A comparison of outcomes between immediate and delayed repair of mandibular fractures.

Medical records of patients treated with surgical repair of mandible fractures by the otolaryngology and plastic surgery departments at a level 1 trauma centre were obtained and reviewed. Two study groups were compared: patients treated within 72 h of the injury and those treated after this time period. Patient demographics, time to repair, fracture types, substance abuse history, etiology, surgical management, complications and length of hospital stay were assessed. The complication rate was 41% (n=7) within the immediate group and 38% (n=6) within the delayed group (P=0.56). Complications were prevalent in patients with history of substance abuse in both groups. Complication rates did not increase when repair of mandible fractures was delayed beyond 72 h, while substance abuse was a factor in increasing complications rates. Outpatient triage with elective repair of isolated mandibular fractures appears to be more cost-effective than admission with inpatient management.

Update on botulinum toxin use in facial plastic and head and neck surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to discuss current trends in the medicinal use of botulinum toxin in head and neck and facial plastic surgery. The basic science of botulinum toxin is presented along with a comparison of the subtypes currently available on the market. Site-specific applications of botulinum toxin in the head and neck region are presented. RECENT FINDINGS: The use of botulinum toxin continues to expand, both in volume and in number of applications. The main application of botulinum toxin in facial plastic surgery is in the effacement of dynamic or hyperkinetic facial lines. The granting of US Food and Drug Administration approval for the use of Botulinum Toxin type A in the treatment of glabella lines marks a major milestone for the more widespread usage of this product in cosmetic settings. Additional cosmetic applications include crow's feet, marionette lines, and platysma banding. Noncosmetic applications in the head and neck include dystonias (including torticollis), facial and generalized muscle spasms, migraine headaches, hyperhidrosis, spasmodic dysphonia, sialorrhea, gustatory sweating, and involuntary movement disorders. SUMMARY: The use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of hyperkinetic conditions and disorders of excessive salivation is well established and enjoys an excellent safety profile. The cosmetic use of botulinum toxin continues to expand. The chronic use of botulinum toxin specifically for cosmetic purposes is worthy of additional study.

Defect repair in the rat mandible with bone morphogenic proteins and marrow cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of a bone growth factor mixture and bone marrow cells to repair a critical size defect of the rat mandibular body. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Thirty-seven male Fischer rats. INTERVENTIONS: Critical size defects 4 mm in diameter were created in the left mandibular bodies of the rats. The defects were filled with a bone marrow cell suspension (group 1), a synthetic bone matrix consisting of bovine collagen and calcium hydroxyapatite cement (group 2), the matrix and marrow cells (group 3), the matrix with 100 micro g of bone growth factor mixture (group 4), or the matrix with bone growth factor mixture and marrow cells (group 5). Animals were killed after 8 weeks, and the nondemineralized specimens were processed histologically. Specimens from group 1 were not processed because there was no grossly appreciable bone regeneration. Stereologic techniques were used to determine and compare the volume fractions and volume estimates of mature bone, new bone, osteoid, marrow, remaining cement, and fibrous tissue in each defect. RESULTS: Volumes of mature bone, new bone, and remaining cement did not differ significantly among the groups (P =.30 for mature bone, P =.17 for new bone, and P =.34 for cement). However, group 4 and 5 specimens contained significantly more osteoid and larger marrow spaces than did the group 2 and 3 specimens (P<.001 for both). The specimens in groups 2 and 3 contained significantly more fibrous tissue ingrowth than did those in groups 4 and 5 (P<.001). CONCLUSION: The synthetic bone substitute containing bone growth factor mixture was effective in stimulating new bone and osteoid development in the rat mandibular model.