Computer-assisted analysis contour lines of aesthetic unit for the assessment of lip augmentation

Background

Lip augmentation and changing contour lines have become more popular ways of improving the appearance. However, validated measures of lip fullness for quantification of outcomes are needed; ethnic background and personal goals can optimise outcomes while tailoring lip enhancement treatment to each individual’s anatomy. The aim of this study is to analyse the morphological features of the lip in detail and to clarify the objective parameters in related with the subjective ones regarding the lip augmentation and lip reconstruction.

Methods

Standard photographs of the lips of 200 young Anatolian adults were calculated with linear and angular components. The features of the lower third of the face were analysed with the software program. Linear analyses (heights of the upper lip, the upper vermilion, the lower lip height, the lower vermillion and the chin height) and angular analyses (the upper lip, the lower lip, the apex and Cupid’s bow angles) were measured as reference points. The lip shape was classified into five groups: thin, very thin, medium, full and very full.

Results

The lower third of the face was divided into three segments (Sn–Sto, Sm–Me and Sto–Sm), and the largest portion of the lower face was occupied by the chin and the smallest by the lower lip height in both genders. The upper vermilion height was 8.07?±?1.8 mm in males and 7.08?±?1.5 mm in females. The lower vermilion height was 10.1?±?2.4 mm in males and 9.7?±?1.9 mm in females. The upper lip angle was calculated as 30.3?±?9.6° in males and 24.2?±?6.2°mm in females. The lower lip angle was calculated as 38.3?±?9.7° in males and 36.5?±?6.4° in females. Meanwhile, the angular measurements of Cupid’s bow (i.e., the apex and the central angle of Cupid’s bow) were smaller in men than in women. When the lip was analyzed, the medium and full types in upper and lower lips accounted for substantial fractions in men, whereas medium and thin types were predominant also in women.

Conclusions

With the help of certain software, this research has made possible to define the best cosmetical redesign solution of lip construction and augmentation with a natural appearance for the patient.Level of Evidence: Level III, diagnostic study.

     

Leptomeningeal dissemination and vertebral bone involvement in a child with pilocytic astrocytoma

In low‐grade glioma, metastasis is rarely seen. Few cases of leptomeningeal dissemination have been reported in children. Vertebral bone metastasis has not been reported so far. Herein is described the case of a pediatric patient with the diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma, and leptomeningeal dissemination detected at the time of diagnosis, who then received radiotherapy and chemotherapy upon development of vertebral bone metastasis during treatment.     

Repeated tissue expansions on split-thickness skin graft in a patient with neurocutaneous syndrome

Soft tissue expansion is a mechanical process that increases the surface area of local tissue available for reconstructive procedures. In most cases, adjacent tissue that matches the recipient site in color, texture, and hair-bearing quality is preferred for tissue expansion. In this particular case with neurocutaneous syndrome, the defects that resulted from removal of parts of a giant hairy nevus overlying the latissimus dorsi muscle bilaterally were grafted with a split-thickness skin graft. Two expanders were then placed under the latissimus dorsi muscles. After full expansion of the grafted area, some part of the remaining nevus surrounding the grafted area was removed and the defects were covered with the expanded skin graft obtained after deflation of the expanders. The expanders placed under the latissimus dorsi muscle in the first operation were reused in the second operation to obtain a second expansion of the skin graft. After the second expansion of the skin graft, the expanders were deflated and another portion of the remaining nevus surrounding the grafted area was removed. The resulting defects were again covered with the excess expanded skin graft. Although repeated expansion of the skin graft is a time-consuming and laborious process, it eliminates the need for taking repeated skin grafts; it decreases skin graft donor site morbidity; it decreases possible infectious complications of tissue expansion by decreasing the number of surgical interventions to the expander pocket; and it increases the aesthetic outcome by keeping all the surgical scars around the grafted area without extending them into healthy surrounding skin.     

