• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.384-388
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• 2021

Adequate positioning of the hand is a critical step in hand fracture operative repair that can impact both the clinical outcome and the efficiency of the operation. In this paper, we introduce the use of a thermoplastic splint with an added thumb stabilizing component as a means to increase the surgeon's autonomy and to streamline the patient care pathway. The thermoplastic splint is custom fabricated preoperatively by the specialist hand therapist. The splint is used prior, during, and post operation with minimal modification. The thumb component assists maintaining the forearm in a stable pronated position whilst drilling and affixing metal work. This is demonstrated in the video of removal of metal work and open reduction and internal fixation of a metacarpal fracture.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2016

A 7-year-old intact female Maltese dog presented with a history of bite wounds. Physical examination revealed labored breathing, four puncture wounds with subcutaneous emphysema of the thorax, and paradoxical respiratory movement of the right thoracic wall. On radiography, a segmental fracture of the right 7th rib and a single fracture of the 8th rib were evident on the dorsal thorax. An inward displacement of the fractured segment and contusion of the right caudal lung lobe were identified with computed tomography. A diagnosis of pseudo-flail chest was made. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed a full-thickness muscular defect, a marked discoloration of the right caudal lung lobe, a segmental fracture of the right 7th rib, and a single fracture of the right 8th rib. Necrotic tissues were removed using surgical debridement. The fractured 7th and 8th ribs were corrected using a single interfragmentary wiring technique. The thoracic wall was reconstructed using the latissimus dorsi muscle flap. Additional thoracic stabilization using a thermoplastic splint was applied to correct paradoxical respiratory movement. The external splint was removed 4 weeks postoperatively. There was no evidence of respiratory abnormalities 18 months postoperatively.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.475-481
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• 2019

A splint is one of assisting devices for the disabled with hemiplegia or contracture and is manually made by an experienced expert. Heated thermoplastic materials are continuously fitted to the affected part. This traditional method has a possible risk of low-temperature burn, quality variance of the splint due to the proficiency of maker. etc. While various approaches has been made using 3D printing technology in order to redeem those disadvantages, they still carry high cost issues with 3D scanners or accuracy issues with manual measurement. This research begins with symmetrical characteristics of human body and focuses on the preliminary study for the possibility of splint manufacturing with 3D printing technology based on geometric characteristics of unaffected arm. 3D right and left forearm models of healthy male adults were created by photogrammetry software and a series of digital images in order to measure the circumference and cross-sectional area of the forearm models at every 20mm from the elbow. The circumference and cross-sectional area showed tolerable levels of differences between both sides within subjects; The circumference and cross-sectional area showed very strong correlations between both sides within subjects. From these findings, the possibility of splint manufacturing with 3D printing technology could be confirmed based on the geometric characteristics of unaffected side.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.539-544
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• 1998

Thermoformed appliance, which has been recently introduced for dental usage, is an appliance made of thermoformed sheets and formed with positive or negative pressure under heat. Thermoplastic material is a kind of plastics and can be repeatedly softened by heat. It is classified into hard elastic foil, hard/soft compound foil and soft elastic foil, including BIOPLAST, BIOCRYL, IMPRELON, etc. It has been developed in 1969 and is available in various thickness, shape and color. There are two types of Vacuum former for thermoplastic materials; the pressure type and suction type. The former is much better than the latter for fabrication of various appliances due to its higher pressure. The authors have applied these appliances to some cases - chin cap, active retainer, individual Fluoride tray, mouth protector, bracket transfer mask, bruxism splint(night guard), Essix appliance - by pressure type Vacuum former($Biostar^{(R)}$). The thermoplastic appliances have numerous advantages such as simple procedure, short working time, clean and transparent product, less objectionable taste. But its outstanding advantage would be its excellent biocompatibility bacause it has no monomer and hence no tissue irritation. Although there is some limitations in its usage, it can be used widely for various purposes especaily for pediatric dentistry.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.269-273
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• 2022

Naso-orbito-ethmoidal (NOE) fractures are complicated fractures of the mid-face. The treatment of NOE fractures is challenging and a comprehensive treatment strategy is required. We introduce a case of NOE fracture treated with open reduction and suspension sutures. A 28-year-old woman presented with a unilateral NOE fracture. To reduce the frontal process of the maxilla, a suspension suture was made by pulling the fragment using a double arm suture via a transcaruncular incision. The suture thread was placed in the horizontal plane. Another suspension suture on the inferior orbital rim assisted reduction procedure, and they passed through the overlying skin. The reduction alignment could be finely adjusted by tightening the transcutaneous suture threads while checking the degree of bone alignment through the subciliary incision. The two suture threads were suspended using a thermoplastic nasal splint. An additional skin incision on the medial canthal area, which would have resulted in a scar, could be avoided. Four months postoperatively, computed tomography showed an accurate and stable reduction. The patient was satisfied with her aesthetic appearance, and functional deficits were not present.