Pattern of facial gunshot and blast injuries amongst law enforcing forces

Objective: To assesses the pattern of maxillofacial gunshot and blast injuries amongst law enforcing forces personnel

Study Design: Descriptive Study

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Lahore from Jan 2010 to Dec 2010

Materials and Methods: This prospective study evaluated 52 patients from Jan 2010 to Dec 2010 at Combined Military Hospital [CMH], Kohat Pakistan. All patients in this study were males as fighting corps of law enforcing forces comprises only male soldiers and officers. Patients aged from 18 to 50 years with mean age 29.12 years +/- 8.56 years

They were assessed for presence of gunshot and ballistic injuries by clinical examination and evaluation of necessary radiographic investigations

Results: Nineteen patients out of total 52 patients had no other injury which accounts for about 36.9%. In maxillofacial area upper third of face was most frequent site to receive gunshot and ballistic injuries as 10 patients received injuries to upper face which measures about 19.2%. Along with maxillofacial area upper limbs were most common site affected as 14 patients received injuries to upper limbs which is 26.9% of all patients

Conclusion: Gunshot wounds present a great challenge to oral and maxillofacial surgeons and a multidimensional team approach is required to rehabilitate the victims of gunshot injuries

Management of obstructive sleep apnea and facial asymmetry by distraction osteogenesis of mandible

Micrognathia and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS] are problems subsequent to temporomandibular joint ankylosis [TMJa] in growing patients. For patients with micrognathia and OSAS secondary to TMJa, it is important to restore proper mandibular form and posterior facial height, achieve occlusal stability and satisfactory mouth opening. We report a 2-year follow-up of a patient with Micronesia and OSAS secondary to unilateral TMJ ankylosis of the right side. The patient had an operation of TMJa before she reported to us but mouth opening was limited. The treatment involved vertical ramus osteotomy, coronoidectomy and external distraction osteogenesis of her mandible. After the treatment of micrognathia oropharyngeal airway space was increased, patient was followed up for 2 years and the results remain uneventful

Diagnostic role of EEG in children having unprovoked seizures, experience at the neurophysiology department, The children's hospital, Lahore

Although advances in imaging technology offer ever-increasing diagnostic accuracy, the electroencephalogram [EEG] retains its importance and is the cornerstone for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Neurophysiology Department of The Children's Hospital, Lahore. Our aims were to find out the different types of epilepsies diagnosed on EEG in children referred for interictal EEG with recent clinical diagnosis of epilepsy. Out of 645 children referred for EEG after seizures, 415 [64%] were males and 230 [36%] were females, 21% had their first seizure before one year of age, 54% of them were between the ages of 1-5 years and 46% of them were more than 5 years of age. We found normal interictal EEGs in 54% whereas 46% children had abnormal EEGs. So in addition to supporting the diagnosis of epilepsy, EEG has significant potential to classify epileptic seizures

Neurofibromatosis type II: a rare neurocutaneous syndrome

Neurocutaneous syndromes are heterogeneous group of disorders with abnormalities of central as well as peripheral nervous system. Neurofibromatosis type II [NF-II] is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous syndrome rarely diagnosed in pediatric population. Diagnosis is based on clinical history and radioimmaging. We present a 14 years old boy with headache and decreased hearing, who turned to be a case of neurofibromatosis type II

Tranverse myelitis: Unusual site of involvement

Transverse myelitis is defined as an acute inflammation of spinal cord leading to abrupt onset of weakness of lower limb. In majority of cases, mid thoracic spine is involved. We present a ten year old girl whose cervical spinal cord was involved which is rare. MRI of spine is the investigation of choice

Myotonia congenita in a brother and sister

Myotonia congenita is a rare channelopathy and carries a good prognosis. Two cases of young siblings are presented detected with difficulty in gait and motor activities. Both had typical hypertrophied body musculature. EMG was diagnostic