Assessing the efficacy of a modified crushing technique for the management of concha bullosa: a cone beam computer tomography study / Avaliando a eficácia de uma técnica de esmagamento modificada para o manejo da concha bolhosa: um estudo com tomografia por feixe cônico

Abstract Introduction: Although many surgical techniques exist to manage obstructive concha bullosa, there continues to be a drive to find the least invasive technique with the fewest complications and best results. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe and assess the short- and long-term efficacy of a modified crushing technique for concha bullosa management. Methods: Patients who met inclusion criteria underwent a detailed nasal examination and cone beam computed tomography imaging prior to and after septoplasty with crushing surgery for obstructive concha bullosa. Patients were divided into short- and long-term groups based on their followup period such that the short-term group had a mean followup of 15.14 months (range 6->22 months) and the long-term group had a mean followup of 56.66 (range 29->80) months. Results: Twenty-four cases of obstructive concha bullosa were included in this study with 13 short-term and 11 long-term follow-ups. All patients showed a significantly decreased postoperative CB size (p< 0.001). There was no correlation between age and postoperative CB change in area (p = 0.39) and no significant difference in the amount of postoperative CB area reduction between the short-term and long-term groups (p = 0.35). No patients experienced bleeding, synechia, conchal destruction, or olfactory dysfunction on followup evaluations. Conclusion: Our modified crushing technique is a simple, effective, and lasting treatment option for concha bullosa. From our experience, there have been no complications and no instances of concha bullosa reformation during the follow-up period.

Resumo Introdução: Embora existam muitas técnicas cirúrgicas para o tratamento da concha bolhosa, ainda se busca encontrar uma técnica menos invasiva com menor número de complicações e melhores resultados. Objetivos: Descrever e avaliar a eficácia em curto e longo prazo de uma técnica de esmagamento modificada para o manejo da concha bolhosa. Método: Os pacientes que preencheram os critérios de inclusão foram submetidos a exame nasal detalhado e tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico antes e após septoplastia com cirurgia de esmagamento de concha bolhosa. Os pacientes foram divididos em grupos de curto e longo prazo de acordo com o período de seguimento, de modo que o grupo de curto prazo teve um seguimento médio de 15,14 meses (intervalo de 6 a 22 meses) e o grupo de longo prazo teve uma média de seguimento de 56,66 (variação de 29 a 80) meses. Resultados: Vinte e quatro casos de concha bolhosa foram incluídos neste estudo, com 13 seguimentos de curto prazo e 11 de longo prazo. Todos os pacientes apresentaram uma redução significante no tamanho da concha bolhosa no pós-operatório (p< 0,001). Não houve correlação entre a idade e a mudança na área da concha bolhosa no pós-operatório (p = 0,39) e nem diferença significante na redução da área da CB no pós-operatório entre os grupos de curto e longo prazo (p = 0,35). Nenhum paciente apresentou sangramento, sinéquia, destruição da concha ou disfunção olfatória nas avaliações de seguimento. Conclusões: Nossa técnica de esmagamento modificada é uma opção de tratamento simples, eficaz e duradoura para a concha bolhosa. Com base nessa experiência, não houve complicações e qualquer caso de recorrência na formação da concha bolhosa durante o período de seguimento.

A cone-beam computed tomography study to assess anterior loop and other anatomic variations in mental foramen area in an iranian population / Un estudio de tomografía computarizada de haz cónico para evaluar el asa anterior y otras variaciones anatómicas en el área del foramen mentoniano en una población iraní

