• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2011

Introduction: Endoscope-assisted open reduction and internal fixation (EAORIF) reduces the amount of facial scaring, but limitations, such as the possibility to convert to the open technique and the large learning curve, remain. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 19 patients diagnosed as lateral overridden subcondyle fractures and treated with endoscope-assisted open reduction and internal fixation at Yonsei University Health System from December 2006 to August 2010 were reviewed. Results: 11 patients underwent temporary discomfort or pain such as limitation of mouth opening, temporomandibular joint discomfort, lip paresthesia or facial weakness, but the symptoms disappeared within 3 months. There was no severe long-term complication except 2 patients with re-fractures of operated subcondyles. Conclusion: Subcondyle fracture with lateral overridden proximal segment is a better indication of endoscope-assisted open reduction and internal fixation than a condylar head/neck fracture, or medial overridden subcondyle fracture: allowing an anatomic reduction.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2007

Today, endoscopic procedures are common in diagnostic and other surgical procedures, with endoscopically enhanced and magnified images permitting surgical access through minimal incisions. This has expanded the treatment options for many difficult anatomic sites, and the endoscope facilitated safe anatomic reduction and fixation. The use of the endoscope may reduce the disadvantages of open fracture repair and should be considered for broad application in the treatment of displaced facial bone fractures. Optical endoscopic magnification minimizes the disadvantages associated with open surgical repair, including the risk of facial nerve injury and external facial scarring, and no postoperative complications have been attributable to the endoscopic approach. This technique was used in 14 patients treated at Ulsan University Hospital, Korea, from September 2004 to August 2006, including six mandibular subcondyle fractures, five blowout fractures and three zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures. Careful preoperative evaluation and proper surgical technique were essential to achieve optimal results in the selected patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.788-794
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• 2010

Purpose: The fingertip is the most commonly injured part of the hand and its injury frequently results in avulsion or crushing of a segment of the nail bed and fracture of the distal phalangeal bone. Restoration of a flat and smooth nail bed is essential for regrowth of a normal nail, which is important not only for cosmetic reasons but also for tactile capability of the fingertip. It is also anatomical reduction of the distal phalanx to promote patient's cosmetics and prevent nail bed deformity. Absence or no replacement of the nail plate results in obliterated proximal skin fold. When the avulsed nail plate cannot be returned to its anatomic position or when it is absent, we use a synthetic material for splinting the nail bed and alternative reductional method for distal phalangeal bone fracture, especially, instead of hardwares. Methods: From January of 2006 to June of 2009, a total of ten patients and fourteen fingers with crushing or avulsion injuries of the fingertip underwent using the artificial nails for finger splint. We shaped artificial nails into the appropriate sizes for use as fingernail plates. We placed them under the proximal skin fold and sutured to the fold proximally and to the lateral and medial edges of the nail bed or to the distal fingertip. Our splints were as hard as K-wire and other fixation methods and more similar to anatomic nail plates. Artificial nails were kept in place for at least 3 weeks. Results: No artificial nail related complication was noted in any of the ten cases. No other nail fold or nail bed complications were observed, except for minor distal nail deformity because of trauma. Conclusion: In conclusion, in order to secure the nail bed after injury and reduce the distal phalangeal bone fracture, preparing a nail bed splint from a artificial commercial nail is a cheap and effective method, especially, for crushed or avulsion injuries of the fingertip.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 2009

