Treatment by ultrasound-guided sclerosis using polidocanol foam seems to be well tolerated and can improve the symptoms of low-flow malformations without the risks of more aggressive sclerosing agents, such as ethanol.

MACT is an excellent surgical therapy for full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee, with good long-term results for simple defects. However, it should not be used in salvage cases.

Background In this paper, we study the ability of a 3D biomechanical model of the oral cavity to predict the consequences of tongue surgery on tongue movements, according to the size and location of the tissue loss and the nature of the flap used by the surgeon. MethodThe core of our model consists of a 3D biomechanical model representing the tongue as a Finite Element Structure with hexahedral elements and hyperelastic properties, in which muscles are represented by specific subsets of elements. This model is inserted in the oral cavity including jaw, palate and pharyngeal walls. Hemiglossectomy and large resection of the mouth floor are simulated by removing the elements corresponding to the tissue losses. Three kinds of reconstruction are modelled, assuming flaps with low, medium or high stiffness.. ResultsThe consequences of these different surgical treatments during the activations of some of the main tongue muscles are shown. Differences in global 3D tongue shape and in velocity patterns are evaluated and interpreted in terms of their potential impact on speech articulation. These simulations have shown to be efficient in accounting for some of the clinically observed consequences of tongue surgery. ConclusionFurther improvements still need to be done before being able to generate easily patientspecific models and to decrease significantly the computation time. However, this approach should represent a significant improvement in planning tongue surgery systems and should be a very useful means of improving the understanding of muscle behaviour after partial resection.3