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and length of the anterior loop (AL) of the inferior alveolar nerve, and evaluate the emergence direction of the mental nerve and the location of mental foramen in a group of Iranian patients. Material and Methods: This study was carried out on CBCT scans of 150 patients (57 males and 93 females; mean age 40.8 ±14.33 years). The presence and extent of the AL was determined in reconstructed images. The emergence path of the mental nerve was classified into three groups: anteriorly directed emergence, right-angled pattern of emergence, and posteriorly directed emergence. The location of mental foramen relative to adjacent premolars was determined. Results: AL was identified in 14.7% of the cases with a mean length of 1.39± 0.91 mm (range 0.25 to 3.50 mm). No significant differences were observed in the prevalence and extent of the AL between genders (p>0.05). The right-angled pattern of emergence was more dominant (43.7%). The most prevalent location of mental foramen was between the first and second premolars (68.3%). There was no significant association between the presence of AL with the path of emergence of the mental nerve (p=0.627) or the location of the mental foramen (p= 0.10 0). Conclusion: The prevalence of anterior loop was relatively low in the present sample (14.7%) with a length range of 0.25 to 3.5 mm. Due to the importance of this anatomic variation in implant surgery, it is suggested to carefully assess CBCT images before the surgical procedure to avoid neurosensory complications.

Propósito: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la prevalencia y la longitud del loop anterior (LA) del nervio alveolar inferior, y evaluar la dirección de emergencia del nervio mentoniano y la ubicación del foramen mentoniano en un grupo de pacientes iraníes. Material y Métodos: Este estudio se llevó a cabo en exploraciones de tomografía computarizada de haz cónico de 150 pacientes (57 hombres y 93 mujeres; edad media 40,8 ± 14,33 años). La presencia y extensión de la LA se determinó en imágenes reconstruidas. La vía de emergencia del nervio mentoniano se clasificó en tres grupos: emergencia dirigida anteriormente, patrón de emergencia en ángulo recto y emergencia dirigida posteriormente. Se determinó la ubicación del foramen mentoniano en relación con los premolares adyacentes. Resultados: Se identificó LA en el 14,7% de los casos con una longitud media de 1,39± 0,91 mm (rango 0,25 mm a 3,50 mm). No se observaron diferencias significativas en la prevalencia y extensión de la AL entre sexos (p>0,05). El patrón de emergencia en ángulo recto fue más dominante (43,7%). La localización más prevalente del foramen men-toniano fue entre el primer y segundo premolar (68,3%). No hubo asociación significativa entre la presencia de AL con la vía de emergencia del nervio mentoniano (p=0,627) o la ubicación del foramen mentoniano p=0,100).Conclusión: La prevalencia de asa anterior fue rela-tivamente baja en la presente muestra (14,7%) con un rango de longitud de 0,25 mm a 3,5 mm. Debido a la importancia de esta variación anatómica en la cirugía de implantes, se sugiere evaluar cuidadosamente las imágenes de tomografía computarizada de haz cónico antes del procedimiento quirúrgico para evitar complicaciones neurosensoriales.

Symphysis morphology and mandibular alveolar bone thickness in patients with β-thalassemia major and different growth patterns

ABSTRACT Objective: The present study aimed to assess the morphology of symphysis and alveolar bone thickness (ABT) surrounding mandibular incisors in thalassemic patients, as compared to unaffected individuals. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on lateral cephalograms of 60 thalassemic and 60 unaffected patients with Class II malocclusion seeking orthodontic treatment at Dental School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The sample was divided into three subgroups including hyperdivergent, normodivergent, and hypodivergent, according to the Jarabak index. Symphysis dimensions and alveolar bone thickness surrounding mandibular incisors were measured using AutoCad software. Finally, the correlation between alveolar bone thickness and symphysis morphology was assessed. Results: In general, chin dimensions and bone thickness at different levels of mandibular incisor roots (cervical, middle, apical) were smaller in thalassemic adolescents than controls. Concerning the total sample as well as the normodivergent subgroup, significantly lower values were observed in thalassemic patients for symphysis width, total ABT at the cervical, and lingual ABT at the apical root area compared to controls (p < 0.05). The hypodivergent growth pattern was not associated with any statistical differences between the groups (p> 0.05). In both thalassemic and control subjects, symphysis width showed a weak to moderate positive correlation with ABT of lower incisors (p< 0.05), whereas symphysis height showed a moderate positive correlation with cervical ABT in only ß‐thalassemia patients (p< 0.05). Conclusions: Compared to controls, ß-thalassemia patients showed thinner alveolar bone at different levels of lower incisor roots and smaller symphysis dimensions. There were significant correlations between symphysis dimensions and alveolar bone thickness of mandibular incisors in the sample.

