Can Fracture Reduction be Attempted Through a 3D-Printed Guide Template Without Maxillomandibular Fixation?

BACKGROUND: Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is widely used in clinical practice. This technology may change existing methods for mandibular fracture management. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in-vitro study was to determine if the reduction for mandibular symphysis fracture can be performed without maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) using 3-dimensional (3D)-printed template. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, AND SAMPLE: This in-vitro study was designed as a proof-of-concept. The sample was composed of 20 existing pairs of intraoral scan and computed tomography (CT) data. A mandibular model stereolithography (STL) file was created by merging the STL file obtained for the bimaxillary dentitions with the CT DICOM file, and this was set as the original model. Using the original model, a STL file of a fracture model of the mandibular symphysis was created using CAD. A template similar to a wafer or an implant guide was manufactured to restore original occlusion, and the mandibular fracture model was reduced and fixed using the 3D-printed template and wire. This was set as the experimental group. The 3D coordinate system error was measured at 6 landmarks and statistically compared using scan data between models of the groups. PREDICTOR/EXPOSURE/INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Reduction techniques with MMF or without MMF using guide template for mandibular fracture model. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE(S): The 3D coordinate system error (mm). COVARIATES: The position of landmarks. ANALYSES: The Mann-Whitney U test, student's t-test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyze the coordinate errors between the landmarks. A P value of < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The 3D error value of the control and experimental group were 1.06 ± 0.63 mm (range: 0.11 to 2.92 mm) and 0.96 ± 0.48 mm (range: 0.2 to 2.95 mm), respectively. There was no statistical difference between the control and experimental group. There was a statistically significant difference in the lower 2 and lower 3 landmarks compared to the upper 1 (P = .001 and .000, respectively) before and after the reduction in the experimental group. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: This study demonstrates that the reduction using a 3D-printed guide template for the mandibular symphysis fracture could be possible even without the MMF.

Retrospective study about the postoperative stability of zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the postoperative stability of zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures according to the number of fixation sites and to investigate the direction of postoperative displacement of the unfixed part of the fractured segment. METHODS: This study was retrospectively performed on 38 patients who were treated by open reduction and internal fixation of ZMC fractures and were taken postoperative computed tomography (CT) between February 2012 and July 2019. The patients were classified into 3 groups: 1-point fixation, 2-point fixation, 3-point fixation according to the number of fixations. The postoperative displacement of the fractured segment was evaluated by the superimposition between postoperative CT and follow-up CT, and the postoperative stability according to the fixation sites was investigated through the amount of postoperative displacement. In addition, it was investigated in which direction the location of the fractured segment was changed in the unfixed fractured segment according to the fixation sites. RESULTS: The amount of postoperative displacement of the fractured segment was 0.75 ± 1.18 mm on average. In the postoperative displacement of the distal area according to the number of fixation of the fracture, there was no statistically significant difference in the amount of displacement of the fracture (p = 0.574). As for the direction of the change in the location of the fractured segment, 12 patients among 38 patients with the change in the location of the fractured segment were investigated, and the displacement in the medial direction (n = 11, 91.67%) was the most common in all three fixation methods. CONCLUSION: In patients with a ZMC fracture who were treated by open reduction and internal fixation, the number of fixations did not make the difference in the postoperative displacement of the fracture. In addition, the fractured segment mainly changes in the medial direction after surgery, and this fact can be used as a reference for the reduction direction during surgery for the stable prognosis.

The accuracy of a partially guided system using an in-office 3D-printed surgical guide for implant placement.

AIM: To conduct an observational study evaluating the efficacy of a partially guided system for implant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 48 implant placements in 24 patients. Following virtual implant planning with designated software, a surgical guide was fabricated using a 3D desktop printer. Each surgically placed implant was compared with its planned position in the software. The coronal and apical distance and angular errors of the implants were evaluated. The correlation between the errors and the variables (residual bone height, surgeon, implant placement site, guide support type, implant diameter) was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The coronal and apical mean distance errors were 1.28 ± 0.85 and 1.8 ± 0.97 mm, respectively. The mean angular error was 3.66 ± 3.37 degrees. The correlation coefficients (coronal: 0.285; apical: 0.308) indicated a significant linear correlation between the anterior and posterior implant placement positions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A partially guided system with in-office guide fabrication using a 3D desktop printer is a useful option for implant placement.

Decompression of Large Cyst Invading the Mandibular Canal Leading to Reduced Cyst Volume and Increased Mandibular Canal Length.

