The use of Titanium Meshes in Surgical Closure of the Oroantral Fistula. A Randomized Clinical Trial Study.

The closure of oroantral communications (OACs) is challenging. The study aimed to assess the effect of titanium meshes in the outcome of OAC closure by local flaps. This is a prospective randomized, nonblinded clinical trial. Patients with a delay and large (≥7 mm 2 ) OAC were studied. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: in group 1, patients underwent OAC closure through a modified Rehrmann buccal advancement flap with a titanium mesh, and in group 2, the modified Rehrmann buccal advancement flap. The primary predictive factor was the use of titanium mesh. Dehiscence (the breakdown of the edge of flaps without the complete reopening of the defect) was a primary outcome. The defect's reopening was considered a secondary outcome. Nineteen patients in group 1 and 20 in group 2 were studied. In 2 months after treatments, the prevalence of dehiscence in group 1 was 3, and 10 patients in group 2 ( P =0.041). In group 1, patients did not show OAC exposure. However, OAC exposure was observed in 2 patients in group 2. This study demonstrates that using titanium mesh in combination with a modified Rehman flap decreases the prevalence of dehiscence compared with a flap alone.

Does Preservation of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve in the Close Margin of the Mandibular Ameloblastoma Increase the Risk of Recurrence?

PURPOSE: Preservation of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) during mandibular resection improves the patient's quality of life. This study aimed to assess the risk of recurrence in patients with or without IAN preservation following mandibular resection for the treatment of ameloblastoma. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with biopsy-proven, intraosseous, multicystic ameloblastoma in the mandible, without IAN involvement, were included. The minimum follow-up period was 36 months. In preserved group, the IAN was saved in the close margin, and the IAN was resected in the sacrificed group. The mandibular nerve management (preservation or sacrifice of the IAN) was a primary predictive variable. The primary outcome variable was time to recurrence of the jaw lesion. Age, sex, tumor size, and ameloblastoma histological subtype were covariates. A time-to-event analysis (Cox regression analysis) was performed to determine the risk of recurrence with or without preservation of the IAN. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients in the preserved group and 38 in the sacrificed group were included in this study. The median follow-up period was 43 months. The mean tumor size was 3.88 ± 0.89 cm in the preserved group, and the mean tumor size was 3.74 ± 0.56 cm in the sacrificed group. There was no significant difference in the mean tumor size between the 2 groups. The time-to-event analysis, based on the Cox regression analysis of covariates, did not approve the study's null hypothesis (an increased recurrence with IAN preservation; hazard ratio: 0.77 [0.20-2.93]; P = .71). CONCLUSION: Based on the present results, preservation or sacrifice of the IAN in the close margin of mandibular ameloblastoma was not associated with an increased recurrence of lesions.

Patients Satisfaction and Nasal Morphologic Change after Orthognathic Surgery.

Background: Patients' attitudes about their nose changes after orthognathic surgeries. We aimed to evaluate the patient's opinion about nasal change and morphologic changes following orthognathic surgery. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The sample was derived from the population of patients who underwent orthognathic surgery in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran between 2017 and 2019. Subjects who underwent orthognathic surgery were studied. Subjects filled a modified nose evaluation form before and nine months after orthognathic surgery. For objective assessment, the nasolabial angle, nasofrontal angle, nasofacial angle, tip projection, and tip deviation and alar width were evaluated. Sixty-two patients were studied. Results: Forty (64.5%) patients did not absolutely like their nose before orthognathic surgeries, two (3.2 %) expressed a little satisfaction, 17(27.4%) answered they liked more or less, and three liked very much. Nine months after orthognathic surgeries, 4 (6.5%) patients did not like their nose, nine patients (14.5%) liked a little, 30 (48.4%) liked more or less, and 19 liked very much. Analysis of the data demonstrated a significant difference in patients' satisfaction with their noses before and nine months after orthognathic surgeries (P<0.001). Patients' satisfaction nine months after orthognathic surgery was not affected by nasal morphologic changes. Conclusion: It seems, patients' satisfaction with their nose improved after orthognathic surgeries. Patients' attitude was not associated with nasal morphologic changes.

Use of Leukocyte-PlateletRich Fibrin in Conservative Management of Odontogenic Keratocyst: A Case Report.

A 29-year-old female patient was referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Taleghani Hospital of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran, in 2019, complaining of increased volume and pain in the posterior mandibular region. Cone-beam computed tomography and multislice computed tomography were performed, and an incisional biopsy was done. The histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of Odontogenic Keratocyst (OKC). Surgical treatment was performed with marsupialization. After a year of follow-up, the resultant small-sized cyst was curetted, and Leukocyte-PlateletRich Fibrin (LPRF) was placed in the bony depression. The significant healing of the lesion was noted on regular follow-up visits with complete resolution at 15 months. This report showed that the application of LPRF might accelerate the healing of soft tissues and bone regeneration with no inhibitory effect on the natural healing process.

The effect of two phosphodiesterase inhibitors on bone healing in mandibular fractures (animal study in rats).

OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in maxillofacial surgery, impaired bone healing remains a concern for surgical teams. Many studies have evaluated the effects of sildenafil and pentoxifylline on bone healing. However, their effects on healing of bone fractures have not been well investigated. This study aimed to assess the effects of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors sildenafil and pentoxifylline on healing of mandibular fractures in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 rats were randomly divided into six groups of 10. Mandibular fracture was induced in all rats. After the surgical procedure, group C1 received saline, group S1 received 10 mg/kg sildenafil and group P1 received 50 mg/kg pentoxifylline. The rats were sacrificed after 1 week. Groups C4, S4, and P4 received pharmaceutical therapy as in groups C1, S1, and P1 but were sacrificed after 4 weeks. The samples then underwent histological analysis. RESULTS: The mean rate of bone healing of mandibular fractures in groups S1 and P1 was significantly higher than in group C1 at 1 week (P<0.001). The mean rate of bone healing of mandibular fractures in group P1 was higher than in group S1 at 1 week (P=0.04). The mean rate of bone healing of mandibular fractures in groups S4 (P=0.001) and P4 (P=0.004) was significantly higher than in group C4 at 4 weeks, but no significant difference was noted in the rate of healing between groups P4 and S4 (P=0.53). CONCLUSION: Sildenafil and pentoxifylline can be used as adjuncts to enhance bone healing in rats.