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In a cross-sectional postal survey, we compared patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing breast reconstruction with the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap or an expandable breast implant (EBI). We included 34 consecutive patients who had breast reconstruction with DIEP flap and 30 patients with EBI. Outcomes were assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire, two study-specific patient satisfaction questionnaires and a visual analogue scale (VAS) on cosmetic result. There were no significant differences in SF-36 subscale scores between the two groups. On the study-specific questionnaire, more patients in the DIEP group were satisfied with the appearance of their breast (P<0.0005) and reported an improved social relationship (P=0.02), and fewer patients were sad about their body image (P=0.01) after reconstruction than in the EBI group. On the other study-specific items, satisfaction was similar in the two groups. On all five VAS items, DIEP patients reported better cosmetic results than EBI patients. We conclude that patient satisfaction and cosmetic outcome were better after breast reconstruction with the DIEP flap compared with EBI, while there was no difference in health-related quality of life.

Objective: The aim of this trial was to compare the relative effectiveness (efficacy and morbidity) of two surgical procedures for correcting velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI)., Design: This was an international multicenter randomized trial to study the outcome of two surgical procedures (flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty) for speech, incidence of sleep apnea, and surgical complications., Method: Ninety-seven patients 3 to 25 years old with repaired cleft palate and previously identified VPI were enrolled from five centers in the United States, Norway, and the U.K. Data were collected at presurgery, 3 months postsurgery, and 12 months postsurgery for subsequent analysis blind to the procedure. Main outcome measures included perceptual speech parameters, sleep apnea, nasalance measures, endoscopic features, and surgical complications., Results: Groups for both surgical procedures achieved a high level of clinical improvement. At 3 months postsurgery, elimination of hypernasal resonance was achieved in twice as many patients after the flap procedure. This reached significance. However, at 12 months postsurgery, no statistically significant difference in outcomes remained between the two procedures for resonance, nasalance, endoscopic outcomes, or surgical complications. Flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty rarely resulted in clinically significant sleep apnea, and no difference was detected between the two procedures in the long-term incidence of sleep apnea., Conclusions: Despite strongly held views in the literature concerning the relative effectiveness and safety of flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty, no significant differences were detected 1 year postoperatively.

Several methods have been described for anesthetic correction of Romberg's disease. We have used the platysma muscle flap as the only procedure in four cases of severe to moderate disease. The platysma flap was transected at the clavicular level, turned at the mandibular margin, and spread subcutaneously on the affected side from the nasolabial fold up to the orbital margin and laterally to the anterior part of the ear. The flap masked the atrophy relatively well, and no complications were seen during or after the procedure. The procedure can be combined with orthognathic surgery if required.

All patients with bilateral complete clefts of the lip and some patients with incomplete clefts have a short or almost non-existing columella. This is a characteristic deformity which can only be corrected by surgical lengthening of the columella. Among the numerous methods which have been used for this purpose, the forked falp method as described by Millard (1958) has certain advantages: 1. Sufficient donor tissue is available in the lateral parts of the prolabium to produce full lengthening of the columella and adequate projection of the tip of the nose. 2. Most patients with bilateral clefts need secondary correction of the lip scars and a narrowing of the nostrils after the primary operation. Both of these objectives are achieved as a part of the forked flap procedure. 3. Access is gained both to the lip muscles and to the alar cartilages at the tip of the nose. 4. Narrowing of the lip in the upper part results in a natural eversion of the lower part, and a short lip can be lengthened by letting the remaining central part of the prolabium go down during suturing. 5. The scars left in the upper lip are in an unobtrusive position corresponding to the philtral ridges. During the period 1965-77, 87 patients with bilateral cleft lip have had a columella lengthening performed according to the forked flap method. Our experience with this method has been very favourable. No serious complications have ensued, and the cosmetic results have been most satisfactory in the majority of cases.