Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and implant therapy: A prospective multicenter study of preoperative, intermediate, and posttreatment assessment.

The purpose of this multicenter continuation study was to use high patient numbers in order to generate reliable statements regarding the association between different implant indications and OHRQoL. Patients with various types of indication for dental implants, ranging from single tooth loss to edentulous jaws, were included. Quality of life relating to dental implants was assessed through the oral health impact profile (OHIP-G-21), which has a summary score from 0 to 20 in healthy patients. In total, 16 253 patients from 29 centers (European Centers for Dental Implantology (ECDI)) were involved in the study between 2009 and 2021.8251 patients (50.7%) completed the questionnaire after implant insertion, and 4996 patients (30.7%) after prosthodontic treatment. The average age was 54 years (range 18-88 years). Posterior single-tooth gap (28.5%) and free-end gap (27.8%) were the most frequent indications. The preoperative OHIP-G-21 score for all patients was 32.81 (SD 11.92), while the score during the healing period was 30.00 (SD 10.72), and after completion of treatment 27.24 (SD 9.26) (p < 0.001). The most significant improvements in OHIP-G-21 scores were in the indication of edentulous jaw (phase 1, 41.81 (SD 15.53); phase 2, 35.39 (SD 14.22); phase 3, 29.60 (SD 10.12) (p < 0.001). The study revealed significant improvements in the most frequently reported problems (chewing, serious concerns, appearance) (p < 0.001). Insertion of dental implants and prosthodontic rehabilitation led to an improved OHRQoL for patients with all indications for dental implants. Special attention should be paid to patients with edentulous jaw, since in comparison with other indications it had the greatest impact on improving OHRQoL. The psychological dissatisfaction scale of the OHIP-G-21 represented the most important factors for patients, and these scores were substantially influenced by implant therapy. Thus, treating physicians should increase their focus on these factors, in order to avoid dissatisfaction and increase the likelihood of complete implant therapy success.

Controversial Aspects of Diagnostics and Therapy of Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint in Rheumatoid and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-An Analysis of Evidence- and Consensus-Based Recommendations Based on an Interdisciplinary Guideline Project.

Introduction: Due to potentially severe sequelae (impaired growth, condylar resorption, and ankylosis) early diagnosis of chronic rheumatic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and timely onset of therapy are essential. Aim: Owing to very limited evidence the aim of the study was to identify and discuss controversial topics in the guideline development to promote further focused research. Methods: Through a systematic literature search, 394 out of 3771 publications were included in a German interdisciplinary guideline draft. Two workgroups (1: oral and maxillofacial surgery, 2: interdisciplinary) voted on 77 recommendations/statements, in 2 independent anonymized and blinded consensus phases (Delphi process). Results: The voting results were relatively homogenous, except for a greater proportion of abstentions amongst the interdisciplinary group (p < 0.001). Eighty-four percent of recommendations/statements were approved in the first round, 89% with strong consensus. Fourteen recommendations/statements (18.2%) required a prolonged consensus phase and further discussion. Discussion: Contrast-enhanced MRI was confirmed as the method of choice for the diagnosis of TMJ arthritis. Intraarticular corticosteroid injection is to be limited to therapy-refractory cases and single injection only. In adults, alloplastic joint replacement is preferable to autologous replacement. In children/adolescents, autologous reconstruction may be performed lacking viable alternatives. Alloplastic options are currently still considered experimental.

Digitally designed, personalized bone cement spacer for staged TMJ and mandibular reconstruction - Introduction of a new technique.

The aim of this paper is to introduce an innovative workflow for staged reconstruction of the mandible, including the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), using a temporary, patient-specific spacer. In cases of partial mandibular resection including disarticulation, sometimes needed to treat inflammatory bone disease, the spacer is intended to retain symmetry of the hard tissues, to preserve the soft tissues, and to act as a bactericidal agent. When complete healing of the affected surrounding tissues has occurred, final reconstruction using a patient-matched total TMJ endoprosthesis, in combination with an autogenous free bone flap, can be performed as a second-stage procedure. The crucial steps of the workflow are virtual surgical planning, manufacturing of a two-part silicone mold, and chairside manufacturing of the spacer using an established bone cement with gentamycin. The method was first introduced in two patients suffering from therapy-resistant chronic osteomyelitis. The presented protocol of staged surgery allows a much safer and predictable reconstruction compared with immediate reconstruction. The workflow also minimizes the potential risk of endoprosthesis infection - one of the major risks of implant failure.

