Comparison of Maxillofacial Fractures Between Pedestrians and Passengers in Road Traffic Accidents.

PURPOSE: Road traffic accidents remain as the most common cause of maxillofacial injuries in developed countries. To the best of our knowledge, comparative analysis of fracture localizations and injury types of injured pedestrians and passengers is seldom performed. Thus, this study aimed to compare maxillofacial injuries between pedestrians and passengers injured in road traffic accidents in terms of demographic characteristics of the patients, localization of fractures, and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was composed of patients who underwent surgery for maxillofacial fractures resulting from road traffic accidents. They were divided into the pedestrian group and passenger group. Demographic data, fracture sites, and treatment methods were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Most of the patients were 20 to 30 years of age. Isolated mandible fractures occurred in 55.71% of the pedestrian group and 43.78% of the passenger group. Panfacial fractures were observed in 5.71% (n = 8) of the patients in the pedestrian group compared with 14.28% (n = 21) in the passenger group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the injury pattern and mechanism of in-vehicle accidents, fractures tend to be located in the middle and upper facial bones rather than in the mandible. Thus, careful management in triage is important, as each group has specific injury patterns. Patients with panfacial fractures require meticulous management because they are at risk for high-energy injury and comorbidities.

Comparison of Surgical Drain Placement With Use of Kinesiologic Tape on Postoperative Pain, Swelling, and Trismus in Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the effects of a surgical tube drain with kinesiologic tape (KT) application on postoperative complications such as trismus, swelling, and pain after impacted third molar surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This single-center, randomized study included 90 patients divided into 3 groups. After impacted third molar removal, 30 patients were treated with a tube drain (drain group), 30 patients were treated with KT application (KT group), and 30 patients were treated with a routine surgical operation and no extra procedure (control group). RESULTS: A total of 29 male and 61 female patients were included. Mouth opening was greatest in the drain group over a period of 7 days. Patients in the control group had more pain than those in the drain and KT groups. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of pain and swelling between the drain and KT groups over the 7-day period of the study. The tube drain was found to improve patients' quality-of-life compared with the KT and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the effects of a tube drain and KT in terms of pain and swelling were similar, the tube drain was more effective in reducing postoperative complications.

A prospective split-mouth clinical study: comparison of piezosurgery and conventional rotary instruments in impacted third molar surgery.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to compare the effects of piezosurgery and conventional rotary instruments on postoperative pain, swelling, trismus, and patients' comfort after mandibular third molar surgery. METHODS: Thirty patients (27 women and 3 men) with bilateral impacted mandibular third molars were included in this split-mouth clinical study. Sixty impacted third molars were divided into a control group (n = 30), in which the osteotomies were performed using a conventional rotary handpiece technique and an experimental group (n = 30), in which the osteotomies were done by piezosurgery technique. Duration of the procedure was recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). All the patients were given a form containing verbal rating scale for evaluating the swelling. Trismus was evaluated using a caliper at maximum mouth opening (cm). In postoperative seventh day, patients were asked to fill a global quality of life (QoL) scale as well. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in postoperative pain, trismus, and swelling between control and experimental groups (p > 0.05). However, time of the procedure increased in control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Piezosurgery is a safe way for performing the osteotomies during third molar surgery. However, regarding the postoperative morbidity, it does not have an advantage over conventional rotary instruments. Piezosurgery took longer to complete the osteotomy than the rotary handpiece technique.