• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.382-391
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• 2020

Facial palsy has a broad clinical presentation and the effects on psychosocial interaction and facial functions can be devastating. Pediatric facial palsy, in particular, introduces unique familial and technical considerations as anatomy, future growth potential, and patient participation influence treatment planning. Though some etiologies of pediatric facial palsy are self-limiting, congenital and long-standing facial palsies pose difficult challenges that require a combination of surgical, adjunctive, and rehabilitative techniques to achieve facial reanimation. Given the spectrum of ages and symptom severity, as well as the various surgical options available for facial palsy, a tailored approach needs to be developed for each child to restore facial balance and function. Here, we review the etiologies, workup, and treatment of pediatric facial palsy and present our novel algorithmic approach to treatment.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.582-585
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• 2016

It is uncommon for a palatal fistula to be detected in individuals who have not undergone surgery, and only sporadic cases have been reported. It is even more difficult to find cases of acquired palatal fistula in patients with submucous or incomplete cleft palate. Herein, we present 2 rare cases of this phenomenon. Case 1 was a patient with submucous cleft palate who acquired a palatal fistula after suffering from oral candidiasis at the age of 5 months. Case 2 was a patient with incomplete cleft palate who spontaneously, without trauma or infection, presented with a palatal fistula at the age of 9 months.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.761-764
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• 2011

Purpose: Pediatric facial laceration takes a huge part of patients visiting emergency room and generates social attention for its proper emergency care. So much more attention should be paid to the proper treatment at emergency care unit, and furthermore, thorough survey of background information of the pediatric facial laceration may offer more proper prevention. Methods: According to annual reports of 2009 and 2010, out of 5149 facial laceration patients who were given primary medical care at our clinic, 1452 patients were aged under 15 years old. Retrospective analysis of each pediatric facial lacerations were evaluated according to gender, age, periodic table, cause of injury, place of injury, sites of injury and so on. Results: Pediatric facial laceration was found to occur mostly at 1 year old as they learn to walk and explore their environment. Evaluated analysis revealed that pediatric facial accidents occurred mostly on forehead region (75%), on Sundays, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at home (61.5%). Most common cause of injury was collision (54.5%). Conclusion: In large group of pediatric facial laceration cases provided us with an surprising fact that accidents most commonly occur under parental supervision. This fact gives an actual understanding regarding pediatric facial laceration and more realistic approach in its prevention strategy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.122-125
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• 2009

Purpose: Stitching out in facial simple laceration on children, we use No.11 blade. But the procedure is technically demanded to take care of the uncooperative pediatric patient. When we suture a laceration on the pediatric patient, we apply this method using ribbon shaped knot. On stitching out, We pull one the edge of a stitching fiber easily without injury about normal tissue. Methods: We studied 54 pediatric patients who have facial lacerations for children under six years old, from May, 2006 to December, 2007 in Plastic Surgery department, emergency room. Among them 35 were male, 19 were female and age average was 3.9. Results: For following up dressing, ribbon shaped knot did not get loose. After stitching out in facial laceration on children, Major complication of infection, hematoma, dehiscence was not found. Conclusion: The advantage of this operation method using ribbon shaped knot when we Stitch out the fiber on the incorporative pediatric patients, is easy to perform and to reduce the stitching time, without sedation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.258-264
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• 2016

Background The survival rate of newborns with severe congenital abdominal wall defects has increased. After successfully addressing life-threatening complications, it is necessary to focus on the cosmetic and functional outcomes of the abdominal wall. Methods We performed a chart review of five cases treated in our institution. Results Five patients, ranging from seven to 18 years of age, underwent the following surgical approaches: simple approximation of the rectus abdominis fascia, the rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap, the placement of submuscular tissue expanders, mesh repair, or a combination of these techniques depending on the characteristics of each individual case. Conclusions Patients with severe congenital abdominal wall defects require individualized surgical treatment to address both the aesthetic and functional issues related to the sequelae of their defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2022

Background Predicting the need for post-traumatic reconstruction of lower extremity injuries remains a challenge. Due to the larger volume of cases in adults than in children, the majority of the medical literature has focused on adult lower extremity reconstruction. This study evaluates predictive risk factors associated with the need for free flap reconstruction in pediatric patients following lower extremity trauma. Methods An IRB-approved retrospective chart analysis over a 5-year period (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017) was performed, including all pediatric patients (<18 years old) diagnosed with one or more lower extremity wounds. Patient demographics, trauma information, and operative information were reviewed. The statistical analysis consisted of univariate and multivariate regression models to identify predictor variables associated with free flap reconstruction. Results In total, 1,821 patients were identified who fit our search criteria, of whom 41 patients (2.25%) required free flap reconstruction, 65 patients (3.57%) required local flap reconstruction, and 19 patients (1.04%) required skin graft reconstruction. We determined that older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.134; P =0.002), all-terrain vehicle accidents (OR, 6.698; P<0.001), and trauma team activation (OR, 2.443; P=0.034) were associated with the need for free flap reconstruction following lower extremity trauma in our pediatric population. Conclusions Our study demonstrates a higher likelihood of free flap reconstruction in older pediatric patients, those involved in all-terrain vehicle accidents, and cases involving activation of the trauma team. This information can be implemented to help develop an early risk calculator that defines the need for complex lower extremity reconstruction in the pediatric population.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.338-343
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• 2021

