A new functional approach to the surgical management of pierre robin syndrome: Experimental and clinical report

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Abstract
A functional and simple surgical method for treating the respiratory distress of the neonate affected by Pierre Robin syndrome is described. The base of the tongue is placed in an anterior position via a buried wire suture tied around the body of the hyoid. The method proposed in this paper fulfills the following: 1. It is physiologic since the infant is able to suckle and maintain its nutrition by preserving the function of the mobile portion of the tongue for deglutition. 2. Maintenance of the "pushing" action of the tongue stimulates growth of the mandible. 3. The anchoring wire is not exposed in the oral cavity and the risk of tissue breakdown and infection is eliminated. 4. This technique utilizes the stronger fibrous portion of the mid-tongue rather than muscle which "gives" more readily under pressure. 5. The shortest distance from the base of the tongue to the mid-hyoid provides the best mechanical advantage. 6. The suture, if need be, may be tightened at subsequent periods of time. Under Ketamin (Ketalan) anesthesia the tip of the tongue was held in the forward position. An 18 gauge stainless steel wire was inserted via a large curved needle through the midline of the posterior-most portion at the base of the tongue. The needle was directed anteriorly and inferiorly to emerge below the mid point of the inferior border of the hyoid bone. The opposite end of the wire was then tunneled submucosally to the anterior portion of the base of the tongue at foramen caecum, and directed inferiorly to emerge above the superior border of the mid-portion of the hyoid bone. Through a small skin incision opposite the body of the hyoid bone, both free ends of the wire were tied under tension around the body of the hyoid while pulling the base of the tongue forward. The skin incision was closed with a single nylon suture. A prosthetic obturator was used to close the cleft palate. The outcome was satisfactory with no morbidity.

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