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Biomedical subjects

M W Marks

Publications and source records attributed to M W Marks.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Conchal cartilage and composite grafts for correction of lower lid retraction.

Lower eyelid retraction may be due to vertical deficiency of the anterior lamella, supporting cartilage, or posterior lamella. We have used autologous cartilage grafts from the conchal bowl for reconstruction of the central lamella, reestablishing and augmenting support of the lower lid. The positioning of the graft is dependent on the specific anatomic deficiency, and the etiology of the lid retraction must be carefully evaluated. In patients with posterior lamella deficiency, the contracted lower lid retractors and conjunctiva are released and the graft is placed facing the bulbar conjunctiva and is allowed to reepithelialize. In patients in whom there is an associated skin deficiency, composite auricular grafts are used. We present our experience in 33 patients with lower lid retraction. Twenty-three patients required placement of a cartilage graft only, while 10 patients had an associated skin deficiency requiring placement of composite cartilage. In nine patients the cartilage graft was seated against the bulbar conjunctiva and allowed to reepithelialize. Reepithelialization was complete within 3 1/2 weeks in all but two of these patients. This technique has provided stable lid support in all 33 patients.

Adolescent↗

Studies on the endogenous flora of the human breast.

Identification of the endogenous microbiological flora of the human breast and its role in breast infections following subglandular augmentation or reduction mammaplasty was undertaken. A total of 231 cultures were performed on 59 breasts in 30 patients. Patients were followed for 12 months. No fungus was cultured from any specimen. Of the breasts cultured 53% were positive for coagulase-negative staphylococcus. Other aerobes found included diphtheroids, lactobacillus, D-enterococcus, micrococcus, and alpha-hemolytic streptococcus. Propionibacterium acne was the most frequent anaerobic bacteria cultured. Other anaerobes included peptococcus and clostridium sporogenes. There was no correlation with respect to the type of bacterium and the depth within the breast where the culture specimens were taken. Postoperative wound infections developed in 2 of 19 patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. Bacteria identical to those cultured at the time of surgery were again cultured from the wound. Twenty subglandular augmentation mammaplasties were performed with a 25% capsular rate at one year. Two capsules were associated with no bacterial growth at the time of mammaplasty surgery, whereas three were associated with coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Propionibacterium acne, and diphtheroids, respectively. Of the 15 breasts with no capsular contracture after one year, operative culture revealed coagulase-negative staphylococcus in 8 and no bacterial growth in 7. Even breast tissue located deep within the gland away from the nipple contains a flora that is similar to that of normal skin. Cases of infection in which the endogenous bacteria were correlated with later infection was documented.

Bacteria↗

Topical 5-fluorouracil in treatment of carcinoma of nasal floor and nasal alae.

Squamous cell carcinomas of the nasal floor present problems for surgical therapy. Similarly, basal cell carcinoma of the nasal floor and alae requires extensive reconstruction when cures are obtained. To improve the results, we have treated the squamous cell carcinomas with topical 5-fluorouracil to obtain sensitization and shrinkage of the tumor before resection. The same has been done with basal cell carcinomas, but in selected patients the topical 5-fluorouracil has been continued until biopsies are negative. Thus, the costs of resection and reconstruction have been avoided and excellent cosmetic results are possible. This treatment is lengthy and requires weekly supervision. It offers a different approach that gives surgeons further options in treating these difficult carcinomas in carefully selected and cooperative patients.

Administration, Topical↗

Fasciocutaneous flap closure of a grade III lower third tibial fracture: an alternative to free flap coverage.

We present a patient who sustained a close-range shotgun wound resulting in a grade III fracture of the lower tibia. The wound was debrided on several occasions and, on day 4, was closed with a flexor digitorum muscle and pedicled fasciocutaneous flap. Grades III and IV lower one-third tibial fractures generally require a free flap to accomplish stable soft-tissue coverage. Free-tissue transfer, however, remains a tedious and lengthy procedure. Occasionally a fasciocutaneous flap may be available to facilitate wound closure and spare the patient a lengthy procedure and distant donor site. The established principles of compound tibial coverage must be adhered to when choosing a local fasciocutaneous flap.

Adult↗

The temporal island scalp flap for management of facial burn scars.

Facial burn scars are difficult to conceal and often preclude an aesthetic rehabilitation of the patient. Multistaged scalp and neck flaps have been described to provide hair-bearing skin to resurface burn scars in men. We have been resurfacing the upper lip and cheek in a one-stage procedure using a temporal artery island scalp flap. The temporoparietal fascia has been well described in recent years, and the understanding of this anatomy has facilitated the use of the island scalp flap for more distal transfers.

Adult↗

Heterotopic brain presenting as a lip lesion.

Heterotopic brain tissue in the upper lip of a newborn child is presented and discussed. This rare developmental anomaly is usually present at birth and may simulate hemangioma. Before any surgical procedure can be performed, thorough radiographic and neurosurgical examination is essential to rule out eventual communication of the tumor with intracranial space.

Brain↗

Squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland.

Squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid gland is an aggressive and rapidly advancing lesion which if not recognized and treated early will result in a high morbidity and mortality. We reviewed 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid gland. Twenty-four patients had had previous epidermoid skin lesions in an area known to drain to the parotid gland and three resulted from direct extension into the gland from an overlying skin carcinoma, whereas only three were primary lesions of the gland. Patients who presented with involvement of the gland more than 4 months after excision of the skin lesion had a poor prognosis. Patients with epidermoid skin cancer in areas with a propensity to secondarily involve the parotid gland must be closely followed after treatment of the primary skin lesion.

Adult↗

Rapid expansion: experimental and clinical experience.

One of the drawbacks of clinical expansion is delay of the final reconstruction and patient inconvenience. The authors have explored the physiologic response to rapid expansion in an animal model and present initial clinical experiences with three patients.

Adolescent↗

Expanded myocutaneous flaps: their clinical use.

In particularly large defects the best available flap may not provide sufficient tissue for satisfactory correction. Pre-expansion of an overlying musculocutaneous flap allows transposition of a larger flap to reconstruct such defects. The authors present their experience in four patients to illustrate the efficacy of this modality in select patients.

Adult↗

Burn management: the role of tissue expansion.

Tissue expansion has facilitated reconstruction in selected burn patients. For the past 5 years the authors have used this modality in 45 patients, reconstructing the head and neck, trunk, and extremities.

Breast↗

Enhanced capillary blood flow in rapidly expanded random pattern flaps.

We have quantitatively examined the effect of rapid sequential skin expansion on capillary blood flow in the porcine random flap model in order to determine the relation between the increased survivability of expanded random flaps and capillary blood flow. Three 6 X 20 cm random flaps were tattooed on the backs of six small (20-kg) pigs. One flap was not manipulated (control). A 450-ml expander was inserted at the base of the second flap and left in place (sham). At the base of the third flap a 450-ml expander was inserted and each day for 5 days sequentially filled to the limits of skin viability as determined by vital dye staining (expanded). Capillary blood flow was measured on day 8 by measurement of radioactivity after injection of 15-microns radiolabeled microspheres. Samples were taken at 4-cm intervals from the base of each flap. Rapid expansion led to significant increases in capillary blood flow in expanded skin and to enhanced preservation of capillary flow after elevation of random pattern flaps based on expanded skin compared to sham and to control tissues. This correlates with and explains at least in part our previous observation of improved length of survival of flaps raised on expanded skin.

Animals↗

Response of random skin flaps to rapid expansion.

We studied the physiologic accommodation of tissues to 5-day expansion in a porcine random flap model to assess the time taken to expand skin to provide early coverage of traumatic defects. Three 6 X 20 cm random flaps were outlined but not elevated on the backs of 12 small (20-kg) pigs. One flap was not manipulated (control). A 450-ml expander was inserted at the base of the second flap and left in place (sham). At the base of the third flap a 450-ml expander was inserted and sequentially filled to the limits of skin viability each day for 5 days (expanded). Skin tension produced by the pressure of expansion and tissue oxygen (TpO2) in each flap were measured before and after each manipulation. Flaps were raised on day 8, and survival determined on day 15. Creation of the pocket reduced TpO2 to 55% of control values, expansion to 17.5% of control. Within 24 hours both sham and expanded had recovered to 80% of control values. After the second expansion, recovery from hypoxia was again almost complete after 24 hours. Recovery after subsequent expansions was less complete, but 3 days after the final expansion there was no statistical difference between TpO2 values in expanded, sham, and control groups. High pressures generated in the flap by expansion also returned to near normal within 24 hours. Flaps utilizing expanded skin survived to greater length (14.2 cm) than did sham (11.6 cm) or control (7.2 cm) flaps (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Advances in tissue expansion.

Tissue expansion offers a versatile new technique in the reconstruction of many areas of the body. The authors discuss laboratory studies that provide insight into the mechanism of the technique and present examples from clinical experience acquired over the past seven years, including applications in breast reconstruction and reconstruction of the scalp, head and neck, and extremities.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Silicone implant correction of pectus excavatum: indications and refinement in technique.

Pectus excavatum is the most common deformity of the chest wall. The overwhelming majority of patients with pectus excavatum have no physiologic compromise. Adolescents beyond their growth spurt and adults who are asymptomatic are best served by placement of a silicone implant to correct the chest-wall defect. We have treated 12 patients in this manner. The initial 7 were treated with placement of a subcutaneous implant. Despite patient satisfaction, we noted several problems that compromised the aesthetic result. In the last 5 patients, the implant has been placed subpectorally, and room temperature vulcanizing silicone has been used to augment the preformed silicone implant if necessary. Subpectoral placement of a preformed silicone implant is a relatively minor procedure with a short hospital stay and minimum morbidity. It avoids a major reconstruction of the chest wall with its inherent risks and complications and provides a pleasing aesthetic result. All 5 patients, 4 of whom had severe deformity, have had good results with postoperative follow-ups of between 8 months and 2 years.

Adolescent↗

Selective use of serial expansion in breast reconstruction.

The advent of serial expansion adds a new dimension to the armamentarium of the plastic surgeon. While latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis flaps remain invaluable in patients with severe tissue deficiency, they are unnecessary in most patients. The judicious use of the Radovan prosthesis has enabled us to place adequate-sized prostheses entirely beneath the chest-wall musculature. It has also allowed us to better control reconstruction in other developmental and traumatic deformities of the breast.

Adult↗