The volume of the levator superior rectus muscle complex was determined from computed tomography scans of 152 orbits from 76 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. Clinically observed lid retraction and lid lag did not correlate with the levator/superior rectus muscle volume and did not correlate with limitation of vertical eye movements or inferior rectus muscle volume. These results do not sup...

Congenital cleft palate causes a serious obstacle to children with regard to language and eating function. The aim of the current study was to examine the clinical application of a type of palatoplasty that has a reduced impact on the maxillary growth and good function in velopharyngeal competence. A total of 37 patients with cleft palate were treated with levator veli palatini retropositioning...

OBJECTIVE Compare levator ani cross-sectional area as a function of prolapse and muscle defect status. METHODS Thirty women with prolapse and 30 women with normal pelvic support were selected from an ongoing case-control study of prolapse. For each of the two groups, 10 women were selected from three categories of levator defect severity: none, minor, and major identified on supine magnetic r...

The levator ani is vulnerable to injury during childbirth and effective surgical intervention requires full knowledge of the morphology and mechanical properties of the muscle structure. The shape of the levator ani and regional thickening during different levels of physiological loading can provide an indication of pelvic floor dysfunction. This paper describes a coupled approach for shape and...

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to develop and test a 3-dimensional (3D) color thickness mapping technique on levator ani imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS Supine MRI datasets from 30 women were studied: 10 asymptomatic, 10 with urodynamic stress incontinence, and 10 with pelvic organ prolapse. Levators were manually outlined, and thickness mapping applied. Three-dimen...

[Purpose] This study investigated the changes in pressure pain threshold of the upper trapezius, levator scapular, and rhomboid muscles during continuous computer work. [Subjects] Fourteen males and females aged 26-32 years, were recruited. [Methods] A dolorimeter pressure algometer was used to measure the pressure pain threshold of the upper trapezius, levator scapular, and rhomboid muscles, r...

Seventeen patients with ptosis as a feature of chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia were managed in accordance with a new protocol. An anterior approach levator advancement was performed on seven patients (13 lids) with more than 4 mm of levator function and a brow suspension procedure on eight patients (14 lids) with minimal levator function, in whom the frontalis muscle was relatively...

Based on a review of the literature, this paper provides an update on surgical treatment of middle and low rectal cancer and discusses issues of debate surrounding that treatment. The main goal of the surgical treatment of rectal cancer is radical resection of the tumor and surrounding lymphatic tissue. Local excision of early rectal cancer can be another treatment option, in which the patient ...

Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of polybutylate-coated braided polyester (Ethibond* 5-0) suture for levator aponeurosis suturing to the anterior tarsal surface in involutional blepharoptosis repair surgery. Methods. Ten consecutive patients (16 eyes) with acquired blepharoptosis which resulted from levator aponeurosis dehiscence with good levator function had gone through surgery a...