Purpose: Mandible fractures are common in maxillofacial trauma and the incidence of condylar fracture is high. The management of mandibular condylar fracture continues to be controversial. Conservative treatment of it may lead to complications such as asymmetry, malocclusion, temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Moreover, open reduction can cause facial nerve injury, parotid gland injury, scarring and hematoma formation. We present a case of mandibular condylar fracture that was treated by manual reduction without incision under C-arm fluoroscopy. Methods: A 76-year-old female was admitted due to left side mandibular condylar fracture that required surgical intervention. Because of her age, history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, she underwent closed manual reduction under general anesthesia. We adopted C-arm fluoroscopy as a method of identifying the fracture site and a evaluation of reduction state. C-arm fluoroscopy was set up like modified Towne's view. Results: The reduction was successful and didn't result in any complications that could occur in open reduction-facial nerve injury, infection, parotid gland injury, hematoma, avascular necrosis. The mandibular-maxillary fixations were removed after 4 weeks and patients were could open 3.5 cm after 6 weeks with physical therapy. Conclusion: We tried closed manual reduction of mandibular condylar fracture due to high risk of complication using C-arm fluoroscopy and did achieve anatomic reduction with avoiding open incision. This is simple, effective, reversible, time saving and fairly attemptable method in condylar fracture cases before open reduction.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2012

Purpose: Cervical dislocations with locked facets account for more than 50% of all cervical injuries. Thus, investigating a suitable management of cervical locked facets is important. This study examined factors of close reduction failure in traumatically locked facets of the subaxial cervical spine patients to determine suitable surgical management. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed of the case histories of 28 patients with unilateral/bilateral cervical locked facets from Nov. 2004 to Dec. 2010. Based on MRI evaluation of disc status at the injury level, we found unilateral dislocations in 9 cases, and bilateral dislocations in 19 cases, The patients were investigated for neurologic recovery, closed reduction rate, factors of the close reduction barrier, fusion rate and period, spinal alignment, and complications. Results: The closed reduction failed in 23(82%) patients. Disc herniation was an obstacle to closed reduction (p=0.015) and was more frequent in cases involving a unilateral dislocation (p=0.041). The pedicle or facet fracture was another factor, although some patients showed aggravation of neurologic symptoms, most patients had improved by the last follow up. The kyphotic angle were statistically significant (p=0.043). Sixs patient underwent anterior decompression/fusion, and 15 patients underwent circumferential fusion, and 7 patients underwent posterior fusion. All patients were fused at 3 months after surgery. The complications were 1 case of CSF leakage and 1 case of esphageal fistula, 1 case of infection. Conclusion: We recommend closed reduction be performed as soon as possible after injury to maximize the potential for neurological recovery. Patients fot whom closed reduction of the cervical locked facets have a higher incidence of anatomic obstacles to reduction, including facet fractures and disc herniation. Immediate direct open anterior reduction or circumferential fixation/fusion of locked cervical facets is recommended as a treatment of choice for traumatic locked cervical facet patients after closed reduction failure.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 2005

Condylar process of mandible, has the specialized anatomic structure compared with any other body structure, acts directly in connection with mastication and speech and so on. In general, mandibular condyle fractures have been managed by two methods as open and closed reduction. But, there are no reasonable consensus about the proper management of this injury. This study was designed for analysis of the prognosis of two methods of treatment, open and closed reduction, with positional change of fractured condyle and complications within 6 months post-intermaxillary fixation period. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 154 patients whose unilateral mandibular condyle fractures were treated by open or closed reduction in our department. The horizontal, sagittal, and coronal change of the condyle was examined using modified Towne's and panoramic radiographs before intermaxillary fixation(IMF), immediately after IMF, and at 6 months after IMF. Patients, whose mandibular condyle fractures were treated by closed reduction, had significantly shorter ramus height on the side of injury(P<0.05). But, fractured condylar fragments were displaced insignificantly with aspect to sagittal and coronal plane(P>0.05). The level of the fracture influenced the ramus length and the degree of coronal change in the closed reduction group(P<0.05). There was no significant correlation among the level of the fracture, treatment methods and complications(P>0.05). From the results obtained in this study, fractured mandibular condyles, were treated by closed reduction, had a tendency that continuous condylar displacement was occurred with aspect to horozontal and coronal plane in treatment period including intermaxillary fixation. And then there was a correlation between the level of the fracture and the position change in close reduction group statistically. These result suggested that care must be taken in basing treatment decisions on the degree of displacement of the condyle and in treating the mandibular condyle fractures for a long time.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.556-560
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• 2012

