Postoperative irradiation of keloids allows a decrease of the recurrence rate by about 50%, compared to surgery alone. A review of the literature illustrates the benefits due to the irradiation, and describes the techniques available. The Iridium 192 interstitial brachytherapy, with per-operative implantation of the plastic tubes and immediate irradiation of 20 Gy at 5 mm depth, is detailed as used by French teams. The analysis of the published results allows to recommend this technique which is tailored to each clinical situation, safe, and easy to perform by the surgeon.

First described by Tschernogobow in 1981, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is usually observed in white males. Symptoms results from defective collagen synthesis. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation. There are 9 different clinical groups. Maxillofacial manifestations are usually seen in type VIII Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The clinical case presented here illustrates the problems involving the temporomandibular joints and focuses on an assessment of proposed therapeutic options.

Craniofacial development, which is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, is extremely vulnerable to malformation-inducing events. The extremely broad spectrum of malformations seen in this area may be disconcerting. Identification of a malformation and evaluation of the prognosis requires elucidation of causative mechanisms. The family should then receive counselling. A protocol for treatment of the various abnormal sites over time should be developed.

Le developpement cranio-facial inegalement partage entre l'heritage genetique et les influences de l'environnement fait montre d'une extreme fragilite a l'agression malformative, laquelle aboutit a des alterations cliniques au polymorphisme souvent deroutant. Reconnaitre une malformation puis definir son pronostic suppose d'avoir elucide les mecanismes malformatifs autorisant ainsi l'information de la famille et l'etablissement d'un protocole therapeutique dans l'espace et dans le temps

The authors report the case of a 28-year-old woman in whom multiple surgical reconstructions were performed to cure an extensive radiation necrosis of the nose. In 1980, after the failure of a dorsalis pedis free flap and of a free groin flap, success was obtained with a free lateral mammary flap. But defatting, bone grafting and modelling produced partial necrosis of the flap. Finally, total nasal reconstruction was achieved in 1983 with a pedicled osteocutaneous forearm flap. To secure the transfer, the flap was first modelled by folding directly on the donor site. The advantages of this procedure are a lower risk of postoperative infection and a fewer number of secondary surgical stages needed to achieve the reconstruction. The reliability of the forearm flap and the simplicity of the procedure advocate its use in difficult reconstructions of the nose, when others techniques could not give better results.

There is a very great lesion staging in these syndromes, and a great number of procedures have been described, according to the age and severity of the lesions. The initial assessment is therefore important, since it allows classifying these malformations according to their severity in key sectors. Scheduling the treatment in time must take account of: growth, the necessity to perform successive operations in one region, since no operation must hinder a subsequent one. It is essential to determine the optimum time for bone reconstruction. An early treatment with a conventional bone graft, without any intrinsic growth potential, condemns the reconstructed region to immobility, therefore to a progressive degradation of the result in time and to successive corrections. Early reconstruction is justified only if the available reconstruction means allow the reconstructed area to grow, either naturally or with the aid of orthopaedic stimulation. Some means seem to be available to date. A choice must therefore be made between: delayed morphological surgery, early functional surgery. Considering the extent of the means implemented, this is reserved for severe cases. The other great problem is the reconstruction of the auricle, which most often requires a series of operations scheduled over 2 years. The middle ear may not be operated if the lesions are unilateral. The other malformations, including macrostomia, muscular and neural abnormalities, involvement of the eyelids, sometimes require correction, which must fit in a repair schedule that must be established as soon as possible and must take account of the predictable procedures in order to prevent them from hindering each other.

Since 1983 we have inserted more than 100 temporomandibular joint prostheses. A review after 6 years allows the respective indications to be listed and the complications to be studied in 72 insertions involving 62 cases suitable for analysis. The prosthesis is a total intermediary prosthesis forming an unsealed cupula composed of 2 halves--a mandibular portion and a temporal portion. Insertion of the prosthesis requires preliminary facial nerve dissection then osteotomy of the mandibular condyle and its subsequent drilling to allow the screwing in of the prosthesis. The prosthesis was used in traumatology, in condylar and high sub-condylar fractures, in the event of failure of functional treatment, in malformation syndromes, in tumors and, finally, in degenerative pathology. 13 prostheses were removed. A study of the probable causes of complications shows a predominance of technical problems related to inaccurate positioning of the prosthesis, in that it was not placed in the axis of the condyle, or that inadequate bicortical support was present. In our opinion, these complications do not question the conception of the prosthesis but rather indicate that it is necessary to perfect the insertion technique while taking advantage of improvements in the prosthesis which are currently under study.

