicularis Oculi: Anatomicophysiologic Consideration in Upper Blepharoplasty
Françoise Pottier, MRCS, and colleagues investigated anatomicophysiologic aging-related changes in orbicularis oculi muscle. They histologically evaluated the upper eyelids in cadavers of various age groups as well as conducted neurophysiologic studies in healthy volunteers. They found that most profound histologic changes were seen in the skin and the subcutaneous layers. Electrophysiologic studies confirmed the efficiency of orbicularis function in all age groups. The authors conclude that anatomicophysiologic characteristics of orbicularis oculi muscle remain stable throughout the aging process.
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Immaculate Conception by Acislo Antonio Palomino de Castro y Velasco (1655-1726).
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This issue's Highlights were written by Joseph Shvidler, MD.
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