Assessment of Panoramic Radiographic Variables as Predictors of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injury During Third Molar Extraction

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the role of radiological predictive markers on orthopantomogram for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury related to the removal of mandibular third molar surgery and the occurrence of post-operative IAN paresthesia. Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 60 patients (aged 17-35 years) indicated for extraction and showed one or more of the seven previously known panoramic radiographic risk signs of IAN injury. Variables such as age, sex, tooth angulation, and relationship with the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) were assessed to see their outcome on IAN injury. Data analysis is presented through tables and descriptive methods. Results: Among patients, 26 were male and 34 were female, with a mean age of 26.17 years. Out of seven radiological predictive markers, only six were found in this study, whereas one marker, viz. interruption of white line of the canal was not found. After surgical removal of the lower third molar, only two patients with radiographic signs showing the deflection of roots and darkening of roots continued with sensory deficit 5 weeks post-operatively. Conclusion: The risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury during lower third molar surgery is very low, even in patients with radiological predictive markers.

Tratamento de fratura de assoalho orbital com cartilagem conchal / Treatment of orbital floor fracture with conchal cartilage

Introdução: A reconstrução dos defeitos no assoalho orbital após fraturas constitui um desafio ao cirurgião plástico, pois além da expectativa estética e reconstrutora do paciente, cabe o tratamento de possíveis complicações funcionais, como diplopia e parestesias faciais. O objetivo é demonstrar uma série de casos utilizando cartilagem auricular conchal para reposição volumétrica orbital e estrutural do assoalho. Métodos: Foram avaliados 24 pacientes, operados pelo autor deste trabalho no período de 2013 a 2016, por motivo de fraturas de assoalho orbital pura (blow-out) ou impura (conjugadas a lesões de margem orbital, como zigoma e maxila). A técnica de estruturação do assoalho utilizou enxerto cartilaginoso autólogo conchal em todos os casos. Os pacientes foram catalogados quanto à presença de queixas pré-operatórias, como parestesia e diplopia, e sintomas, como enoftalmia, assim como resultados pós-operatórios. Resultados: A presença de lesões concomitantes como fratura de complexo zigomático e fratura maxilar pode influenciar no sucesso da reconstrução, assim como as fraturas com maior área de descontinuidade no assoalho orbital. Poucos pacientes apresentaram queixas pós-operatórias e somente dois casos (9,2%) necessitaram de nova abordagem cirúrgica. Conclusão: A cartilagem conchal auricular autóloga é um material adequado à reconstrução de defeitos no assoalho orbital pós-fratura, apresentando como vantagens a fácil obtenção, baixa morbidade, cicatriz inconspícua, excelente adaptação ao formato do assoalho da órbita e consequente reposição volumétrica.

Introduction: The reconstruction of defects in the orbital floor after fractures poses a challenge to the plastic surgeon because besides the patient's aesthetic and reconstructive expectations, possible functional complications such as diplopia and facial paresthesia must be treated. This study aimed at reporting a series of cases in which conchal auricular cartilage was used for volumetric orbital and structural replacement of the floor. Methods: Twenty-four patients, with surgery performed by the author, between 2013 and 2016, for pure (blow-out) or impure (conjugated to orbital margin injuries, such as zygoma and maxilla) orbital floor fractures, were evaluated. The repair technique involved autologous conchal cartilage graft in all cases. Patients were classified for the presence of preoperative complaints, including paresthesia and diplopia, and symptoms such as enophthalmia, as well as postoperative outcomes. Results: The existence of concomitant lesions, such as zygomatic complex and maxillary fracture, as well as fractures with greater discontinuity in the orbital floor, may influence the success of reconstruction. Few patients exhibited postoperative complaints and only two (9.2%) required a new surgical approach. Conclusion: Autologous conchal auricular cartilage is a suitable material for reconstruction of defects in the post-fracture orbital floor, possessing various advantages, including ease of attainment, low morbidity, inconspicuous scar, and excellent adaptation to the shape of the orbital floor and consequent volumetric replacement.

