Facial plastic surgery in leprosy has two points of important significances, one of which is to eliminate the inferiority consciousness against facial deformity from the patient, who is returning to the society. However, an administration structure of leprosy in our country is almost brought to perfection, and early discovery and therapy are carried out smoothly, so that no impossibility for the patient, who returns to the society without causing deformity. Actually since administering with D.D.S., Thiourea, and Kanamycin for leprosy therapy, facial plastic surgery may be not directly taken part in the patient, who returns to the society. The another point has to correct a social prejudice for leprosy. A big factor formed such prejudice is an unnecessary terror mind for the infection and feeling of dislike for the ugly deformity. The former can be corrected by the right social education about leprosy, but the latter is only for endeavouring how to avoid the eye of social people by means of technics of plastic or orthopedic surgeries. Even for the patients in the leprosarium, who have no possibility to be returned to the society, the facial plastic surgery holds as one of important reasons.
The facial plastic surgery carried out in the leprosarium at the present time is as the following.
1. Loss of the eyebrows.
It is said that a single hair or a few hairs transplantation is the best method. Strip of the scalp, direct scalp pedicle flap and artery island flap are widely carried out, especially for the strip of the scalp, there are several reports for clinical study, in order to obtain a good condition of hair growing. Also for loss of eyelashes, narrow strips of the scalp are carried out, and for leprous alopecia, artificial hairing is also considered.
2. Nasal deformities.
For rhinoplastic operation of leprous saddle nose, several technics including preserved homocostal cartilage and prosthesis as materials of acrylic resin and Dimethylpolysiloxane are tried, especially for the method as U-type prosthesis is placed on the maxilla surface arounded foramen piriforme, and then combined with L-type prosthesis, in order to elevate a dorsum of the nose is noticed as much easier than Gillies' post-nasal epitherial inlay method. For the cases in defect or high atrophy of the whole nose, besides partial rhinoplasty, total rhinoplasty is carried out positively, especially transferring the acromiothracic tubed pedicle flap is applied willingly.
3. Facial paralysis.
For lagophthalmis, static sling using fascia lata and tendon or Sheehan's pedicle flap was chiefly applied, but lately temporalis muscle sling operation is also popular-ized. For lip paralysis, static sling of paralyzed lower lip with fascia lata and tendon, and also dynamic method of utilized masseter muscle are well carried out, but for the cases paralyzed strongly on the both sides, the static method is mostly selected, expecially a method of tendon through the lower lip being tied up to the masseter muscle at the both sides is superior for a point of simplicity.
4. Abnormal winkling of the face.
Usual rhytidectomy (or face lifting) is carried out. Naso-labial, perioral and submandibular region are removed with the skin incision.
5. Deformty of the ear.
Ear lobe at the state so called dangle or partial defect of the auricle (this is mostly found at the helix and so called as the rat-eaten ear) is the objects of plastic surgery.
6. Other deformities.
Besides, the operation (skin abrasion and Z-plasty etc.) for scar or pigmentation is also tried some for lesions of nose inside or mouth.
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