Nasal tip sutures: how to control shape and orientation in rhinoplasty

Nasal tip surgery is universally recognized as the most challenging part of the rhinoplasty procedure. "The tip makes the nose”. Narrowing the anatomically complex alar cartilages can lead to functional and aesthetic unfavourable outcomes. A thorough understanding of the ideal surface aesthetics and contours and spatial relationships of the structures of the nose tip is mandatory. In primary rhinoplasty, a very large percentage of visible tip deformities involve two major areas: the domes and the lateral crura. Suture techniques have the potential to modify the position, shape and definition of the tip. However, even sutures may result in changes beyond the main goals for which they are placed. The final suture effects are influenced by factors such as forces intrinsic to the cartilages, the degree of suture tightening, and limitations posed by the soft-tissue attachments. The closed delivery approach is our favourite. In a step-by-step fashion, first the medial pillar of the tripod should be addressed, establishing stable and strong tip support and basic dome projection symmetry. Subsequently and in our experience, in a standard procedure shaping lateral crura and domes, using reversible techniques that preserve structural integrity of the rimstrip, would be advisable. One of the main goals is not only to narrow the tip but to change the angle of rotation of the lateral crus surface in relation to the sagittal upper septal margin. Once marked the new dome defining point, with a variable combination of the lateral crural steal technique, sutures such as cranial tip sutures (CTS) and hemitransdomal sutures (HTS) might produce the needed outcome of everting and rotating the caudal margin of the lateral crura above the cranial edge. These sutures can gradually increase domal convexity and reduce lateral crura convexity. Additional dome equalization suture can guarantee more symmetry and then one or more lateral crural spanning sutures help in achieving supplementary eversion of the lateral crus. After establishing adequate projection, the tip rotation or position sutures are placed between the cranial edge of intermediate crura and the dorsal septum. The personal association of suture techniques is presented in this study and the long-term subjective and objective results are discussed along with the pros and cons

The challenging Silent sinus syndrome

The Silent sinus syndrome (SSS), first described in 1964 by Montgomery, is considered a relatively rare pathological entity, but it is presumably underdiagnosed and underreported. Terms such as imploding antrum and chronic maxillary atelectasis (CMA) have interchangeably been used to describe this syndrome, even though CMA has been postulated to represent either a different entity or a stage of evolution of the same disease. Bilateral involvement has been documented in a limited number of cases. Silent ethmoid sinus and silent frontal sinus syndromes have been described. The prevalent initial presentation is facial asymmetry with progressive “silent” painless unilateral enophthalmos and hypoglobus, and rarely diplopia. Isolated maxillary sinus hypoplasia must be differentiated. The etiopathogenesis is poorly understood and still under debate. According to the diagnostic criteria, SSS should spontaneously develops in absence of previous trauma or surgery. Secondary SSS to trauma or surgery, or to other causes like inflammation or tumor, has been documented in literature. The diagnosis relies on the CT, which typically shows unilateral hypoplastic and opacified maxillary sinus with inward bowing and remodeling of the sinus walls and inferior displacement of the orbital floor, an enlarged retroantral fat pad, a lateralized uncinate process, and a blocked ostiomeatal complex. The treatment of SSS aims at restoring the eye position and orbital floor height, to prevent progression of enophthalmos, to restore ventilation and drainage of the sinus. These objectives are achieved in single or two-stage surgery. The timing for management of the orbital floor is still under debate.The universally accepted treatment is surgical and usually accomplished by endoscopic sinus surgery. Associated middle turbinate hypertrophy and septal deviation must be previously addressed. Precise and gentle endoscopic removal of the obstruction of the ethmoid infundibulum, simply performing an inferior posteroanterior uncinectomy, since the uncinate process has constantly been found atelectatic and adherent to the lateral nasal wall, can reestablish the patency of the natural maxillary ostium. In our experience, following middle meatal antrostomy, long-term observation with staged orbital surgery, if required, is recommended. In this study, we present our cases with a focus on surgical stratagems developed in order to reduce the risk of injuring the orbit and to achieve long-lasting results

Nasal tip sutures: how to control shape and orientation in rhinoplasty

Nasal tip surgery is universally recognized as the most challenging part of the rhinoplasty procedure. "The tip makes the nose”. Narrowing the anatomically complex alar cartilages can lead to functional and aesthetic unfavourable outcomes. A thorough understanding of the ideal surface aesthetics and contours and spatial relationships of the structures of the nose tip is mandatory. In primary rhinoplasty, a very large percentage of visible tip deformities involve two major areas: the domes and the lateral crura. Suture techniques have the potential to modify the position, shape and definition of the tip. However, even sutures may result in changes beyond the main goals for which they are placed. The final suture effects are influenced by factors such as forces intrinsic to the cartilages, the degree of suture tightening, and limitations posed by the soft-tissue attachments. The closed delivery approach is our favourite. In a step-by-step fashion, first the medial pillar of the tripod should be addressed, establishing stable and strong tip support and basic dome projection symmetry. Subsequently and in our experience, in a standard procedure shaping lateral crura and domes, using reversible techniques that preserve structural integrity of the rimstrip, would be advisable. One of the main goals is not only to narrow the tip but to change the angle of rotation of the lateral crus surface in relation to the sagittal upper septal margin. Once marked the new dome defining point, with a variable combination of the lateral crural steal technique, sutures such as cranial tip sutures (CTS) and hemitransdomal sutures (HTS) might produce the needed outcome of everting and rotating the caudal margin of the lateral crura above the cranial edge. These sutures can gradually increase domal convexity and reduce lateral crura convexity. Additional dome equalization suture can guarantee more symmetry and then one or more lateral crural spanning sutures help in achieving supplementary eversion of the lateral crus. After establishing adequate projection, the tip rotation or position sutures are placed between the cranial edge of intermediate crura and the dorsal septum. The personal association of suture techniques is presented in this study and the long-term subjective and objective results are discussed along with the pros and cons

