ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars is one of the most commonly performed dentoalveolar surgeries by dental surgeons around the globe. It is known to be associated with clinically significant postoperative morbidity including swelling, pain, trismus, fever, and infection. In addition, the residual bony defect takes 7 months to 1 year to gradually fill with bone and to reossify. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: (1) To carry out a prospective study to evaluate differences in soft tissue healing and bony regeneration of impacted mandibular third molar extraction sites, with and without the incorporation of autologous platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) within the surgical wounds. (2) To also compare the incidence of short- and long-term posttreatment complications in both cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly inducted into two groups, consisting of 30 patients each. The first group, which served as the study group, consisted of patients in whom fresh autologous PRF were placed within the extraction site immediately following the surgical removal of the impacted mandibular third molar, before suturing of the mucoperiosteal flap. The second group, which served as the control froup, included those patients in whom the mucoperiosteal flaps were closed without incorporation of PRF within site. Both groups were evaluated and compared for postoperative pain, swelling, trismus, soft tissue healing, as well as bone fill of the extraction socket. RESULTS: It was found that the study group in which autologous PRF had been incorporated into the operative site exhibited quick and complication-free soft tissue healing as well as a much quicker reossification and bone fill of the extraction socket, as compared to the control group in which no PRF was used. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of PRF within extraction sockets of impacted third molars proved to be beneficial for patients, yielding a quicker postoperative recovery with fewer complications such as postoperative swelling and edema, pain, and trismus; better overall postoperative results in terms of faster soft tissue healing as well as an earlier bony regeneration.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Residual defects of the palatal region following ablative resection of tumors and Gunshot wounds (GSWs) of the maxillofacial region can be quite painstaking, daunting and challenging to reconstruct, due to the extent and composite nature of the tissue loss. A shortage of available donor areas and local flap options in the intraoral region, add to the difficulty. Further compounding the situation, are factors such as excessive fibrosis and scarring of the palatal tissues as a result of multiple previous surgeries in the region. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Dorsal Pedicled Tongue Flap in the reconstruction of complex palatal defects resulting from maxillofacial GSWs and ablative tumor resections. To also device techniques to reduce the incidence of postoperative tongue flap detachment, thus improving its efficiency and reliability. RESULTS: The palatal fistulas in all the patients were closed successfully, with no post-operative complications such as bleeding, hematoma formation, congestion, infection, partial or total flap necrosis or flap detachment. The tongue flap at the recipient site remained healthy with no recurrence of the fistula in any of the patients in the two years follow up period. There was a complete resolution of the problem of nasal regurgitation of orally ingested fluids and food particles. There was observed no deformity or articulation defect resulting from the flap harvested from the tongue dorsum, in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: In GSWs and tumor ablative surgery, where composite tissue defects are involved, the tongue provides a reliable and efficient means of restoring lost tissue bulk as well as ensuring a permanent closure and sealing off of the oronasal fistulas. Its reliability can be further increased by avoiding a common complication, namely, flap detachment in the postoperative period brought on by movements of the tongue, by immobilizing the tongue by tethering it to the maxillary teeth and also, maintaining the patient on Nasogastric feeding for the three weeks postoperative period, until the patient is taken up for surgical separation the pedicle. This helps to ensure a successful and predictable take of the flap at the donor site.
