• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2022

Management of traumatic skull base fractures and associated complications pose a unique reconstructive challenge. The goals of skull base reconstruction include structural support for the brain and orbit, separation of the central nervous system from the aerodigestive tract, volume to decrease dead space, and restoration of the three-dimensional appearance of the face and cranium with bone and soft tissues. An open bicoronal approach is the most commonly used technique for craniofacial disassembly of the bifrontal region, with evacuation of intracranial hemorrhage and dural repair performed prior to reconstruction. Depending on the defect size and underlying patient and operative factors, reconstruction may involve bony reconstruction using autografts, allografts, or prosthetics in addition to soft tissue reconstruction using vascularized local or distant tissues. The vast majority of traumatic anterior cranial fossa (ACF) injuries resulting in smaller defects of the cranial base itself can be successfully reconstructed using local pedicled pericranial or galeal flaps. Compared with historical nonvascularized ACF reconstructive options, vascularized reconstruction using pericranial and/or galeal flaps has decreased the rate of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak from 25 to 6.5%. We review the existing literature on this uncommon entity and present our case series of n = 6 patients undergoing traumatic reconstruction of the ACF at an urban Level 1 trauma center from 2016 to 2018. There were no postoperative CSF leaks, mucoceles, episodes of meningitis, or deaths during the study follow-up period. In conclusion, use of pericranial, galeal, and free flaps, as indicated, can provide reliable and durable reconstruction of a wide variety of injuries.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2009

Objective : Medpor porous polyethylene was used to reconstruct small bone defects (gaps and burr holes) along a craniotomy bone flap. The feasibility and cosmetic results were evaluated. Methods : Medpor Craniotomy Gap Wedges, V and T, were designed. The V implant is a 10 cm-long wedge strip, the cross section of which is an isosceles triangle with a 4 mm-long base, making it suitable for gaps less than 4 mm after trimming. Meanwhile, the Medpor T wedge includes a 10 mm-wide thin plate on the top surface of the Medpor V Wedge, making it suitable for gaps wider than 4 mm and burr holes. Sixty-eight pterional craniotomies and 39 superciliary approaches were performed using the implants, and the operative results were evaluated with respect to the cosmetic results and pain or tenderness related to the cranial flap. Results : The small bone defects were eliminated with less than 10 minutes additional operative time. In a physical examination, there were no considerable cosmetic problems regarding to the cranial bone defects, such as a linear depression or dimple in the forehead, anterior temporal hollow, preauricular depression, and parietal burr hole defect. Plus, no patient suffered from any infectious complications. Conclusion : The Medpor Craniotomy Gap Wedge is technically easy to work with for reconstructing small bone defects, such as the bone gaps and burr holes created by a craniotomy, and produces excellent cosmetic results.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.670-673
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• 2009

Purpose: Epidural abscesses and subdural empyemas after craniotomy are uncommon, potentially lethal, complications of neurosurgery. Patients with these complications may be difficult to manage and dural reconstruction in these patients are challenging. Methods: A 28 - year - old female patient showed recurrent intracranial infection after craniotomy for evacuation of a arachnoid cyst and subdural hematoma. Despite prolonged systemic antibiotic administration and a debridement of the subdural space, infection persisted, as evidenced by persistent fever, an elevated WBC count, CSF leakage, low CSF glucose level, and purulent wound discharge. The authors removed the previously applied lyophilized dura and transferred free omental flap to reconstruct the dura, obliterate the cyst and cover the cerebral hemisphere in the craniotomy defect. Microvascular anastomosis was between gastroepiploic and superficial temporal vessels. Results: The postoperative course was uneventful and flap survival was excellent. The infection - resistant omental tissue allowed sufficient blood circulation and dead space control. The patient was discharged 1 month after surgery and wound discharge or recurrence was absent during 13 months of follow up periods. Conclusion: The use of vascularized free omentum proved useful in cases of intractable cranial wound infection and cerebrospinal fluid leakages.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.309-314
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• 2020

Reconstructions of extensive composite scalp and cranial defects are challenging due to high incidence of postoperative infection and reconstruction failure. In such cases, cranial reconstruction and vascularized soft tissue coverage are required. However, optimal reconstruction timing and material for cranioplasty are not yet determined. Herein, we present a large skull defect with a chronically infected wound that was not improved by repeated debridement and antibiotic treatment for 3 months. It was successfully treated with anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap transfer for wound salvage and delayed cranioplasty with a patient-specific polyetheretherketone implant. To reduce infection risk, we performed the cranioplasty 1 year after the infection had resolved. In the meantime, depression of ALT flap at the skull defect site was observed, and the midline shift to the contralateral side was reported in a brain computed tomography (CT) scan, but no evidence of neurologic deterioration was found. After the surgery, sufficient cerebral expansion without noticeable dead-space was confirmed in a follow-up CT scan, and there was no complication over the 1-year follow-up period.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2010

Although most researchers agree that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a good source of autogenous growth factors, its effect on bone regeneration is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether increasing angiogenic factors in the human PRP to enhance new bone formation through rapid angiogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS. In vitro, the human platelets were activated with application of shear stress, $20\;{\mu}g/ml$ collagen, 2 mM $CaCl_2$ and 10U thrombin/$1\;{\times}\;10^9$ platelets. Level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet microparticle (PMP) in the activated platelets were checked. In the animal study, human angiogenic factors-enriched PRP was tested in 28 athymic rat's cranial critical bone defects with $\beta$-TCP. Angiogenesis and osteogenesis were evaluated by laser Doppler perfusion imaging, histology, dual energy X-ray densinometry, and micro-computed tomography. RESULTS. In vitro, this human angiogenic factors-enriched PRP resulted in better cellular proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. In vivo, increasing angiogenic potential of the PRP showed significantly higher blood perfusion around the defect and enhanced new bone formation around acellular bone graft material. CONCLUSION. Angiogenic factor-enriched PRP leads to faster and more extensive new bone formation in the critical size bone defect. The results implicate that rapid angiogenesis in the initial healing period by PRP could be supposed as a way to overcome short term effect of the rapid angiogenesis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.667-670
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• 2005