A matched-pair analysis on survival and response rates between German and non-German cancer patients treated at a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

BACKGROUND: Research shows disparities in cancer outcomes by ethnicity or socio-economic status. Therefore, it is the aim of our study to perform a matched-pair analysis which compares the outcome of German and non-German (in the following described as 'foreign') cancer patients being treated at the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Köln Bonn at the University Hospital of Bonn between January 2010 and June 2016. METHODS: During this time, 6314 well-documented patients received a diagnosis of cancer. Out of these patients, 219 patients with foreign nationality could be matched to German patients based on diagnostic and demographic criteria and were included in the study. All of these 438 patients were well characterized concerning survival data (Overall survival, Progression-free survival and Time to progression) and response to treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences regarding the patients' survival and response rates were seen when all German and foreign patients were compared. A subgroup analysis of German and foreign patients with head and neck cancer revealed a significantly longer progression-free survival for the German patients. Differences in response to treatment could not be found in this subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, no major differences in survival and response rates of German and foreign cancer patients were revealed in this study. Nevertheless, the differences in progression-free survival, which could be found in the subgroup analysis of patients with head and neck cancer, should lead to further research, especially evaluating the role of infectious diseases like human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) on carcinogenesis and disease progression.

The role of immediate versus secondary removal of the odontogenic focus in treatment of deep head and neck space infections. A retrospective analysis of 248 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to investigate conditions and predisposing factors for head and neck infection progress regarding the length of stay (LOS) in hospital, with special emphasis on the time of removal of the odontogenic infection focus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 3-year retrospective study reviewed hospital records of 248 subjects who were treated under inpatient conditions with severe odontogenic infections who received surgical incisions, drainage, and intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Outcomes measured included age, gender, involved fascial spaces, LOS, number of infected spaces, antibiotics administered, and comorbidities. We precisely recorded the time between abscess incision and focus extraction. RESULTS: Removal of infection focus (tooth) in the same stay (1 stay, n = 106; group 1; mean 6.5 days ± 3) showed significantly higher (p = 0.042) LOS than extraction in a second stay (2 stays, n = 46; group 2; 5.3 ± 3.1). Group 3 patients showed infection after removal of teeth in outpatient management (1 stay ex-op, n = 96) and presented significantly lower LOS (5.6 ± 2.5) compared to group 1 (p = 0.0216). LOS of group 3 to group 2 patients showed no significance (p = 0.668). Infection expansion and diabetes showed a significant increase of LOS. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous removal of infection focus and abscess incision leads to the lowest LOS. If tooth extraction is performed after incision, subsequent focus extraction performed in a second stay shows lower overall-LOS than extraction at the same stay at later stage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Multiple factors tend to increase the LOS of patients with severe head and neck infections of odontogenic origin. Our data reveals the role of removal of odontogenic focus and additionally ranks further parameters that influence the LOS. Based on our findings, decisions regarding the surgical treatment can be recommended.

A mathematical approach improves the predictability of length of hospitalization due to acute odontogenic infection: A retrospective investigation of 303 patients.

PURPOSE: Increasing rates of hospitalization of patients diagnosed with acute odontogenic infection have become a burden for public health care, with significant economic concerns. The aim of this study was to investigate factors that tend to prolong hospital length of stay (LOS) in the treatment of severe infections. We present a statistical model that enables the prediction of LOS by exposing the feasibility of the essential statistical determinants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 5-year retrospective study investigated records of 303 in-hospital patients with abscess of odontogenic origin. Time-to-event models were used to analyse data where the outcome variable is the time to the occurrence of a specific event. Here, the focus is on a statistical model for the prediction of LOS of patients. RESULTS: The group of all patients (n = 303) was analysed by considering seven characteristics of the patients (age, gender, spreading of infection, localization of infection focus, type of administered antibiotics, diagnosed diabetes mellitus, and existence of a remaining infection focus). Age (p = 0.049; rc = -0.007) and spreading of infection (p < 0.001; rc = -0.965) showed a significant impact on the LOS. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 185) consisted of patients who presented with a severe odontogenic infection and not yet removed infection focus; group B were patients having undergone outpatient operative tooth removal (n = 118). To group A patients' data, two new risk factors ("days between abscess incision and removal of infection focus" = dbir and "removal of infection focus during the same stay as abscess incision" = riss) replaced the risk factors "remaining infection focus." A significant impact on the LOS was detected for dbir (p < 0.001; rc = -0.15) and riss (p < 0.001; rc = -1.76). Our statistical model explicitly describes how the probability for discharge depends on the time and how specific characteristics affect the LOS. We observed a significantly higher LOS in older patients and subjects with infection spreading. In group A patients, dbir and riss had a highly significant impact on the LOS. CONCLUSION: Predicting the LOS may promote transparency to costs and management of patients under inpatient treatment. Our statistical model describes the probability of a discharge at time t compared to a discharge later than t (a LOS longer than t). Furthermore, the model enables a prediction of the LOS of each patient for practitioners in an easy way.