Zygomatic fractures are the second most common facial bone fractures encountered and treated by plastic surgeons. Stable fixation of fractured fragments after adequate exposure is critical for ensuring three-dimensional anatomic reduction. Between January 2008 and December 2010, 17 patients with zygomatic fractures were admitted to our hospital; there were 15 male and 2 female patients. The average age of the patients was 41 years (range, 19 to 75 years). We exposed the inferior orbital rim and zygomatic complex through a lateral brow, intraoral, and subciliary incisions, which allowed for visualization of the bone, and then the fractured parts were corrected using the Carroll-Girard T-bar screw. Postoperative complications such as malar asymmetry, diplopia, enophthalmos, and postoperative infection were not observed. Lower eyelid retraction and temporary ectropion occurred in 1 of the 17 patients. Functional and cosmetic results were excellent in nearly all of the cases. In this report, we describe using the Carroll-Girard T-bar screw for the reduction of zygomatic fractures. Because this instrument is easy to use and can rotate to any direction and vector, it can be used to correct displaced zygomatic bone more accurately and safely than other devices, without leaving facial scars.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.343-350
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to introduce a surgical technique that can maintain blood supply to prevent condylar resorption in the extracorporeal reduction of condylar fracture. Neither the medial pterygoid muscle on the ramal bone nor the lateral pterygoid muscle on the condylar fragment was detached after vertical ramal osteotomy. Thus, reduction was performed in the intracorporeal state. Therefore, blood supply was expected to be maintained to the fragments of both the condylar and ramal bones. On postoperative radiographs, the anatomical outline of the fractured condyle was well restored, and the occlusion was stable. In the unilateral case, there were no signs of mandibular condylar resorption until postoperative 3 weeks. In the 2 bilateral cases, condylar displacements with plate fractures and screw loosening were observed at postoperative 1 month or 5 months, but radiodensity at the displaced fracture site increased during the follow-up period. Finally, complete remodeling of the condylar fragments with restored anatomic appearance was observed on 8-month or 2-year follow-up radiographs. All cases exhibited good healing aspects with no signs or symptoms of mandibular condylar dysfunction during the postoperative remodeling period after intracorporeal reduction of condylar fracture.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.474-481
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• 2006

The endoscopic assisted approach for the treatment of condylar fracture is a less invasive alternative treatment modality and is considered to be able to overcome the limited access to the operation field to obtain an accurate reduction and fixation. Six patients with condylar neck and subcondylar fracture underwent the endoscopic assisted open reduction and internal fixation through the transoral approach at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. The endoscope was inserted through an intraoral incision and the reduction of fracture fragment was performed via a transbuccal approach with two transcutaneous stab incisions. Five patients showed anatomic reduction without any complications. One patient, whose fracture site was fixed with a single plate, showed displacement of fractured condylar segment during the follow up period. No patient had any facial nerve damage.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2008

Purpose: Until now, many kinds of treatment modalities for facial bone fractures have been proposed. Among them, the semi-rigid fixation using miniplates has become the most popular procedure due to its simplicity and good clinical results. However, achieving anatomic reduction of bone fragments with miniplates may be difficult because of inadequate instrumentation for fracture fragment stabilization. We examined the use of inter-maxillary fixation screws or titanium screws tied with stainless steel wire to assist in positioning of fractured segment. Methods: We used this method for reduction in 50 cases of facial bone fractures. Inter-maxillary fixation screws or titanium screws tied with stainless steel wire were used to assist in aligning bony segment. Postoperative radiologic and clinical follow-ups were performed.Results: Radiologic follow-up showed correct reduction and fixation in all cases. Nonnunion and malunion were not shown. Clinical follow-up showed an satisfactory results. Conclusion: By using Inter-maxillary fixation screws tied with stainless steel wire, it was shown that reducing the bony segment to their preinjury position is easy to perform and it enables us to make more accurate reduction, ensure wider visual field.