Jack C. Fisher’s research while affiliated with University of Virginia and other places

A plastic surgical teaching service has been organized at a women's correctional institution to provide a previously unrecognized medical need and to serve a valuable educational function for our residents in training. A total of 177 surgical candidates demonstrating a wide range of reconstructive problems including tattoos, scars, keloids, neoplasms of the skin and hands, deformities of the face and breasts, and numerous disabilities of the hands were identified among 241 inmates requesting examination. Thus far, 116 operative procedures have been performed on 101 patients. Patient acceptance has been high, and the support of prison authorities has been enthusiastic. Persistent efforts to convince legislators of the wisdom of supporting this program financially have only been partially successful and will require further accumulation of sociologic data bearing on the rehabilitative potential of the detained patient with a correctable deformity. Meanwhile, residents in training gain maturity as they provide a very "private" type of service for what has traditionally been considered a very "public" population of patients.

The essential features of Moebius syndrome are described. The etiology of the condition remains in doubt. The role of heredity and the possible familial incidence are noted. We present two cases of Moebius syndrome in which the facial paralysis was surgically corrected by means of dynamic muscle transfers. The use of an innervated platysma muscle flap in the first patient is believed to be the first surgical description of such a procedure.

We have found that methoxyflurane (Penthrane) is a remarkably safe and easy agent for anesthesia of the laboratory mouse or rat. A simple and effective method of administration is described which can virtually eliminate anesthetic mortality.