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Biomedical subjects

C S Murakami

Publications and source records attributed to C S Murakami.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Necrotizing fasciitis of the eyelids.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a destructive soft tissue infection that rarely involves the eyelids. Three cases of necrotizing fasciitis of the eyelids are described. Necrotizing fasciitis was preceded by minor forehead soft tissue trauma in two cases and occurred spontaneously in one. In two patients necrotizing fasciitis was bilateral and involved both the upper and lower eyelids. Review of these cases, in addition to 18 cases previously reported in the English literature, reveals a predominance in females, preceding minor local soft tissue trauma, frequent bilateral involvement, and an association with alcohol abuse and diabetes. In all of the patients, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were cultured from the wound. Early recognition of the disease process, prompt surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue, aggressive antimicrobial therapy, and delayed skin grafting combine to minimize morbidity.

Alcoholism↗

Cervical rotation flaps for midface resurfacing.

The midface has long served as a focus for creativity in surgical reconstruction. Full-thickness skin grafts, split-thickness grafts, and distal flaps have long been used to attempt to reduplicate existing anatomy in this area. Recent reconstruction efforts have focused on the creative use of microvascular free flaps for this purpose. This article reports on the use of extensively developed regional rotation flaps as an excellent reconstructive modality for use in this area of the face. The details of surgical incisional planning are given. The nuances of surgical creation of these flaps and their rotation and suspension into place are given. The cases we have done using this technique for the past 3 years are reviewed. Our present indications for use of these flaps and their limitations are given.

Adult↗

Nasal reconstruction with articulated irradiated rib cartilage.

Nasal structural reconstruction is a formidable task in cases where there is loss of support to both the nasal dorsum and tip. A multitude of surgical approaches and materials have been used for the correction of the saddle-nose deformity with varying degrees of success. Articulated irradiated rib cartilage inserted through an external rhinoplasty approach was used to reconstruct nasal deformities in 18 patients over a 6-year period. Simultaneous use of a midline forehead flap to reconstruct the overlying soft tissue was required in four cases. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 6 years (mean, 2.8 years). Results were rewarding in most cases with marked improvement in nasal support and airway. Revision and/or replacement secondary to trauma or warping of the graft was required in four cases. None of the patients exhibited infection, extrusion, or noticeable resorption. A description of the surgical technique, review of all the cases, and recommendation for continued use of this graft material are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Nasal reconstruction using the inferior turbinate mucosal flap.

Reconstruction of nasal defects can be a difficult task if large amounts of nasal mucosa are missing. We have found the inferior turbinate mucosal flap to be a reliable and effective flap in a series of 16 patients undergoing nasal reconstruction or repair of septal perforations. Most of these patients had insufficient mucosa to use traditional flaps harvested from the nasal floor or the lateral nasal wall. Eight patients underwent reconstruction of septal perforations, 9 patients underwent nasal reconstruction of large nasal defects after tumor extirpation, and 1 patient underwent closure of a palatal fistula. Six of the septal perforations were closed completely and 3 were reduced in size by 50%. All 11 turbinate flaps used for nasal reconstruction (2 patients had bilateral flaps) survived. Two flaps underwent mild superficial epidermolysis without flap necrosis or exposure of overlying cartilage grafts. The turbinate flap is based anteriorly and provides large amounts of well-vascularized mucosa. The turbinate is rotated anteriorly and bivalved and the conchal bone is removed to increase the dimensions of the flap. The flap is sometimes staged to allow transfer of mucosa to distant sites, such as the septum, the nasal ala, and the nasal wall. An anatomical dissection of 10 turbinate flaps on 5 fresh cadaver specimens demonstrated an average flap size of 4.97 cm2. The average length of the flap was 2.83 cm, which is sufficient length to reach the nasal dorsum. A description of the surgical technique and the vascular supply of this flap will be discussed.

Cadaver↗

Microvascular free flap reconstructive options in patients with partial and total maxillectomy defects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and discuss the free flap reconstructive options for patients with partial and total maxillectomy defects. DESIGN: Retrospective review of cases. SETTING: Two tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS: Fifty-one patients had partial or total maxillectomy defects resulting from oncologic surgical resection, and 7 had partial maxillectomy defects resulting from trauma. Inferior or partial maxillectomy defects included 10 anterior arch and hemipalate defects and 12 subtotal or total palate defects. Total maxillectomy defects with and without orbital exenteration included 36 maxilla defects with hemipalate and malar eminence. INTERVENTION: There were 11 fibula, 14 rectus abdominis, 9 scapular, 10 radial forearm, 5 latissimus dorsi, and 13 combination latissimus dorsi and scapular flaps. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Separation of the oral cavity from the sinonasal cavities, diet, type of dental restoration, type of orbital restoration, speech intelligibility, and complications. RESULTS: Only 1 flap failure was reported. There was loss of bone in 2 flaps and loss of the skin paddle in 1 flap. All palatal defects were sealed by the separation of the oral and sinonasal cavities. Thirty-eight patients were able to eat a regular diet while the remaining patients maintained a soft diet. All patients conversed on the telephone without difficulty in intelligibility. Eight patients had an implant-borne dental prosthetic, and 30 patients had a conventional partial prosthetic. Orbit restoration was achieved in 2 patients with an implant-borne prosthetic, and 6 patients retained a standard orbit prosthetic. CONCLUSIONS: Free flap reconstruction of the maxilla creates reproducible permanent separation of the oral and sinonasal cavities in a single-stage procedure. In addition, there exists the potential for dental rehabilitation with restoration of masticatory and phonatory function. Free flap reconstruction also provides a good cosmetic result, which improves patients' outlook and contributes to their overall well-being. Reconstructive flaps are designed to fit specific maxillary defects and patient needs to provide optimally functional and cosmetic results.

Adolescent↗

Measuring cosmetic facial plastic surgery outcomes: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To test 4 previously published outcomes instruments (the Facelift Outcomes Evaluation, the Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation, the Blepharoplasty Outcomes Evaluation, and the Skin Rejuvenation Outcomes Evaluation) in terms of their reliability and validity in assessing patient-related outcomes of surgical intervention. DESIGN: A prospective pilot study of 78 patients in 3 similar private cosmetic surgery centers undergoing a total of 100 face-lift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and skin rejuvenation procedures. Patients were evaluated at 2 preoperative and 1 postoperative time points and the instruments were analyzed with regard to their test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and responsiveness to change. RESULTS: All 4 outcomes instruments had excellent reliability, consistency, and validity scores. Test-retest reliability was 0.74 to 0.83 (Pearson correlation coefficients), internal consistency scores were.83 to.88 (Cronbach alpha), and responsiveness to change was statistically significant for each instrument tested (P< or =.001). In addition, patients experienced significant quality of life improvement, with overall satisfaction increasing on average from 37% to more than 84% after these procedures. CONCLUSIONS: These 4 instruments are reliable and valid and can be used to accurately assess patient-related satisfaction in studies of face-lift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and skin resurfacing outcomes. These brief questionnaires provide the cosmetic surgeon with quantitative tools to evaluate otherwise subjective and purely qualitative outcomes and are recommended for use in future prospective studies.

Blepharoplasty↗