Middle superior and anterior superior alveolar nerve injury following trauma to the maxillary sinus: a prospective clinico-radiographic evaluation.

Objectives: Anterior maxillary sinus wall fractures are common in all types of maxillofacial trauma. They can result in various complications, including injury to the surrounding nerves. Owing to its anatomy, trauma to the maxillary antrum can result in injury to the middle superior alveolar nerve (MSAN) and the anterior superior alveolar nerve (ASAN). The purpose of this study is to evaluate neurosensory deficits (NSD) present in maxillary gingiva, incisors, and premolars after injury to the anterior wall of the maxillary antrum. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted among 39 patients sustaining unilateral fractures of the anterior maxillary sinus wall. Clinical neurosensory tests including two-point discrimination and fine touch discrimination were performed to classify the extent of nerve injuries as mild, moderate, severe, or anesthetic. Additional temperature discrimination and pulpal sensibility tests (electric pulp testing and cold testing) were carried out. A comparison of radiographic fracture patterns and severity of nerve injury was done. Testing was carried out immediately after trauma and at 2-month follow-up. Results: More than half of the patients assessed in the study group presented with NSD of the teeth and gingiva after trauma. The incidence of deficits varied with the type of test used to measure them. Most frequently, patients presented with both loss of two point as well as fine touch discrimination thresholds. Severe nerve injuries were associated with loss of temperature discrimination clinically and displaced fractures radiographically. There was no significant relationship between the recovery of pulpal and gingival sensation. The patterns of injury and recovery in ASAN and MSAN were similar. Conclusion: NSD after trauma to the maxillary antrum is relatively common. Clinical loss of temperature discrimination and radiographic signs of fracture lines passing through the canalis sinuosus are predictors of persistent and severe oral NSD.

Is Chitosan Dental Dressing Better Than Cotton Gauze in Achieving Hemostasis in Patients on Antithrombotics?

PURPOSE: Tooth extraction leads to bleeding which may be longer in patients on antithrombotics. This study was aimed to evaluate the hemostatic and wound healing efficacy of chitosan-based dressing in comparison to the cotton pressure pack after tooth extraction in patients receiving single or dual antithrombotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized split mouth study. Patients undergoing tooth extractions taking either single or dual antithrombotics, with an international normalized ratio (INR) value ≤ 3 were enrolled at JSS Dental College & Hospital, Mysuru, India during February 2020 to January 2022. The study compared the efficiency of chitosan dressing in achieving quicker hemostasis in comparison to cotton pressure pack. The primary outcome was time to achieve hemostasis and the secondary outcomes were alveolar clinical healing index and alveolar osteitis. The covariates were gender, age, reason for extraction, INR, type of antithrombotic therapy, and the disease condition. RESULTS: Of the 54 enrolled subjects, 39 were males and 15 were females, aged between 33 and 86 years. Thirty six patients were on single antithrombotics, whereas 18 patients were on dual antithrombotics. The reason for extraction was periodontitis in 37 patients and dental caries in 17 patients. The time to achieve hemostasis was lesser with chitosan dental dressing when compared to cotton pressure packs (96 ± 4 and 797 ± 23 seconds; P < .001). In the chitosan group, the time to hemostasis was similar irrespective of single or dual antithrombotic therapy (90 ± 6 and 109 ± 8 seconds, respectively). On the contrary, in the cotton pressure pack group, patients on dual antithrombotics had longer time to achieve hemostasis compared to those on single antithrombotics (940 ± 20 and 726 ± 26 seconds; P < .001). The time to achieve hemostasis was dependent on INR only in cotton pressure pack group (r2 = 0.7756). The alveolar clinical healing index was better in 88.9% with chitosan and only 3.7% with cotton pressure packs. None of the patients treated with chitosan presented with alveolar osteitis, as opposed to 3.7% of patients with cotton pressure packs. CONCLUSION: When compared to cotton pressure packs, chitosan-based dressing was more effective in controlling postoperative bleeding in patients treated with single and dual antithrombotic therapy.