The role of C-reactive protein and white blood cell count in the prediction of length of stay in hospital and severity of odontogenic abscess.

INTRODUCTION: Odontogenic infections and subsequent developing abscess remain to be a potentially life-threatening event, due to septicemia, airway compression and spreading into sensitive anatomic tissues. C-reactive proten (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count are routinely blood-measured indicators for inflammation. Are CRP-levels and WBC-count predictive factors of the developement of odontogenic abscess? METHODS: A 4-year retrospective study evaluated hospital records of 218 patients, diagnosed and inpatiently treated for acute odontogenic abscess. They received surgical incision, drainage and intravenous antibiotics. CRP-levels and WBC-counts were measured preoperativly. RESULTS: 218 subjects were enrolled in this study. Patients hospitalized 10 days or more showed significantly higher CRP-levels (p = < 0.001) and WBC-counts (p = 0.006) on admission day than patients with lower LOS. CRP-levels of patients with LOS from 7-9 days were significantly lower (p = 0.47) than in people hospitalized 10 days or more. Abscess focus in the mandible shows significantly higher WBC-counts (p = 0.014). Multiple space infections present a significantly higher CRP (p = 0.003) and WBC (p < 0.001) on admission day. DISCUSSION: According to the presented data, CRP-levels and WBC-count can be regarded as predictive factors for LOS (length of stay in hospital) in patients with long term hospitalization (CRP:7-9 days and > 10 days; WBC: > 10 days). Further WBC and CRP are suitable to predict multiple space infections and localisation of the abscess (WBC) in certain limits. CONCLUSION: In predicting the developement of odontogenic abscess, CRP is more capable in providing exact statements regarding the LOS. However, WBC-counts are more suitable in predicting multiple space infections and localization of infection.

The prevalence of pneumatized articular eminence in the temporal bone. Do we need a high resolution computed tomography-based novel risk classification for eminectomy?

INTRODUCTION: Besides mastoid air filled cells, pneumatizations (PN) occasionally occur in the articular eminence (AE) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). These findings represent no pathological character but may increase the risk of perforating the AE during eminectomy with potential harming the skull base. Various classifications catagorize the degree of temporal PN without focussing solely on the AE. Panoramic radiograph (PR) and computed tomographie (CT) are both described as suitable for diagnosing PNs. Are the common ways of imaging capable for precise diagnosis and do we need a risk pattern for eminectomy? METHODS: A 4-year retrospective study evaluated high resolution computed tomographie (HRCTs) of 300 patients. We screened digitalized skull images for PN of the AE. The frankfort horizontal was determined as the reference mark for measurements. Images were assessed by a craniomaxillofacial surgeon and a radiologist. RESULTS: 300 patients (600 AEs) were investigated. We detected 60 PNs (10% of all AEs) in 44 patients (14.7%). We subdevided the findings according to the extent of PN. 10 AEs showed PNs of less than 20% (type 1); n=18: 21-40% (type 2); n=18: 41-70% (type 3). n=14: 71 to 100% (type 4). In 32 cases (72.7%) with 42 PNs a PR existed. Of the 42 AEs, corresponding PN could be detected in 21 cases (50%). DISCUSSION: PNs are a potential threat when performing TMJ surgery. Sufficient preoperative imaging is required to avoid severe endangerment for the patient. CT imaging is most suitable detecting PNs. PR seem to fail in diagnosing PNs of different degree. Our novel HRCT-based classification shows the distribution of PNs and provides a risk pattern. CONCLUSION: HRCT exceeds the diagnostic accuracy of PR in detecting pneumatized AEs. PR is not capable for detecting PNs of different degree. A novel classification may increase the prediction of perforation risk. Restricting eminectomy to reduce height only to a certain amount reduces the risk of complications.

Fibrous dysplasia imitating malignancy.

