A modified midfacial degloving approach for the treatment of unilateral paranasal sinus tumours

Historical evolution of surgical approaches to the face-part III: lower face

Surgical approaches to the head and maxillofacial area have been described and modified by many authors throughout history. It was, however, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when most of the techniques were described, mainly thanks to the advent of anesthesia and antibiotic therapy. Currently, a myriad of surgical techniques are employed to access the maxillofacial complex, with each of them having advantages and disadvantages. Although the approaches are the subject of textbooks and articles, most do not describe the circumstances or the historical context under which they were designed. In a series of three articles, we will provide a historical perspective of the most common surgical approaches to the head and face employed today. Descriptions contain advantages and disadvantages and modifications are provided. The purpose of the present article (3/3) is to review the approaches to the lower face.

Combining midfacial degloving, LeFort-I osteotomy and inferiorly extended lateral orbitotomy (Krönlein) for removal of an orbital cavernous haemangioma: a new approach

Orbital tumours, located in the medial extraconal and intraconal compartment of the orbit, represent a challenge, with regard to surgical exposure. In the present paper removal of a cavernous haemangioma, located in the medial intraconal compartment was accomplished by combining lateral orbitotomy, midfacial degloving and LeFort-I osteotomy. Resection of the tumour could be performed under direct vision. Surgical exposure and removal of the lesion were obtained, without causing damage to surrounding tissues. Aesthetical results and postoperative eye function proved to be highly satisfactorily. With regard to limitations, concerning the combination of these methods, extended surgery duration and invasiveness have to be named. According to the technical feasibility and postoperative results, this new surgical approach represents a reliable and fully viable alternative method for the removal of medial orbital tumours.

Nasoseptal flap for palatal reconstruction after hemi-maxillectomy: case report

OBJECTIVE

Palatal reconstruction following maxillectomy is a surgical challenge, and a nasoseptal flap is a feasible approach. This paper reports the first known successful clinical case of a nasoseptal pedicle flap applied for the reconstruction of maxillary bone following hemi-maxillectomy.

CASE REPORT

This report describes hemi-maxillectomy in a 60-year-old Italian male diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the left maxilla. Endoscopic transnasal extended medial maxillectomy was performed, followed by a transoral modified midfacial degloving technique for removal of the maxillary bone. The contralateral nasoseptal pedicle flap was used to reconstruct the defect. The case was followed up prospectively for the assessment of flap reception and healing.

CONCLUSION

The locally accessible nasoseptal flap is a viable alternative for palatal reconstruction; therefore, a second surgical procedure with its associated donor site morbidity can be avoided. Large-scale studies may help in establishing the cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Esthetically Favorable Surgical Alternative for the Removal of Sinonasal Malignant Tumors-The Modified Facial Degloving Technique

PURPOSE

The widely used external approach (Weber-Fergusson incision) for the removal of maxillary ethmoid tumors leaves stigmatizing scars and deformities on the patient's face. As an alternative technique, the scarless facial degloving approach was first described in the 1970s; since then, several modifications have been developed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The authors have been using a modified facial degloving technique for 7 years to remove maxillary ethmoid tumors. This article is a retrospective methodologic review. The inclusion criteria for this retrospective study were patients who underwent the modified facial degloving technique for management of malignant maxillary ethmoid tumors. The exclusion criteria were patients who did not undergo a surgical procedure (who received primary chemoradiation therapy) and patients who underwent an endoscopic surgical procedure for an early-stage localized tumor. The authors describe their method, which provides for a wide surgical approach using an osteoplastic flap for the entire nasal and paranasal region, with good cosmetic results. They present the adaptability of their method for 3 malignant maxillary ethmoid tumors in different locations.

RESULTS

From 2012 through 2016, 23 consecutive patients underwent surgery with the modified facial degloving approach at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Szeged (Szeged, Hungary). The authors evaluated their results with acoustic rhinometry and photographic documentation of postoperative facial expressions. Neither narrowing of the nasal cavity on the operated side (loss of nasal breathing function) nor facial movement dysfunction was visible in these patients.

CONCLUSION

Although several modifications of the original facial degloving approach have been published, in the present technique, the novel osteoplastic flap and the intact soft tissue of the nasal and midfacial region result in shorter hospitalization time and fewer complications. No functional or esthetic distortion was visible. No severe complications were observed; the patients' only complaint was the dryness of the nasal mucosa and temporary crusting of the nose. The present modified facial degloving technique offers proper and safe surgical resection for tumors of the maxillary ethmoid region. It can be routinely combined with endoscopic techniques and, if necessary, can be converted to an open approach.