Congenital facial cleft is a rare entity and appears along by the line of different processes of the facial development. An isolated cleft of the nose has been reported not often in the literature. We treated a patient with an isolated nasal cleft associated with undefined cranial anomaly. On 3D CT scan was seen a bony cleft traversing the pyriform aperture lateral to the anterior nasal spine. The nasal septum and frontal process of the maxilla were intact. There also was found bilateral bony defects in the frontal bone and bilateral frontal boss. The nasal cleft and frontal defect and boss were corrected by two stages: anterior two-third of the cranial vault with bilateral frontal boss was remodeled at the age of two years and the nasal cleft was repaired with a local rotation flap at age 3.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.89-91
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• 2007

Objective : Cranioplasty is necessary to repair the cranial defect, produced either by decompressive craniectomy or removal of the contaminated depressed skull fracture. Complications are relatively common after cranioplasty, being reported up to 23.6%. We examined the incidence and risk factors of infectious complications after cranioplasty during last 6 year period. Methods : From January 2000 to December 2005, 107 cranioplasties were performed in our institution. The infectious complications occurred in 17 cases that required the removal of the bone flap. We examined the age of the patients, causes of the skull defect, timing of the cranioplasty the size of the defect, and kinds of the cranioplasty material. The size of the skull defect was calculated by a formula, $3.14{\times}long\;axis\;{\times}short$ axis. The cranioplasty material was autogenous bone kept in a freezer in 74 patients, and polymethylmetacrylate in 33 patients. Statistical significance was tested using the chi-square test. Results : The infection occurred in 17 patients in 107 cranioplasties (15.9%). It occurred in 2 of 29 cases of less than $75\;cm^2$ defect (6.9%), and 6 in 54 cases of $75{\sim}125\;cm^2$ defect (11.1%). Also, it occurred in 9 of 24 cases of more than $125\;cm^2$ defect (37.5%). This difference was statistically significant (p <0.01). Conclusion : During the cranioplasty, special attention is required when the skull defect is large since the infection tends to occurr more commonly.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.264-273
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• 2002

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) was used first to induce osteogenesis in 1974. The appliance which was consisted of the Helmholtz coil configuration have used to osteogensis. The objective of this study was to determine whether PEMF, a frequency of 100 Hz and magnetic field strength of 38 gauss applied to the calvarial defect in rabbit, could affect the induction of osteogenesis and the healing of the graft bone. This field should not produce excitation of nerve or muscle and heating the tissue. To evaluate the effect of PEMF on osteogenesis, 16 rabbit under the same condition was divided into 8 experimental groups and 8 control groups. 10 mm calvarial bone defects were formed around sagittal suture. The defect of left side was left without graft while the defect of right side was grafted by bone harvested from left side. A pulsed electromagnetic field was applied for 8 hours per day. Each group was sacrificed after 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks. Microscopic specimens were obtained from the calvarial bone defects and surrounding tissue using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining method. The results were as follows. 1. In the group which pulsed electromagnetic field was applied, new bone formation filled up the defect was observed after 4 and 8 weeks effectively. 2. There are no difference in the healing period for the fusion between the bone and graft bone. According to the result, the PEMF with 38 Gauss, 100 Hz was very effective in the healing of bone defect and new bone formation. So The PEMF will be useful in clinical aspect for oseteogenesis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.478-481
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• 1999

A 8 years old male Pomeranian weighing 4 kg was referred because of coughing of 4 months' duration. Heart sounds and cardiac apex beat were showed more intense on the right side. On radiographic views, loss of normal line of the diaphragm, gas-containing intestines and stomach in thoracic cavity, and right displacement of heart were observed. Ultrasonography revealed that liver located adjacent to the heart. Although the dog died due to severe respiratory disorder in surgical procedure, in thoracic and abdominal surgery, a large defect was found in the left and right ventral muscular portion and left central tendon of the diaphragm, extending from the esophageal hiatus to rib. Left and right cranial lobe of liver, small intestines, stomach and spleen were herniated in the thoracic cavity. Because of the size and chronicity of the defect in the diaphragm, closure was impossible with an abdominal muscle graft.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2012

Purpose: In this study the bone healing ability of autogenous tooth bone graft material as a substitute material was evaluated in a mini-pig cranial defect model through histologic examinations and osteonectin reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) quantitative analysis. Materials and Methods: A defect was generated in the cranium of mini-pigs and those without a defect were used as controls. In the experimental group, teeth extracted from the mini-pig were manufactured into autogenous tooth bone graft material and grafted to the defect. The mini-pigs were sacrificed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks to histologically evaluate bone healing ability and observe the osteonectin gene expression pattern with RT-PCR. Result: At 4 weeks, the inside of the bur hole showed fibrosis and there was no sign of bone formation in the control group. On the other hand, bone formation surrounding the tooth powder granule was observed at 4 weeks in the experimental group where the bur hole was filled with tooth powder. Osteonectin gene expression; there was nearly no osteonectin expression in the control group while active osteonectin expression was observed from 4 to 12 weeks in the experimental group. Conclusion: We believe this material will show better results when applied in a clinical setting.