Comparison of Clinical Efficacy of Classical Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block and Vazirani-Akinosi Technique in Bilateral Mandibular Premolar Teeth Removal: A Split-Mouth Randomized Study.

Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacy of classical inferior alveolar nerve block (CIANB) and Vazirani-Akinosi (VA) injection technique in patients indicated for bilateral mandibular premolar teeth extraction for orthodontic treatment. Methods: This split-mouth comparative study was conducted on 20 patients randomly selected for bilateral extraction of mandibular premolar indicated for orthodontic treatment to receive CIANB and VA injection technique alternatively. The clinical parameters evaluated were pain during injection, onset of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, quality of anesthesia, nerve anesthetized with single nerve block, need for re-injection and frequency of positive aspiration. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed regarding the onset of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, quality of anesthesia, nerves anesthetized with single nerve block and need for re-injection. However, pain experienced during injection was statistically significant and was lesser in VA technique than CIANB. Positive aspiration was not found in both the injection techniques. Conclusion: VA technique showed a statistically significant difference in terms of less pain experienced during injection than CIANB. However, though not significant, VA technique was more clinically superior over the CIANB in terms of duration of anesthesia, quality of anesthesia and the need for re-injection. Also in this study, there were no complications associated with any of the injection techniques and the prevalence of positive aspiration was not found in both the techniques.

Zygomaticomaxillary fracture fixation: a prospective comparative evaluation of two-point versus three-point fixation.

PURPOSE: Zygomatic bone has a higher risk of sustaining injuries in the maxillofacial skeleton. On fracturing, zygomatic bone separates from the four neighbouring bones at its articulations. Treatment for zygomaticomaxillary fractures has evolved a long way since 3000 BC. With the advent of miniplates for midface fracture, controversies still exist regarding the stability of zygoma following 1, 2, and 3 points for fixation. The study aims to compare and determine the most effective technique for the reduction of zygomaticomaxillary fractures and the ability to retain the fractured zygoma in a stable position. Hence, a study was conducted in our institute to compare 2 and 3-point fixation of zygomaticomaxillary fractures taking into account the clinical and radiographic parameters. METHODS: Twenty-four patients were divided into 2 equal groups A and B, receiving 2- and 3-point fixation respectively. Fracture displacement and stability were assessed using coronal and axial CT scan tracings at preoperatively, immediate, and 5-week postoperatively. RESULTS: Group B showed a significant reduction in postoperative mean displacement at sphenozygomatic and infraorbital region when compared with group A. Patients in group A had an increase incidence in vertical dystopia and enophthalmos. There was no postoperative displacement at any site in both the groups. CONCLUSION: The fractured segment was held in place by both the fixation methods but 3-point fixation gave better stability in maintaining the fractured segment in desired reduced position.

Rare case of superolateral dislocation of the condyle.

BACKGROUND: Dislocation of the mandibular condyle occurs most commonly in the anterior direction. When there is an intracranial displacement of the condyle, it is often associated with CSF leak. Superolateral dislocation of the condyle from the glenoid fossa is a rare condition which commonly occurs following traumatic insult to the mandible. When there is a superlolateral displacement, the condyle is often lodged in the temporal fossa. CASE REPORT: We report an unusual case of a 50-year-old male with a superolateral dislocation of the left mandibular condyle into the zygomatic arch along with a fracture of the right mandible following road traffic accident. Manual reduction of the condyle was first attempted under general anaesthesia which was futile, following which the displaced condyle was reduced by a combination of open traction and manual reduction using Keen's approach in left maxillary vestibule. After reduction of the condyle, intermaxillary fixation (IMF) was done and X plate was used to fix the mandible fracture on the right body. Postoperatively, patient was placed on IMF for a period of 2 weeks. DISCUSSION: Superolateral dislocations of the condyle can be unilateral or bilateral. These types of dislocations generally occur following traumatic injury to the mandible when the mouth is open. Early diagnosis and reduction of the condyle is required to achieve satisfactory occlusion which should be followed by physiotherapy to prevent ankylosis.