PURPOSE: The mandibular canal is damaged by the growth of cysts, and remodeling of the mandibular canal is observed as the size of the cyst decreases after decompression procedures. This study aimed to estimate changes in cyst volume and mandibular canal length using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) before and after decompression surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with a diagnosis of mandibular cyst invading the mandibular canal between 2012 and 2018. All patients underwent CBCT at the initial visit and after decompression. The predictor variable was the period before decompression and before enucleation surgery. The outcome variables were changes in cyst volume and mandibular canal length, which were evaluated 3-dimensionally. The initial volume of the cyst, initial length of the mandibular canal, and patient's age were set as variables of interest that affected the outcome. RESULTS: Decompression was performed in 20 patients (18 male and 2 female patients), and the mean decompression duration was 8.81 ± 2.94 months. The average volume reduction rate after decompression was 60.23%, with an average volume reduction speed of 0.72 mL/month. The average length increase rate after decompression was 50.88%, and the average speed of length increase was 2.68 mm/month. The initial volume of the cyst and initial length of the mandibular canal were the important variables affecting the results. Complete separation of the mandibular canal from the cyst was observed in 11 cases, and incomplete separation was found in 9. CONCLUSIONS: Separation from the cyst and regeneration of the mandibular canal using decompression were observed using 3-dimensional CBCT analysis. The results of this study suggest that decompression is effective in separating and preserving important anatomic structures invaded by the cyst.

Risk factors for postoperative infection of odontogenic cysts associated with mandibular third molar.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic cysts associated with lower third molar are common. The prognosis for surgical treatment is relatively good. However, postoperative infection discourages the clinicians. Hence, we would like to investigate the factors associated with infection after surgical treatment of cysts associated with the mandibular third molar. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical and radiographic records of 81 patients who were diagnosed with dentigerous cyst or odontogenic keratocyst and underwent cyst enucleation. The factors affecting postoperative infection were divided into host factor, treatment factor, and cystic lesion factor. To identify the factors associated with postoperative infection, we attempted to find out the variables with significant differences between the groups with and without infection. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients (64 male and 17 female) were enrolled in this study. There was no statistical relationship about the postoperative infection between all variables (gender, smoking, diabetes mellitus, age, bone grafting, related tooth extraction, previous marsupialization or decompression, type of antibiotics, cortical perforation associated with cystic lesion, preoperative infection, preoperative cyst size). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that it is not necessary to avoid bone grafts that are concerned about postoperative infection.

Evaluation of implant stability using different implant drilling sequences.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Simplifying the drilling sequence would be meaningful for implant surgery, if it does not exert a negative influence. This prospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate the stability of implant placements after simplifying the drilling sequence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were divided into a control group that underwent a normal drilling sequence or a test group that underwent only an initial and final drilling. To evaluate the stability of the placed implant, radiography and implant stability quotient (ISQ) measurements were recorded immediately and 5 months after placement. RESULTS: In all subjects, the prosthesis process was completed with no significant resorption of the marginal bones. In contrast, a statistically significant difference was observed between the control and test groups 5 months after the implants were placed in terms of the ISQ score (80.72 ±â€¯6.76 and 71.83 ±â€¯9.00, respectively); however, both scores were sufficient to proceed with the prosthesis process. CONCLUSION: These attempts to simplify drilling protocols are expected to contribute the improvement of implant-related treatments in future.

Risk factor analysis of additional administration of sedative agent and patient dissatisfaction in intravenous conscious sedation using midazolam for third molar extraction.

OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related with additional administration of sedative agent during intravenous conscious sedation (IVS) using midazolam (MDZ). The secondary purpose was to analyze the factors affecting patient satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data for 124 patients who had undergone surgical extraction of mandibular third molar under IVS using MDZ were retrospectively investigated in this case-control study. The initial dose of MDZ was determined by body mass index (BMI) and weight. In the case of insufficient sedation at the beginning of surgery, additional doses were injected. During surgery, peripheral oxygen saturation, bispectral index score (BIS), heart rate, and blood pressure were monitored and recorded. The predictor variables were sex, age, BMI, sleeping time ratio, dental anxiety, Pederson scale, and initial dose of MDZ. The outcome variables were additional administration of MDZ, observer's assessment of alertness/sedation, intraoperative amnesia, and patient satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the P-value was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Most patients had an adequate level of sedation with only the initial dose of MDZ and were satisfied with the treatment under sedation; however, 19 patients needed additional administration, and 13 patients were unsatisfied. In multivariable logistic analysis, lower age (odds ratio [OR], 0.825; P=0.005) and higher dental anxiety (OR, 5.744; P=0.003) were related to additional administration; lower intraoperative amnesia (OR, 0.228; P=0.002) and higher BIS right before MDZ administration (OR, 1.379; P=0.029) had relevance to patient dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: The preoperative consideration of age and dental anxiety is necessary for appropriate dose determination of MDZ in the minor oral surgery under IVS. The amnesia about the procedure affects patient satisfaction positively.