Quality of life assessments with SF 36 in different musculoskeletal diseases

The aim of this study is to evaluate comparatively the life quality of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KO), shoulder impingement syndrome(SIS), fibromialgia(FM), or osteoporosis(OP) using SF 36 and establish the impact of these diseases on quality of life (QoL). A total of 193 patients with one of the above-mentioned different diagnoses completed SF 36 scale. The diseases were compared to each other with SF 36 subgroups scores. There were significant differences among patients with KO and SIS,SIS and FM with respect to all SF 36 subgroups scores. According to these assessments, QoL of KO and FM patients was worst than that of SIS. The QoL scores of KO patients were worse than those of FM patients considering the physical function, while QoL scores of FM patients were lower than those of KO patients with respect to their general well-being. Scores of physical function and pain in KO patients were lower than those of OP patients. In domains of social functioning, emotional role, energy, pain, and general health condition QoL of FM patients was worse than that of OP patients. Quality of life of SIS patients was less affected than the patients of the other disease groups. In spite of their young age, FM patients appear to be the group with the worst quality of life scores.     

Assessment on self-care,mobility and social function of children with spina bifida in Turkey

The aim of the study was to investigate the functional performance in children with spina bifida, using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory(PEDI) to look into capacity of twenty-eight children with spina bifida with lesions at different levels in different dimensions of selfcare, mobility and social function. Mean age of the patients was 3.5 ± 2.3(1–10) years. In the muscle test carried out, 13 patients(44.8%) had no movements including pelvic elevation in lower extremity muscles and they were at level 5. Sixteen patients(54%) were non-ambulatory according to the Hoofer ambulation classification. Raw and scale scores in the self-care, mobility and social function domains both in the functional skill scale and in the caregiver scale were found to be lower compared to the data of the normal population. A statistically significant correlation was observed in the self-care values of the Functional Skills Scales and the Caregiver Assistance Scale measurements, which was positive for age and negative for Functional Ambulation Scale and muscle test(P 0.05). A positive relation was found between the Functional Skills Scales-mobility area and age while a negative relation was observed between Functional Ambulation Scale and muscle test(P 0.005). A negative relation was also found between Caregiver Assistance Scale-mobility and Functional Ambulation Scale and muscle test(P 0.005). In our study, the functional performance of the children was found to be low. Low-level lesions, encouraging muscular strength and independence in mobility are all very important factors for functional independence.     

Cavernous malformations of the central nervous system (CNS) in children: clinico-radiological features and management outcomes of 36 cases

Background

Cavernous malformations (CMs) of the central nervous system (CNS) are angiographically occult vascular lesions that affect approximately 0.5 % of the general population, and one quarter of all CMs occurs in children.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed demographic, clinical, radiological, management, and follow-up data of 36 pediatric patients with CMs from a single institution.

Results

The mean age of the children at first presentation and at operation was 8.7 and 9.6 years, respectively. However, a bimodal age distribution was found with peak under 4 years and above 12 years. Seizure was the most common single presenting symptom (38.9 %), and 61.1 % of patients had at least one seizure before the admission. Focal neurological deficits (410.7 %), intracranial hypertension (27.8 %), and headache (2.8 %) were the other manifestations. Acute/subacute hemorrhage was evident at presentation in 63.9 %. The patients under 6 years of age were found to have significantly more giant cavernomas (69 vs 20 %; p?=?0.011), and more overt hemorrhages (81 vs 47 %; p?=?0.065) at diagnosis than those patients above 12 years. Surgery was performed in 31 patients (32 CMs), with 26 total and 6 incomplete resections. Mean follow-up duration was 6.9?±?4.1 years. Of all patients, 63.8 % had excellent and 30.5 % had good clinical outcomes, and also 90.9 % of the epileptic patients were seizure-free (Engel Class I) at the last follow-up.

Conclusions

Younger children tend to harbor larger CMs and present with hemorrhage more frequently than older ones. Microsurgical resection should be the treatment of choice in symptomatic and accessible CMs.