Vascularized and reinnervated transfer of a muscle from the body to the face is never a simple procedure. It is important to evaluate the pre-operative state of facial muscles. It is difficult to define the correct indications for the various surgical techniques proposed: muscle selection, selection of recipient vessels, selection of a reinnervation method, the positioning of the transferred muscle. The authors present a series of 12 cases of long standing facial paralysis for more than 3 years. Results are presented. The authors think that the ideal muscular transfer is still unknown. In principle, nothing can replace facial muscles except facial muscles. Currently, the authors prefer the latissimus dorsi flap with partial transfer. For reinnervation, the facial nerve must take the priority, while all other reinnervation technics should take second place. In all cases, great attention must be paid to the positioning of the muscle, the usefulness of conventional palliative procedures and the continuous moral support to all of these patients.

Among 500 CT scan of temporomandibular joint (TMJ), examined since 1982 by bilateral direct sagittal method (Department of Radiology, Pr. A. TREHEUX, CHU Nancy-Brabois), the authors have retained 14 cases of patients with symptoms related to TMJ's dysfunction cured by surgery (Department of Maxillo Facial Surgery, Pr STRICKER, CHU Nancy). These cases were chosen among hundred patients annually examined by CT scan, for various diseases (TMJ's dysfunctions, traumatisms, infections, inflammatory diseases...). These correlations between radiology and surgery about 26 TMJ (2 patients underwent surgery only on one side) were: an accuracy with surgical findings for 19 cases (76%); in 6 cases (23%), a meniscus anteriorly displaced, non detected by CT scan was found by surgery; 2 cases of meniscus perforations (one in the frontal plane, the other sagittal) were surgical findings; in 1 case, a displacement was under-valued by CT scan; in 3 cases, arthrosic changes (1 case of Reiter syndrome), were characterized by CT scan. The authors emphasize the value and the limits of evaluation of the internal derangements of the TMJ with direct sagittal CT.

Among 500 CT scan of temporomandibular joint (TMJ), examined since 1982 by bilateral direct sagittal method (Department of Radiology, Pr. A. Treheux, C.H.U. Nancy-Brabois), the authors have retained 14 cases of patients with symptoms related to TMJ's dysfunction cured by surgery (Department of Maxillo Facial Surgery, Pr. Stricker, C.H.U. Nancy). These cases were chosen among a hundred of patients annually examined by CT scan, for various diseases (TMJ's dysfunctions, traumatisms, infections, inflammatory diseases...) These correlations between radiology and surgery about 26 TMJ (2 patients underwent surgery only on one side) were: an accuracy with surgical findings for 19 cases (76%); in 6 cases (23%), a meniscus anteriorly displaced, non detected by CT scan was found by surgery; 2 cases of meniscus perforations (one in the frontal plane, the other sagittal) were surgical findings; in 1 case, a displacement was under-valued by CT scan; in 3 cases, arthrotic changes (1 case of Reiter syndrome) were characterized by CT scan. The authors emphasize the value and the limits of evaluation of the internal derangements of the TMJ with direct sagittal CT.

Among 500 C.T. scan of temporomandibular joint (T.M.J.), examined since 1982 by bilateral direct sagittal method (Department of Radiology, Pr. A. TREHEUX, C.H.U. Nancy-Brabois), the authors have retained 14 cases of patients with symptoms related to dysfunction of the T.M.J. cured by surgery (Department of Maxillo Facial Surgery, Pr. STRICKER, C.H.U. Nancy). These cases were chosen among hundred patients annually examined by C.T. scan, for various diseases (dysfunctions of the T.M.J., traumatisms, infections, inflammatory diseases...). These correlations between radiology and surgery about 26 T.M.J. (2 patients underwent surgery only on one side) were: an accuracy with surgical findings for 19 cases (76%); in 6 cases (23%), a meniscus anteriorly displaced, non detected by C.T. scan was found by surgery; 2 cases of meniscus perforations (one in the frontal plane, the other sagittal) were surgical findings; in 1 case, a displacement was under-valued by C.T. scan; in 3 cases, arthrosic changes (1 case of REITER syndroma) were characterized by C.T. scan. The authors emphasize the value and the limits of evaluation of the internal derangements of the T.M.J. with direct sagittal C.T.