Cephalometric Assessment of Upper Airway Effects on Craniofacial Morphology.

To investigate craniofacial growth deformities in children with upper airway obstruction, this controlled study was performed. Cephalometry is used as a screening test for anatomic abnormalities in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Therefore, the current work selected this method to investigate the effect of upper airway obstruction on craniofacial morphology.Patients with upper airway obstruction (104) were compared with 71 controls. Patients with upper airway compromise had mandibular hypoplasia, mandibular retrognathism, and higher hard palates in comparison with controls with no history of airway obstruction. The difference was higher in the older age group.Airway obstruction has significant correlation craniofacial morphology. Our findings support the idea of early assessment and thorough management of mouth breathing in children.

Submandibular space abscess: a clinical trial for testing a new technique.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors compare the external cervical approach with their new minimally invasive technique of intraoral drainage for submandibular space abscesses. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: In a randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with submandibular abscess entered the study in Amiralam Hospital of Tehran. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were randomly divided in 2 groups of the classic external approach with skin incision in the submandibular area and the intraoral approach for abscess drainage. The data, including demographic details, need for a repeated surgery, days of postoperative hospitalization, scar formation, and possible complications, were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The patients required an average of 5.5 and 5.4 days of postoperative intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the intraoral and external approaches, respectively, and were discharged from the hospital 1 day after the cessation of the IV antibiotics. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative hospitalization and days of intravenous antibiotics administration. No patients had weakness in their marginal mandibular nerve or skin scarring postoperatively in the intraoral approach group. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that submandibular abscess in selected cases can be successfully treated with an intraoral drainage approach, which is a better choice than the external technique in terms of better cosmetic outcome. Postoperative care in these patients is much easier because there is no need for daily irrigation and dressing of the wound. Also, there is possibly no risk for injury to surrounding nerves.

Temporomandibular joint dislocation reduction technique: a new external method vs. the traditional.

The traditional intraoral approach for temporomandibular joint dislocations reduction, although effective, has some disadvantages. Here, a new extraoral approach is described. This study was performed to evaluate this new method's success rate. Patients visiting an emergency room were randomly allocated to 2 groups; one group was reduced with the extraoral approach and the other with the intraoral method. Among 29 attempts with the conventional method, 25 were successful (86.2%; 95% confidence interval: 73-100) and among 29 attempts with the external method, 16 were successful (55.2%; 95% confidence interval: 39-79). This difference was statistically significant. Because of the benefits of the external approach, such as avoiding hand bites and disease transfer, it can be a reasonable choice to reduce a dislocated temporomandibular joint.