The gross morphology and electrical activity of the muscles of the pharyngeal apparatus of centrarchid sunfishes (Lepomis) are analyzed within a monophyletic clade containing species specialized for snail-eating. Outgroup comparisons of both structure and activity patterns of muscles permit examination of the relationship between specialized diet and function of the trophic apparatus. In most s...

OBJECTIVE Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a common complication after cleft palate repair, it may be due to lack of levator sling reconstruction and/or palatal shortening. Furlow palatoplasty has the advantages of retro-positioning of levator palati muscles and palatal lengthening. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Furlow palatoplasty in the treatment of VPI in patients ...

BACKGROUND We previously reported that the supratarsal Mueller's muscle is innervated by both sympathetic efferent fibers and trigeminal proprioceptive afferent fibers, which function as mechanoreceptors-inducing reflexive contractions of both the levator and frontalis muscles. Controversy still persists regarding the role of the mechanoreceptors in Mueller's muscle; therefore, we clinically an...

PURPOSE To describe a modified Fasanella-Servat procedure and nomogram for the correction of minimal amounts of ptosis. METHODS Retrospective review of this modified Fasanella-Servat procedure was performed on 118 eyelids in 86 consecutive patients over 2, 4-year periods by 1 surgeon (S.C.D.). The amount of tarsectomy was based on the amount of ptosis. RESULTS Mean pre- and postoperative ma...

PURPOSE To evaluate the functional and cosmetic results after frontalis sling repair for unilateral ptosis associated with either poor levator function or synkinesis. METHODS Preoperative and postoperative photographs and records of 127 patients who underwent unilateral frontalis sling ptosis repair were retrospectively reviewed. An eyelid crease incision was used in all cases, with suturing ...

PURPOSE We evaluated the long-term outcome and complications of high levator myorrhaphy for vaginal apical defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 286 patients underwent high levator myorrhaphy. Patients underwent preoperative and postoperative urogynecologic assessment, including evaluation of prolapse stage according to the international pelvic organ prolapse staging system and convention...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing structural injury in primiparous women at risk for pelvic floor injury. METHODS This was an observational study of 77 women who underwent 3T MRI after delivery. Women were operationally defined as high risk (n = 45) for levator ani muscle tears (risk factors: second-stage labor > 150 min or < 30 min, anal sphi...

BACKGROUND Recovery of Bell`s phenomenon after levator resection is unpredicatable. Delayed recovery can result in vision threatening corneal complications. AIM To study the variability of Bell's phenomenon and time taken for its recovery following levator resection for blepharoptosis and to correlate it with the amount of resection. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted o...

BACKGROUND The midfacial region is a challenging area for plastic surgeons and may vary among different races. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of midfacial muscles in Persian (Iranian) subjects. METHODS Hemifacial fresh cadaver dissection was performed. For each cadaver, demographics, side of dissection, variation in midfacial muscles (levator alae nasi, levat...

BACKGROUND Restoration of proper anatomy and physiology is an integral part of cleft palate repair. The senior author has devised a new technique of radical release of greater palatine vessels, which helps in achieving tension-free closure of palatal cleft. In addition, release and transposition of palatal muscles is performed without the use of operative microscope, resulting in improved palat...