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign bone disease, presenting as monostotic or polyostotic lesions, or as part of a syndrome (McCune-Albright/Mazabraud). Its clinical course shows a variegated picture and the progression of its growth is unpredictable. In the workup of 39 fibrous dysplasia cases in the cranio-facial area, four cases presented fast growth tendencies, of which two patients with McCune-Albright syndrome showed malignant-like rapid growth. This local aggressive form is extremely rare, and the concept of this issue has not been clearly defined. With regard to the speed of growth a volumetric-time analysis in one of our cases demonstrated a 74 days tumor doubling rate with an exponential growth curve. According to the literature the aggressive form presented extra-cranially mainly at an adult age, whereas its appearance in our cranio-facial patient collective was much younger. Distinguishing nonmalignant and malignant aggressive forms is difficult and highly inconsistent in the literature. We therefore implemented a quantitative growth measure analysis to define aggressive forms based on progression and speed of growth and impartial of type of FD, localization or functional incapacity. Due to our study findings and literature review we state a prevalence of an aggressive form might be possibly about 5 %.

Current concepts in cleft care: A multicenter analysis.

The current surgical techniques used in cleft repair are well established, but different centers use different approaches. To determine the best treatment for patients, a multi-center comparative study is required. In this study, we surveyed all craniofacial departments registered with the German Society of Maxillofacial Surgery to determine which cleft repair techniques are currently in use. Our findings revealed much variation in cleft repair between different centers. Although most centers did use a two-stage approach, the operative techniques and timing of lip and palate closure were different in every center. This shows that a retrospective comparative analysis of patient outcome between the participating centers is not possible and illustrates the need for prospective comparative studies to establish the optimal technique for reconstructive cleft surgery.

Vitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency may increase the prevalence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

INTRODUCTION: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a severe complication of antiresorptive medication (AM) in the treatment of bone-affecting cancer-related conditions and osteoporosis. Aim of this study was to reveal whether patients treated with AM and show Medication Related OsteoNecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) are vitamin D deficient or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 2 year retrospective study evaluated hospital records of 63 patients who received AM. Patients were divided into two groups. One group (n = 45) consisted of patients who presented a stage 2 ONJ (eb+ = exposed bone). Second group patients (n = 18) (eb- = no exposed bone) presented for extraction of teeth. Serum levels of vitamin D (25-OHD) were analysed. P values ≤ 0.05 in t-test were regarded as statistically significant. RESULTS: Serum levels of 25-OHD were significantly higher in the eb(-) group (29.5 ng/ml), than in the eb(+) group (20.49 ng/ml). Blood levels of calcium were also significantly higher in eb(-) group (2.25 mmol/L; 0.11 SD) than in eb(+) group (2.175 mmol/L; 0.16 SD). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of MRONJ in AM treated patients seems to be increased by low serum 25-OHD. A measurable tendency in the role of 25-OHD for the development of MRONJ was recorded and leads to the recommendation for a sufficient vitamin D substitution in patients treated with AM.

Microbiology and antibiotic sensitivity of head and neck space infections of odontogenic origin. Differences in inpatient and outpatient management.

INTRODUCTION: The microbial flora of infections of the orofacial region of odontogenic origin is typically polymicrobial. Shortly after mass production of the first antibiotics, antibiotic resistant microorganisms were observed. METHODS: A 28-months retrospective study evaluated hospital records of 107 patients that were treated for head and neck infections of odontogenic origin. All patients underwent surgical incision and drainage. RESULTS: There were 65 male (61%) and 42 female (39%) patients ranging in age from 5 to 91 years, with a mean age of 48 years (SD = 21). 52 patients underwent outpatient management and 55 patients inpatient management. A total of 92 bacterial strains were isolated from 107 patients, accounting for 0.86 isolates per patient. Overall 46 bacterial strains were isolated from patients that underwent outpatient and 34 bacterial strains that underwent inpatient treatment. 32.6% of the strains, isolated from outpatient treated individuals showed resistances against one or more of the tested antibiotics. Isolated strains of inpatient treated individuals showed resistances in 52.9%. DISCUSSION: According to this study's data, penicillin continues to be a highly effective antibiotic to be used against viridans streptococci, group C Streptococci and prevotella, whereas clindamycin was not shown to be effective as an empirical drug of choice for most odontogenic infections. CONCLUSION: Microorganisms that show low susceptibility to one or more of the standard antibiotic therapy regimes have a significantly higher chance of causing serious health problems, a tendency of spreading and are more likely to require an inpatient management with admission of IV antibiotics. Penicillin continues to be a highly effective antibiotic to be used against viridans streptococci, group C Streptococci and prevotella, whereas clindamycin could not be shown to be effective as an empirical drug of choice for a high number of odontogenic infections.