The effect of an interfragmentary gap on the clinical outcome after mandibular angle fracture surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The mandibular angle fracture occasionally widens at the lower border after surgery using a single miniplate. However, the effects of an interfragmentary gap have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of gaps caused by mandibular angle fracture surgery using a single superior border miniplate technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective study, the interfragmentary gap was measured by panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) postoperatively. The width of the gap measured by panoramic radiography and CBCT scans was compared. The patients were divided into two groups based on the gap width (more or less than 1.5 mm). In CBCT scans, bucco-lingual displacement of the proximal segment was evaluated. Clinical results and complication rates were investigated according to the gap and displacement. The findings were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included in the study. The mean interfragmentary gap widths were 1.56 ± 0.83 mm by panoramic radiography and 2.12 ± 0.87 mm by CBCT scans. CBCT measured a gap width of approximately 0.5 mm wider than panoramic radiography (P = 0.001). Twenty-two patients (68.8%) had an interfragmentary gap width of >1.5 mm, and ten patients (31.2%) had a gap width of <1.5 mm. All patients had favorable occlusion at the last clinical examination. There were no statistically significant differences in intermaxillary fixation periods and complication rates (P > 0.05). One patient in the wider gap group experienced pain in the temporomandibular joint when opening the mouth. Six patients (18.8%) had lingual displacement of the proximal fragment. Displacement did not significantly influence the complication rate (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of an interfragmentary gap after mandibular angle fracture surgery did not affect the clinical outcome.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint: a case report.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a rare disease. The most common symptoms of this disease are acute malocclusion, limited mouth opening, swelling, and tenderness of affected TMJ. These symptoms are often confused with internal derangement of the articular disc, rheumatoid arthritis, retrodiscitis, or osteoarthritis. Therefore, differential diagnosis by image examination is required. Usually, antimicrobial treatment and surgical drainage by needle aspiration, arthroscopy, or arthrotomy are effective treatment approaches. In this study, a patient who was diagnosed with septic arthritis was treated with arthrocentesis and antibiotics without significant complications. We present a case report with a review of the literature.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis progression from trismus.

In the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, patients with trismus can be easily identified. If the cause of trismus is infection of the masticatory space near the pterygoid plexus, the possibility of cavernous sinus thrombosis should be considered. We report the case of a patient who presented with limited mouth opening and progressed to cavernous sinus thrombosis, along with a review of the relevant literature.

A simple method of intraoperative intubation tube change.

Nasotracheal intubation should be performed in patients with jaw fractures because maxillomandibular fixation is required. However, when there are concomitant fractures of the nose and facial bones, an intubation tube positioned at the nose makes it difficult to perform an intricate surgery. In order to overcome these problems, a variety of ways to change the position of the tube have been introduced. We describe a simple technique of switching the tube from a nasal to oral position, which was easily executed in a patient with concomitant nasal and mandibular fractures, accompanied by a literature review.

Comparison of resorbable plates and titanium plates for fixation stability of combined mandibular symphysis and angle fractures.

OBJECTIVES: We compared resorbable plates with titanium plates for treatment of combined mandibular angle and symphyseal fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with mandibular angle and symphysis fractures were divided into two groups. The control (T) group received titanium plates while the experimental (R) group received resorbable plates. All procedures were carried out under general anesthesia using standard surgical techniques. We compared the frequency of wound dehiscence, development of infection, malocclusion, malunion, screw breakage, and any other technical difficulties between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included in the R group, where 39 resorbable plates were applied. The T group consisted of 16 patients who received 48 titanium plates. The mean age in the R and T groups was 28.29 and 24.23 years, respectively. Primary healing of the fractured mandible was obtained in all patients in both groups. Postoperative complications were minor and transient. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the rates of various complications between the two groups. Breakage of 3 screws during the perioperative period was seen in the R group, while no screws or plates were broken in the T group. CONCLUSION: Resorbable plates can be used to stabilize combined mandibular angle and symphysis fractures.