The challenging Silent sinus syndrome

The Silent sinus syndrome (SSS), first described in 1964 by Montgomery, is considered a relatively rare pathological entity, but it is presumably underdiagnosed and underreported. Terms such as imploding antrum and chronic maxillary atelectasis (CMA) have interchangeably been used to describe this syndrome, even though CMA has been postulated to represent either a different entity or a stage of evolution of the same disease. Bilateral involvement has been documented in a limited number of cases. Silent ethmoid sinus and silent frontal sinus syndromes have been described. The prevalent initial presentation is facial asymmetry with progressive “silent” painless unilateral enophthalmos and hypoglobus, and rarely diplopia. Isolated maxillary sinus hypoplasia must be differentiated. The etiopathogenesis is poorly understood and still under debate. According to the diagnostic criteria, SSS should spontaneously develops in absence of previous trauma or surgery. Secondary SSS to trauma or surgery, or to other causes like inflammation or tumor, has been documented in literature. The diagnosis relies on the CT, which typically shows unilateral hypoplastic and opacified maxillary sinus with inward bowing and remodeling of the sinus walls and inferior displacement of the orbital floor, an enlarged retroantral fat pad, a lateralized uncinate process, and a blocked ostiomeatal complex. The treatment of SSS aims at restoring the eye position and orbital floor height, to prevent progression of enophthalmos, to restore ventilation and drainage of the sinus. These objectives are achieved in single or two-stage surgery. The timing for management of the orbital floor is still under debate.The universally accepted treatment is surgical and usually accomplished by endoscopic sinus surgery. Associated middle turbinate hypertrophy and septal deviation must be previously addressed. Precise and gentle endoscopic removal of the obstruction of the ethmoid infundibulum, simply performing an inferior posteroanterior uncinectomy, since the uncinate process has constantly been found atelectatic and adherent to the lateral nasal wall, can reestablish the patency of the natural maxillary ostium. In our experience, following middle meatal antrostomy, long-term observation with staged orbital surgery, if required, is recommended. In this study, we present our cases with a focus on surgical stratagems developed in order to reduce the risk of injuring the orbit and to achieve long-lasting results

On assessing importance of components in dysfunction urban systems given an earthquake: the case of Mt. Etna region

Mt Etna region (Sicily, Italy) is one of the test areas studied in the European Project “Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic fields and FAult sources” ( UPStrat-MAFA) to which the methodology of Disruption Index (hereafter DI), recently developed to evaluate the dysfunction of urban systems caused by earthquakes (Ferreira et al., 2014), has been applied on a trial basis

Development and validation of a dissolution method using HPLC for diclofenac potassium in oral suspension

The present study describes the development and validation of an in vitro dissolution method for evaluation to release diclofenac potassium in oral suspension. The dissolution test was developed and validated according to international guidelines. Parameters like linearity, specificity, precision and accuracy were evaluated, as well as the influence of rotation speed and surfactant concentration on the medium. After selecting the best conditions, the method was validated using apparatus 2 (paddle), 50-rpm rotation speed, 900 mL of water with 0.3% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as dissolution medium at 37.0 ± 0.5°C. Samples were analyzed using the HPLC-UV (PDA) method. The results obtained were satisfactory for the parameters evaluated. The method developed may be useful in routine quality control for pharmaceutical industries that produce oral suspensions containing diclofenac potassium

Urban Disaster-Prevention Strategies Using Macroseismic Fields and Fault Sources

This contribution presents the general framework of the European project UPStrat-MAFA "Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources" and its ongoing activities. A unique probabilistic procedure is being used for seismic hazard evaluation, using both macroseismic fields and characteristics of fault sources for the analysis of data from volcanic and tectonic areas: Mt. Etna, Mt. Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei (Italy), Azores Islands (Portugal), South Iceland (Iceland), Alicante-Murcia (Spain), and mainland and offshore Portugal. An improvement of urban scale vulnerability information on building and network systems (typologies, schools, strategic buildings, lifelines, and others) is proposed in the form of a global Disruption Index, with the objective to provide a systematic way of measuring earthquake impact in urbanized areas considered as complex networks. Disaster prevention strategies are considered based on an education information system, another effective component of the disaster risk reduction given by long-term activities.Co-financed by the EU - Civil Protection Financial Instrument, in the framework the European project ”Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources (Acronym: UPStrat-MAFA, Grant Agreement N. 23031/2011/613486/SUB/A5). http://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding/cp_projects2011_en.htmPublishedLisbon - Portugal4.1. Metodologie sismologiche per l'ingegneria sismicaope

Urban Disaster-Prevention Strategies Using Macroseismic Fields and Fault Sources

This contribution presents the general framework of the European project UPStrat-MAFA "Urban disaster Prevention Strategies using MAcroseismic Fields and FAult Sources" and its ongoing activities. A unique probabilistic procedure is being used for seismic hazard evaluation, using both macroseismic fields and characteristics of fault sources for the analysis of data from volcanic and tectonic areas: Mt. Etna, Mt. Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei (Italy), Azores Islands (Portugal), South Iceland (Iceland), Alicante-Murcia (Spain), and mainland and offshore Portugal. An improvement of urban scale vulnerability information on building and network systems (typologies, schools, strategic buildings, lifelines, and others) is proposed in the form of a global Disruption Index, with the objective to provide a systematic way of measuring earthquake impact in urbanized areas considered as complex networks. Disaster prevention strategies are considered based on an education information system, another effective component of the disaster risk reduction given by long-term activities