Case Report
M to T Rearrangement: An Approach to Correct
Webbed Neck Deformity
Ananth S. Murthy
1
and Margeaux McGraw
2
1
Division of Plastic Surgery, Akron Children’s Hospital, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, USA
2
e University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
Correspondence should be addressed to Ananth S. Murthy; amurthy@chmca.org
Received 19 August 2013; Accepted 31 October 2013; Published 6 January 2014
Academic Editor: Elijah Dixon
Copyright © 2014 A. S. Murthy and M. McGraw. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
For the Noonan syndrome patient, the most concerning physical defect is oten congenital webbing of the neck or pterygium
colli. We present a patient with pterygium colli and a low and laterally displaced nuchal hairline. Since its description, various
surgical approaches have been implemented to correct the deformity. Previously reported posterior and lateral approaches have
notable disadvantages with regard to hairline displacement and recurrence. In order to address these disadvantages, a new surgical
technique was used on this patient. We have termed this technique an M to T rearrangement. Using a lateral approach, the M and T
incisions are made and the trapezial fascial web is directly visualized and able to be completely excised. his prevents the recurrence
seen with the use of posterior techniques. Inferolateral displacement of hair-bearing skin can be removed with resection of the
superior intervening triangle and improves the appearance of the low nuchal hairline. he excision of excess skin along with the
zig-zag closure also prevents postoperative scar contraction and recurrence. An important efect of this technique is the prevention
of anterior displacement of hair bearing skin. M to T rearrangement is an efective technique for the correction of webbed neck
deformities seen in Noonan and Turner syndromes.
1. Introduction
A syndrome involving valvular pulmonary stenosis, small
stature, hypertelorism, mild mental retardation, undescend-
ed testes, and skeletal abnormalities was irst described by
Noonan and Ehmke in 1963 [1]. Noonan syndrome is charac-
terized by short stature, congenital heart defect, and develop-
mental delay of variable degree. Other indings can include
broad or webbed neck, pectus deformity, cryptorchidism,
characteristic facies, varied coagulation defects, lymphatic
dysplasias, and ocular abnormalities [2]. he syndrome is
fairly common, as the incidence is estimated to be approxi-
mately 1 : 1,000–2,500 live births [3]. An autosomal dominant
pattern of inheritance has been determined and attributed to
missense mutations in the PTPN11 gene on chromosome 12
in 50% of cases [4].
For the Noonan syndrome patient, the most concerning
physical defect is oten congenital webbing of the neck or
pterygium colli. Kobylinski initially reported this deformity
in 1883 and the name “pterygium colli” was coined by Funke
in 1902 [5, 6]. Pterygium colli involves an ectopic ibrotic
facial band supericial to the trapezius muscle. Excess hair-
bearing skin is also present and extends down the cervical
region well beyond the normal hairline.
Since its description, various surgical approaches have
been implemented to correct the deformity. Previously
reported posterior and lateral approaches have notable disad-
vantages with regard to hairline displacement and recurrence.
In order to address these disadvantages, a novel surgical
technique was used on this patient. We have termed this
technique an M to T rearrangement.
2. Case Report
A 13-year-old male was evaluated for congenital webbing
of the neck secondary to Noonan syndrome. he patient
presented with characteristic features of pterygium colli with
a low and laterally displaced nuchal hairline. Presurgical
testing did not reveal any coagulation abnormalities. hese
patients can oten have speciic factor deiciency or platelet
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Case Reports in Medicine
Volume 2014, Article ID 682806, 5 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/682806