RESUMO Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a morfologia da sínfise e a espessura do osso alveolar (EOA) ao redor dos incisivos inferiores de pacientes com talassemia, em comparação a indivíduos sem a doença. Métodos: Esse estudo de caso-controle foi conduzido por meio da análise de radiografias cefalométricas de pacientes Classe II à procura de tratamento ortodôntico na Clínica Odontológica da Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, sendo 60 pacientes com talassemia e 60 sem a doença. A amostra foi dividida em três subgrupos, de acordo com o índice de Jarabak: hiperdivergente, normodivergente e hipodivergente. As dimensões da sínfise e a espessura do osso alveolar ao redor dos incisivos inferiores foram medidas no programa AutoCAD. Por último, foi avaliada a correlação entre a espessura do osso alveolar e a morfologia da sínfise. Resultados: No geral, as dimensões do mento e a espessura do osso nos diferentes níveis da raiz dos incisivos inferiores (cervical, médio e apical) foram menores em adolescentes talassêmicos do que nos pacientes controle. Tanto na amostra total quanto no subgrupo normodivergente, valores significativamente menores foram observados nos pacientes talassêmicos para a largura da sínfise, EOA total no terço cervical e EOA lingual no terço apical da raiz, comparados aos pacientes controle (p< 0,05). O padrão de crescimento hipodivergente não foi associado a qualquer diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos (p> 0,05). Em ambos os grupos de pacientes, talassêmicos e controle, a largura da sínfise mostrou uma correlação positiva de fraca a moderada com a EOA dos incisivos inferiores (p< 0,05), enquanto a altura da sínfise mostrou uma correlação positiva moderada com a EOA cervical apenas nos pacientes com talassemia beta (p< 0,05). Conclusões: Comparados aos pacientes controle, os pacientes com talassemia beta apresentaram um osso alveolar mais fino em diferentes níveis das raízes dos incisivos inferiores e dimensões menores da sínfise. Houve correlação significativa entre as dimensões da sínfise e a espessura do osso alveolar dos incisivos inferiores na amostra.

Mandibular bone changes induced by head and neck radiotherapy.

Context: The mandible is inevitably affected by radiation during radiotherapy of head and neck cancers. Surveys have shown that most of the emphasis has been on osteoradionecrosis (ORN), while the other bony changes occurring in this area have been largely ignored. Aims: In this study we examine the radiologic changes in the mandible of irradiated patients using panoramic radiography and compare it with the mandible in non-irradiated cases. Materials and Methods: Mandibular bone changes of 48 patients who had received therapeutic radiation for head and neck cancer were assessed. We measured the width of the cortex and the width of the mandibular canal on panoramic radiographs and assessed the changes by comparison with the mandibular bones of non-irradiated subjects. Clinical evaluations were performed for assessing maximum jaw opening, masticatory muscle tenderness, and presence of mucosal ulcers and/or exposed bone in the oral cavity. Statistical analysis: Paired t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was taken to indicate statistical significance. Results: There was no evidence of mucosal ulceration or exposed bone in irradiated patients. There was significant relationship between the number of years after radiotherapy and the degree of limitation of mouth opening (P = 0.000). Receipt of concurrent chemotherapy did not seem to have any additive effect on the width of mandibular canal or the thickness of the mandibular cortex. Conclusion: Reduction in the width of the mandibular cortex and dimensions of the inferior alveolar canal could be considered as one of the effects of head and neck radiotherapy.