ABPS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Marginal mandibular nerve

Branch of the facial nerve that runs near the inferior border of the mandible and innervates the depressor anguli oris, depressor labii inferioris, and mentalis; at risk in submandibular and neck surgery.

Le Fort I fracture

A horizontal fracture through the maxilla above the tooth roots, separating the maxilla from the pterygoid plates and nasal floor, often causing malocclusion and midface mobility.

Crouzon syndrome

An autosomal dominant craniosynostosis syndrome caused by FGFR2 mutations, characterized by coronal synostosis, midface hypoplasia, proptosis, and normal extremities.

Radial forearm free flap

A fasciocutaneous free flap based on the radial artery, commonly used for oral cavity reconstruction because its thin and pliable skin allows good tongue mobility and speech.

SMAS

The superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a continuous fibrous layer investing the facial mimetic muscles; its elevation or plication is central to durable facelift surgery.

Mohs micrographic surgery

A tissue-sparing technique for skin cancer excision that examines 100% of the surgical margin with frozen sections, offering high cure rates for recurrent or ill-defined facial tumors.

House-Brackmann scale

A six-grade clinical scale (I normal to VI total paralysis) used to assess facial nerve function, based on resting symmetry, motion, and synkinesis.

Millard rotation-advancement

A common technique for unilateral cleft lip repair that rotates the medial lip element downward and advances the lateral lip element to reconstruct the Cupid's bow and philtral column.

Malignant hyperthermia

A life-threatening hypermetabolic reaction to volatile anesthetics and succinylcholine, treated with dantrolene and aggressive cooling; characterized by hyperthermia, rigidity, and acidosis.

Informed consent

The process of obtaining a patient's voluntary agreement to a medical procedure after disclosing its nature, risks, benefits, alternatives, and the consequences of declining treatment.

Facial artery

A branch of the external carotid artery that crosses the mandible at the antegonial notch and ascends to the nasolabial fold, terminating as the angular artery with anastomoses to the ophthalmic artery.

ZMC fracture

A zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture involving the zygomaticofrontal suture, zygomaticomaxillary buttress, zygomatic arch, and orbital floor, often with infraorbital nerve injury.

Pierre Robin sequence

A congenital triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and cleft palate that can cause airway obstruction and feeding difficulties; management may include prone positioning or mandibular distraction.

N2b nodal stage

In head and neck cancer staging, N2b designates multiple ipsilateral metastatic lymph nodes, none larger than 6 cm, without contralateral or bilateral involvement.

Hyaluronidase

An enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid filler; used as an antidote for vascular occlusion or overcorrection after hyaluronic acid injection in the face.

Breslow thickness

The depth of melanoma invasion measured from the granular layer of the epidermis to the deepest tumor cell; it is the strongest prognostic factor and guides sentinel node biopsy.

Bell's palsy

Idiopathic peripheral facial nerve paralysis of sudden onset; corticosteroids within 72 hours improve recovery, and antiviral agents may be added in severe cases.

Furlow palatoplasty

A cleft palate repair technique using double-opposing Z-plasties to lengthen the soft palate and reposition the levator veli palatini muscles, improving speech outcomes.

Caprini risk assessment

A validated tool that stratifies surgical patients for venous thromboembolism risk based on factors such as age, procedure type, and comorbidities, guiding prophylaxis selection.

HIPAA confidentiality

Federal law protecting patient health information; exceptions permitting disclosure include suspected abuse, public health reporting, and imminent threat to self or others.

Relaxed skin tension lines

Lines on the face that are perpendicular to the underlying mimetic muscle fibers; incisions along these lines minimize tension and improve scar appearance.

Orbital blowout fracture

A fracture of the orbital floor often caused by blunt trauma, which can entrap the inferior rectus muscle and cause diplopia and restricted upward gaze.

Apert syndrome

A craniosynostosis syndrome caused by FGFR2 mutations, featuring coronal synostosis, midface hypoplasia, and syndactyly of the hands and feet.

Selective neck dissection

Removal of specific lymph node levels based on the primary tumor site, such as levels I–III for oral cavity cancer, while preserving other nodal basins.

Danger zone filler injection

Facial regions including the glabella and nasolabial fold where filler can inadvertently enter arteries and cause vascular occlusion; hyaluronidase is the antidote for hyaluronic acid.

Sebaceous carcinoma

An aggressive eyelid malignancy that can mimic a chalazion; it warrants wide excision with margin control and evaluation for Muir-Torre syndrome.

Synkinesis

Involuntary facial movement accompanying voluntary movement after facial nerve recovery, caused by aberrant regeneration; treated with botulinum toxin and facial therapy.

Van der Woude syndrome

An autosomal dominant condition with lower lip pits and cleft lip and/or palate, associated with IRF6 mutations; it is the most common syndromic cause of clefting.

Lidocaine maximum dose

The maximum safe dose of lidocaine is 4.5 mg/kg without epinephrine and 7 mg/kg with epinephrine; exceeding these doses increases the risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity.

Implied consent

A legal doctrine allowing emergency treatment without explicit consent when a patient is unable to consent and delay would risk serious harm.

Scalp layers

The scalp consists of skin, connective tissue, aponeurosis, loose areolar tissue, and pericranium; the loose areolar layer is the plane of avulsion and infection spread.

Panfacial fracture sequence

A systematic approach to panfacial fractures: reestablish the mandibular arch, then maxillary position, then zygomatic and orbital reconstruction, and finally nasal projection.