Purpura fulminans is a serious condition that can result in severe morbidity in the pediatric population. Although autologous skin grafts remain the gold standard for the coverage of partial- to full-thickness wounds, they have several limitations in pediatric patients, including the lack of planar donor sites, the risk of hemodynamic instability, and the limited graft thickness. In Singapore, an in-house skin culture laboratory has been available since 2005 for the use of cultured epithelial autografts (CEAs), especially in burn wounds. However, due to the fragility of CEAs, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings have been rarely used with CEAs. With several modifications, we report a successful case of NPWT applied over a CEA in an infant who sustained 30% total body surface area full-thickness wounds over the anterior abdomen, flank, and upper thigh secondary to purpura fulminans. We also describe the advantages of using NPWT dressing over a CEA, particularly in pediatric patients.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2021

Background: Pediatric nasal fractures, unlike adult nasal fractures, are treated surgically as early as 7 days after the initial trauma. However, in some cases, a week or more elapses before surgery, and few studies have investigated the consequences of delayed surgery for pediatric nasal fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures according to the time interval between the initial trauma and surgery. Methods: The records of pediatric patients under 12 years old who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fracture from March 2012 to February 2020 were reviewed. The interval between trauma and surgery was divided into within 7 days (early reduction) and more than 7 days (delayed reduction). Postoperative results were classified into five grades (excellent, good, moderate, poor, and very poor) based on the degree of reduction shown on computed tomography. Results: Ninety-eight patients were analyzed, of whom 51 underwent early reduction and 47 underwent delayed reduction. Forty-two (82.4%) of the 51 patients in the early reduction group showed excellent results, and nine (17.6%) showed good results. Thirty-nine (83.0%) of the 47 patients in the delayed reduction group showed excellent results and eight (17.0%) showed good results. No statistically significant difference in outcomes was found between the two groups (chi-square test p= 0.937). However, patients without septal injury were significantly more likely to have excellent postoperative outcomes (chi-square test p< 0.01). Conclusion: No statistically significant difference was found in the outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures between the early and delayed reduction groups. Successful surgical results were found even in patients who received delayed reduction (more than 7 days after trauma).

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.333-335
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• 2009

Congenital palatal fistulas are rare, and few cases have been reported. Most reported cases present with a submucous cleft palate. In terms of etiology, whether the fistula is congenital or acquired has been debated. Moreover, there is not a generally accepted surgical procedure for repair of palatal fistulas. We present a case of a congenital palatal fistula with a submucous cleft palate that was successfully treated with a Furlow double - opposing Z - plasty. We discuss palatal fistulas with a review of the literature.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2005

The proper management of the pediatric facial bone fracture is critical in the facial bone development. This study characterizes the surgically treated patient population suffering from facial bone fractures by the use of current data from a large series consisting of 201 cases. The data was gathered through a retrospective chart review of patients surgically treated for facial bone fractures at the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Sanggye Paik hospital, Inje university medical center, collected over 10-years period from January, 1993 to December, 2002. Data regarding patient demographics(age, sex), seasonal distribution, location of fractures, and the causes of injury with admission periods, were collected. In total, there were 201cases of pediatric facial bone fractures. Male patients outnumbered female patients by a 5.48: 1 ratio and were found to engage in a wider range of behaviors that resulted in facial bone fractures. Physical violence was the leading cause of pediatric facial bone fractures(27.9%), followed by sports-related mechanisms (22.9%) and falling down(17.9%). The most prevalent age group was 11-15 years-old(71.1%) and there was a 14.3% prevalence in March. Among the location of fractures, the nasal bone was the most prevalent, accounting for 82.3% of injuries, followed by the orbit(9.95%), and the mandible fractures(7.5%). Most patients(59.7%) were treated within 6-9 days after trauma and the mean hospitalization period was 8-11 days. We should follow up the surgically treated patients, and they will be further evaluated about postoperative sequele and effect on the facial bone development. These studies demonstrate differences in the demographics and clinical presentation that, if applied to patients, will enable a more accurate diagnosis and proper management.