Outcomes of open versus closed treatment in the management of mandibular subcondylar fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes after closed reduction (CR) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in the management of subcondylar fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients presenting with subcondylar fracture between January 2010 and March 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. Fifteen patients were treated with CR and 33 patients with ORIF. The clinical and radiologic parameters were evaluated during follow-up (mean, 7.06 months; range, 3 to 36 months). RESULTS: In the CR group, no patients had any problems with regard to the clinical parameters. The average period of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) was 5.47 days. The preoperative average tangential angulation of the fractured fragment was 3.67°, and loss of ramus height was 2.44 mm. In the ORIF group, no clinical problems were observed, and the average period of MMF was 6.33 days. The preoperative average tangential angulation of the subcondylar fragment was 8.66°, and loss of ramus height was 3.61 mm. CONCLUSION: CR provided satisfactory clinical results, though ORIF provided more accurate reduction of the fractured fragment. So there is no distinct displacement of fractured fragment, CR should be selected than ORIF because of no need for surgery.

Closed suction drainage for deep neck infections.

PURPOSE: There have been various incision and drainage methods for deep neck infection (DNI). Closed-suction drainage (CSD) has been used to decrease hematoma or to drain pus in other forms of medical surgery. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the usefulness of CSD for DNI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study consisted of 30 patients who underwent CSD after incision and drainage for DNI between January 2006 and December 2011. The patients' demographics, systemic diseases, methods of airway control, involved spaces, incision, CSD results, duration of hospitalization, and complications were investigated. RESULTS: CSD was used to treat 30 DNI patients. Eleven patients (37%) had underlying systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hepatitis, asthma, etc. Twenty four patients (80%) had odontogenic infections in the mandibular molar region. Tracheostomy was performed in 5 patients (17%). The involved spaces were various from parapharyngeal space to mediastinum (mean: 4.8 spaces), and CSD was applied with drainage lines (mean: 3; 2-7 drains) over the course of 4-37 days (mean 14.6 days). The total amount of drained pus was 8-1344 cc (mean: 406 cc) and the daily amount was 1-61 cc (mean: 28 cc) from each patient. The mean length of hospital stay was 26 days, with a range of 9-83 days. Wound rupture happened in 7% of 56 total incision sites and spontaneous removal of the drain tube occurred in 3% of 91 total tubes. Four patients died because of cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, and hypoxia. A statistical significance was accepted about total and daily amount of drainage at Pearson's correlation test (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Accurate diagnosis, safe airway management, and early surgical drainage were important in DNI treatment. Compared to other drainage systems, CSD is clinically useful for treating DNI due to minimal incision, convenience of post-operative management, and less postoperative complications.

Pterygoid hamulus bursitis as a cause of craniofacial pain: a case report.

Pain on the soft palate and pharynx can originate in several associated structures. Therefore, diagnosis of patients who complain of discomfort in these areas may be difficult and complicated. Pterygoid hamulus bursitis is a rare disease showing various symptoms in the palatal and pharyngeal regions. As such, it can be one of the reported causes of pain in these areas. Treatment of hamular bursitis is either conservative or surgical. If the etiologic factor of bursitis is osteophytic formation on the hamulus or hypertrophy of the bursa, resection of the hamulus is usually the preferred surgical treatment. We report on a case of bursitis that was managed successfully by surgical treatment and a review of the literature.

Vector control of malpositioned segment during alveolar distraction osteogenesis by using rubber traction.

PURPOSE: In this study we discuss how to control and maintain the vector of the malpositioned segment, which had occurred in post-distraction, and suggested treatments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied a patient who had undergone alveolar distraction osteogenesis and revealed a complication at the end of the distraction period; namely, the malpositioned segment. We treated this patient by removing the screw from the base plate and attaching a wire splint on the adjacent teeth during osseous consolidation as an anchorage to fix the malpositioned segment toward the desired direction. RESULTS: At the end of traction application, a normal arch shape was observed. After the completion of distraction, implants were inserted in the ideal position. CONCLUSION: The described treatment strategy appears to have good potential for providing an ideal final position of the lingually or palatally inclined bone segment.

Respiratory failure due to myotonic dystrophy combined with peripartum cardiomyopathy: A case report.

Myotonic dystrophy is an autosomal-dominant inherited neuromuscular disorder that's characterized by slowly progressive muscular dystrophy, muscle weakness and myotonia. The clinical features may vary from just cataracts to involvement of multiple organ systems such as various muscles, the heart, lung and intestine. Its most common complication is postoperative respiratory failure. We encountered a patient who developed sudden unexpected peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and respiratory failure due to presumed myotonic dystrophy after cesarean section. We report here on our clinical experience with this malady and we include a brief review of the medical literature on myotonic dystrophy.