Relationship between mandible fractures and third molars

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between third molar (M3) and mandibular fracture.METHODS: Patients with unilateral mandibular angle or condyle fractures between 2008 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Medical records were reviewed regarding the location of fractures, and panoramic radiographs were reviewed to discern the presence and position of ipsilateral mandibular third molars (M3). We measured the bony area of the mandibular angle (area A) and the bony area occupied by the M3 (area B) to calculate the true mandibular angle bony area ratio (area A–B/area A× 100).RESULTS: The study consisted of 129 patients, of which 60 (46.5%) had angle fractures and 69 (53.5%) had condyle fractures. The risk of angle fracture was higher in the presence of M3 (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; p< 0.05) and the risk of condyle fracture was lower in the presence of M3 (OR, 0.45; p< 0.05), than in the absence of M3. The risk of angle fracture was higher in the presence of an impacted M3 (OR, 0.3; p< 0.001) and the risk of condyle fracture was lower in the presence of an impacted M3 (OR, 3.32; p< 0.001), than in the presence of a fully erupted M3. True mandibular angle bony area ratio was significantly lower in the angle fractures than in the condyle fractures (p= 0.003).CONCLUSION: Angle fractures had significantly lower true mandibular angle bony area ratios than condyle fractures. True mandibular angle bony area ratio, a simple and inexpensive method, could be an option to predict the mandibular fracture patterns.

Reconstructive rhinoplasty with costal cartilage grafting: A case report of relapsing polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and the destruction of cartilaginous tissues, primarily involving the ear, nose, and the respiratory tract. Nasal chondritis is present in 24% of patients at the time of diagnosis and develops subsequently in 53% throughout the diseases progress. Progressive destruction of nasal cartilage leads to the characteristic flattening of the nasal bridge, resulting in the saddle nose deformity. In patients with RP, surgical management for saddle nose is carefully decided due to the disease relapsing characteristics. We present a RP patient with a saddle nose deformity who underwent reconstruction rhinoplasty with autologous costal cartilage grafting. At 6-month follow-up, the patient retained good esthetic results and showed neither complication nor relapse of RP.