Eagle Syndrome: a Follow-Up Examination of Four Patients After Surgical Treatment Via Cervical Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Eagle syndrome is a rare pain syndrome caused by an elongated styloid apophysis or an ossified styloid ligament. It is characterized by a complex range of symptoms in head and neck region. The most effective treatment is surgical shortening of the styloid apophysis. The authors report of a follow-up examination of 4 patients after surgical treatment via cervical approach. METHODS: Retrospectively reviewed hospital records of 5 patients (4 females and 1 male), aged from 26 to 59 years old (mean age = 45.5 years) who underwent surgical shortening of the styloid process via cervical approach. Further, a paper-based survey of 4 patients was conducted, including a clinical questionnaire and 4 visual analogue scales, consisting of questions regarding postoperative pain. RESULTS: Period of follow-up ranged from 16 to 79 months (mean 53.75 months). All patients were asymptomatic at follow-up. None of the patients reported a visible scar or hypoesthesia in the affected area. The patients demonstrated low mean visual analogue scales for each item (facial pain: 0.6 ±â€Š1.2, foreign body sensation: 0.725 ±â€Š1.45, pain of throat and neck 1.35 ±â€Š1.58 and limitation of dietary habits: 0.75 ±â€Š1.5). None of the patients reported a resurgence of pain in the head and neck region so far. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment via cervical approach appears to be an effective and safe option with low morbidity and mortality in the treatment of symptomatic Eagle syndrome of adults.

Comparison between piezosurgery and conventional osteotomy in cranioplasty with fronto-orbital advancement.

BACKGROUND: Cranioplasty of patients with craniosynostosis requires rapid, precise and gentle osteotomy of the skull to avoid complications and benefit the healing process. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to compare two different methods of osteotomy. Piezosurgery and conventional osteotomy were compared using an oscillating saw and high speed drill while performing cranioplasties with fronto-orbital advancement. METHODS: Thirty-four children who required cranioplasty with fronto-orbital advancement were recruited consecutively. The operations were conducted using piezosurgery or a conventional surgical technique, alternately. Operative time, blood count, CRP and transfusion rate, as well as soft tissue injuries, postoperative edema, pain development and secondary bone healing were investigated. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 9.7 months. The following indications for craniosynostosis were surgically corrected: trigonocephaly (23), anterior plagiocephaly (8), brachycephaly (1), and syndromic craniosynostosis (2). Piezosurgery was utilized in 18 cases. There were no group differences with regard to the incidence of soft tissue injuries (dura, periorbita), pain, swelling, blood loss or bony integration. The duration of osteotomy was significantly longer in the piezosurgery group, leading to slightly increased blood loss, while the postoperative CRP increase was higher using the conventional method. CONCLUSIONS: The piezosurgery method is a comparatively safe surgical method for conducting osteotomy during cranioplasty. With regard to soft tissue protection and postoperative clinical course, the same procedural precautions and controls are necessary as those needed for conventional methods. The osteotomy duration is considerably longer using piezosurgery, although it is accompanied by lower initial postoperative CRP values.

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint: Immunohistochemical examinations regarding the role of insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins in the etiology of this disease.

Synovial chondromatosis (SC) is a benign disease of the joints without a known cause. It sometimes affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and is accompanied by pain, swelling, malocclusion, and crepitation. It has been divided into three stages by Milgram and is supposed to originate from the synovia and cartilage of a joint (Milgram, 1977b). The aim of this study was to examine an involvement of the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I/-II) and their binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to -6) in the etiology of this disease. Therefore 23 specimen of SC from 16 patients were immunohistochemically stained and microscopically examined. Staining was assessed semiquantitatively: negative (-), weakly positive ((+)), moderately positive (+), strongly positive (++) and very strongly positive (+++). It could be seen that especially the chondro- and fibrocytes and the synovia showed positive staining for almost all IGFs and IGFBPs. The underlying tissue, consisting of connective tissue or chondroid matrix, was stained as well but more weakly so. We conclude that the IGF/IGFBP system seems to contribute to the pathogenesis of SC, especially IGF-I and -II, and their effects enhancing binding protein 5.

Sequencing the GRHL3 Coding Region Reveals Rare Truncating Mutations and a Common Susceptibility Variant for Nonsyndromic Cleft Palate.

