Pediatrics mandibular fractures: a study on the involvement of canine region

This study was conducted to compare the frequency of mandibular canine region fractures with fractures of other regions of mandible in patients with un-erupted canines at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi form January 2002 to March 2004. A Non Probability Convenience sample of all patients with age 6-12 years presenting with mandibular fracture were included. The sample was categorized into two groups: Age 6-9 years with un-erupted canines and Age 10-12 years with erupted canines. The fracture site parameter was categorized into two groups: Fractures in Canine Region and Fractures in other regions of the mandible. Total study sample was 76 subjects. Mean age of the subjects was calculated as 8.57 years [SD 1.94]. Male to Female ratio was 2.6:1. The most common cause of injury was recorded as fall 51.3% followed by road traffic accident 35.5%, assault and sports injuries accounted for 6.6%. The most common overall site of fracture was canine region 44.7%. In the age group [6-9 yrs] the fractures occurring in canine region were 51.3% and 15.8% in [9-12 years group]. Significant association was found to exist between the age groups [6-9 Years, 9-12 years] and fracture groups [canine region fractures, other region fractures] pvalue< 0.05. This study clearly demonstrates that mandibular fractures occur commonly in children in the region of un-erupted canines supporting the evidence of an area of weakness in the mandibular canine region, especially during the mixed dentition period

Histological patterns and clinical presentation of oral squamous cell carcinoma

The objective of our study was to identify the different histological patterns of Oral Squamous cell carcinoma [OSCC] in relevance to demographic variables and to evaluate histological patterns according to various clinical presentations at the joint department of Oral Surgery, Karachi Medical and Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi. This descriptive study was conducted from December 2005 to November 2006 at Oral Surgery Department of Karachi Medical and Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi. A total of 60 cases presenting with OSCC were included in this study. Their demographic details, habit profile, clinical information of lesion were recorded on a proforma. All the patients underwent biopsy and their histological information was also noted on the same proforma. This study included 60 patients of OSCC. Fifty eight percent of patients were from age group between 41 -60 years. Approximately 63.3% males and 36.7% females were affected and male to female ratio was 1.7: 1. Approximately 48.3% of lesions involved alveolus. Nearly 86.7% of patients were indulged in habits of tobacco chewing. Clinical appearance of lesion showed that 66.7% of lesions were ulcerative type and histologically 48.3% were well-differentiated OSCC. Majority of patients were indulged in habit of tobacco chewing, Ulcerative type was the dominant clinical presentation whereas histologically well-differentiated OSCC was the most common presentation. Infiltration was a consistent finding in all cases

Radiographic evaluation of aetiology of mandibular third molar impactions

To determine the role of various factors in the etiology of lower third molar impaction by using measurements on conventional panoramic radiograph. Orthopantomograms of 100 patients having full dentition with bilateral mandibular third molars were included in the study ranging between ages of 18-39 years. All the patients were divided into erupted and impacted groups on the basis of status of lower thirdmolar on Orthopantomogram. All Radiographs were traced on overlying acetate paper and analyzed by measuring retromolar eruption space [from Xi-7 and AER-7] mesiodistal width of lower third molar, space width ratio and angulations of lower third molar, In erupted group, retromolar eruption space measured from Xi-7 was 31.79 +/- 3.38 where as in the impacted group, it was 26.93 +/- 4.11. Retromolar space measured from AER-7 was I 6.09 +/- 2.35 mm among erupted group whereas for impacted group, it was 11.06 +/- 3.64 mm. Mesiodistal width of mandibular third molar among erupted group was 13.29 +/- 1.41 mm while among impacted group, it was 13.70 +/- 1.72 mm. Space width ratio among impacted group was 0.83 +/- 0.36 whereas among erupted group, it was 1.22 +/- 0.20. Mean angulations of lower third molars was 7.79° +/- 9.15 among erupted group, where as among impacted group, mean angulations of lower third molars was 34.68° +/- 27.68. Both the groups were statistically different in all the tested variables except mesiodistal width of lower third molar

Pattern of orbital injuries presenting to a teaching hospital in Karachi

The purpose of the Study is to identify the frequency pattern and causes of orbital injuries. The study was conducted at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi over a period of one year from February 2004 to January 2005. A convenience sample of all patients presenting with orbital trauma were included. A 6-item questionnaire with various variables was used to record the parameters. The parameters including age, gender, referral source, cause of injury, site of injury and imaging methods were evaluated. All injuries were assessed and recorded by a single observer. Total study sample was 100 subjects. Male preponderance with male: female ratio of 6:1 approximately, 86%males and 14% females, the mean age of the sample was 29 year. The most common cause of injury was recorded as road traffic accidents 57% followed by assault 19% and fall accounted for 15%. The most common site involved right orbit and the most common site of orbital fracture was inferior orbital rim followed by orbital floor fracture. This study demonstrated that the most common cause of orbital injury was road traffic accidents and inferior orbital rim was involved most frequently

referral source of oral cancer patients in local population: a preliminary report

To ascertain the sources of referral of oral cancer patients on presentation at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 70 consecutively selected patients with positive biopsy report for oral malignancy over a period of 19 months. Main source of presentation was the medical and surgical specialists accounting for 37.1% of all referrals and primary physicians accounting for 30% of referrals. This study suggests that significant number of patients present to the maxillofacial surgical specialist in second and third presentation. It is therefore imperative that any attempt at educating in early detection and prevention of oral cancer must include not only GP's but also other medical and surgical specialties