Indenização por danos estéticos e morais decorrentes de fratura mandibular ocasionada por acidente de trabalho - relato de perícia odontológica trabalhista / Indemnity for aesthetic and moral damages resulting mandibular fracture for work accident - reporting dental labor expertise

Introdução: a perícia trabalhista odontológica visa verificar e quantificar as lesões no aparelho estomatognático, e suas repercussões, decorrentes de trauma produzidos durante a atividade laborativa. Nos casos onde as lesões geram danos estéticos e/ou funcionais, cabe ao expert reportar a presença dasmesmas, seu aspecto estático e dinâmico, e as consequências para o trabalhador. Objetivo: relatar um caso de perícia odontológica trabalhista em que mesmo havendo trauma facial com sequela estética de pequena monta, houve condenação do empregador para pagamento de danos morais e estéticos. Relatode Caso: um trabalhador foi soterrado durante a sua atividade laboral e, em decorrência do trauma,fraturou a mandíbula (fratura não exposta) e ficou com parestesia nesta região. Em primeira instância, foideterminada uma avaliação médica, onde o perito médico não verificou lesões e/ou sequelas que inviabilizassem o exercício da atividade do reclamante e/ou que fosse digno de reparação. Após orecurso, foi anulada a sentença inicial e determinada uma nova perícia, porém, nomeou-se um expertespecialista em Odontologia Legal que encontrou evidências da referida parestesia, bem como, que amesma era de caráter permanente e irreversível, caracterizando-se nexo causal, o que levou o magistrado a sentenciar o pagamento de danos estéticos e morais. Conclusão: conclui-se com o referidorelato de caso pericial que uma alteração estética de pequena monta na face, decorrente de fratura mandibular não exposta, associada a prejuízos funcionais e sensoriais no complexo maxilomandibular pode resultar em danos estéticos indenizáveis, cabendo ao perito judicial expor adequadamente estasalterações para que o magistrado possa julgar e fazer justiça em cada caso.

Introduction: labor dental expertise aims to verify and quantify injuries and impacts on stomatognathicsystem resulting from trauma suffered at work. In cases where injuries cause aesthetic and/or functionaldamages, the expert must report them as well as their static and dynamic aspect and the consequencesfor the worker. Objective: to report a case of labor dental expertise in which even having facial trauma withslight aesthetic sequel, there was employer condemnation for payment of moral and aesthetic damages.Case Report: a worker was buried during his labor activity, and as a result of trauma, he fractured hismandible (unexposed fracture) staying with paresthesia in this region. In the first instance, it was made amedical evaluation and the medical expert found no injuries and/or sequels that made it impossible toexercise the claimant's activity and/or it was worthy of indemnity. After the appeal, the initial sentence wasoverturned and another expertise determined, but with a new expert, a specialist in forensic dentistry, whofound evidence of permanent and irreversible paresthesia, establishing causal link and leading themagistrate to sentence the payment of aesthetic and moral damages. Conclusion: it is concluded that aslight facial aesthetic alteration resulting from unexposed mandibular fracture, associated with functionaland sensory impairments of maxilomandibular complex, can result in compensable aesthetic damages,falling to the court expert to properly expose these alterations so that the magistrate can judge and dojustice in each case.

Risk factors for unpleasant paresthesiae induced by paresthesiae-producing deep brain stimulation

Paresthesiae-producing deep brain stimulation (stimulation of ventrocaudal nucleus - VC, medial lemniscus - ML or internal capsule - IC) is one of the few procedures to treat the steady element of neural injury pain (NIP) currently available. Reviewing the first 60 patients with NIP submitted to deep brain stimulation (DBS) from 1978 to 1991 at the Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, we observed that 6 patients complained of unpleasant paresthesiae with paresthesiae-producing DBS, preventing permanent electrode implantation in all of them. Such patients accounted for 15 per cent of the failures (6 out of 40 failures) in our series. In an attempt to improve patient selection, we reviewed our patients considering a number of parameters in order to determine risk factors for unpleasant paresthesiae elicited by paresthesiae-producing DBS. The results showed that this response happenned only in patients with brain central pain complaining of evoked pain, secondary to a supratentorial lesion. Age, sex, duration of pain, quality of the steady pain, size of the causative lesion and site (VC,ML,IC) and type (micro or macroelectrode) of surgical exploration were not important factors. Unpleasant paresthesiae in response to dorsal column stimulation, restricted thalamic lesion on computed tomography and the occurrence of associated intermittent pain were considered major risk factors in this subset of patients and the presence of cold allodynia or hyperpathia in isolation and the absence of sensory loss were considered minor risk factors. It is our hope that the criteria here established will improve patient selection and so, the overall results of DBS.