We studied 73 repairs of cleft palate (48 cleft lip and palate and 25 isolated cleft palate) done during a 7-year period (January 1996-October 2002) by the same plastic reconstructive surgeon. Two-flap or four-flap palatoplasty techniques were used to provide tension-free, three-layer repairs for patients with cleft palate. Their ages ranged from 10-244 months (mean 27). The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 6 to 60 months (mean 21). There was a palatal fistulation rate of 7% (5/73). There were two fistulas after two-flap palatoplasty (5%, 2/39), and three fistulas after four-flap palatoplasty (9%, 3/34). The mean diameter was 7.8 mm (range 5.1 to 13). There was no significant difference between the two techniques.

We recommend the calculation of total nevus area as the most useful method for assessment of the risk of developing melanoma in a CMN. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

The growth factor levels on days 7 and 14 suggest that autologous PRP can be stored at -20 °C without preservative agents, although in vivo studies are required in order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the detected growth factor levels.

The Veau classification of the cleft palate affects the risk of fistula development, and the risk for fistula after rotation palatoplasty is lower than that associated with the V-Y pushback technique.

Silicones are widely used materials in many fields of medicine and largely are believed to be biologically inert. However, some investigators have reported that silicone implants are associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune disorders. In this study, we evaluated the capsular tissue of silicone implants and the sera of implant patients and controls for antisilicone antibodies and nonspecific immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE). Our study group included 15 patients (eight men and seven women) undergoing reconstructive procedures for burn scars, in whom we used silicone implants, and 15 sex-matched controls undergoing reconstructive surgery for burn scars without using silicone implants. By immunofluorescence, we discovered strong capsular binding of IgG and weak capsular binding of IgM; antisilicone antibody levels were significantly higher in capsular tissue than elsewhere. Serum IgE also was higher in patient vs control subject sera. In conclusion, silicone materials do lead to an immune response consisting of antisilicone antibodies most evident immediately adjacent to the implant itself.