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with/without cleft palate (nsCL/P) and nonsyndromic cleft palate only (nsCPO) are the most frequent subphenotypes of orofacial clefts. A common syndromic form of orofacial clefting is Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) where individuals have CL/P or CPO, often but not always associated with lower lip pits. Recently, ∼5% of VWS-affected individuals were identified with mutations in the grainy head-like 3 gene (GRHL3). To investigate GRHL3 in nonsyndromic clefting, we sequenced its coding region in 576 Europeans with nsCL/P and 96 with nsCPO. Most strikingly, nsCPO-affected individuals had a higher minor allele frequency for rs41268753 (0.099) than control subjects (0.049; p = 1.24 × 10(-2)). This association was replicated in nsCPO/control cohorts from Latvia, Yemen, and the UK (pcombined = 2.63 × 10(-5); ORallelic = 2.46 [95% CI 1.6-3.7]) and reached genome-wide significance in combination with imputed data from a GWAS in nsCPO triads (p = 2.73 × 10(-9)). Notably, rs41268753 is not associated with nsCL/P (p = 0.45). rs41268753 encodes the highly conserved p.Thr454Met (c.1361C>T) (GERP = 5.3), which prediction programs denote as deleterious, has a CADD score of 29.6, and increases protein binding capacity in silico. Sequencing also revealed four novel truncating GRHL3 mutations including two that were de novo in four families, where all nine individuals harboring mutations had nsCPO. This is important for genetic counseling: given that VWS is rare compared to nsCPO, our data suggest that dominant GRHL3 mutations are more likely to cause nonsyndromic than syndromic CPO. Thus, with rare dominant mutations and a common risk variant in the coding region, we have identified an important contribution for GRHL3 in nsCPO.

The current state of facial prosthetics ­ A multicenter analysis.

Even though modern surgical techniques are dominating reconstructive facial procedures, the capability to use facial epitheses for reconstruction is still an important skill for the maxillofacial surgeon. We present an international multicenter analysis to clarify which techniques are used to fixate facial prostheses. We contacted all maxillofacial departments in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Norway which were registered with the German society for oral and maxillofacial surgery (DGMKG). These centers were asked via electronical mail to provide information on the type of epithesis fixation systems currently in use. The return rate from 58 departments was 43.1% (n = 25). Overall, implant fixation was the preferred fixation system (92%). Plates were the second most common fixation technique (32%). No centers reported the standard use of non-invasive fixation techniques for permanent epithesis fixation. The main retention systems in use were magnets (24/25), other retention systems are used much less often. The current preferred fixation technique for facial epitheses consists of implant-based, magnet-fixated epitheses. For nasal prostheses, a plate-based, magnet-fixated system is often used.

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate: Increased burden of rare variants within Gremlin-1, a component of the bone morphogenetic protein 4 pathway.

BACKGROUND: The genes Gremlin-1 (GREM1) and Noggin (NOG) are components of the bone morphogenetic protein 4 pathway, which has been implicated in craniofacial development. Both genes map to recently identified susceptibility loci (chromosomal region 15q13, 17q22) for nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P). The aim of the present study was to determine whether rare variants in either gene are implicated in nsCL/P etiology. METHODS: The complete coding regions, untranslated regions, and splice sites of GREM1 and NOG were sequenced in 96 nsCL/P patients and 96 controls of Central European ethnicity. Three burden and four nonburden tests were performed. Statistically significant results were followed up in a second case-control sample (n = 96, respectively). For rare variants observed in cases, segregation analyses were performed. RESULTS: In NOG, four rare sequence variants (minor allele frequency < 1%) were identified. Here, burden and nonburden analyses generated nonsignificant results. In GREM1, 33 variants were identified, 15 of which were rare. Of these, five were novel. Significant p-values were generated in three nonburden analyses. Segregation analyses revealed incomplete penetrance for all variants investigated. CONCLUSION: Our study did not provide support for NOG being the causal gene at 17q22. However, the observation of a significant excess of rare variants in GREM1 supports the hypothesis that this is the causal gene at chr. 15q13. Because no single causal variant was identified, future sequencing analyses of GREM1 should involve larger samples and the investigation of regulatory elements.

Modified triaca-style wing osteotomy to correct facial asymmetry in a patient with horizontal growth-type condylar hyperplasia.

In this short communication, we suggest a slight modification of Albino Triaca's chin-wing osteotomy to vertically correct the inferior border of the mandible in a patient with horizontal growth-type facial asymmetry due to condylar hyperplasia.

Maximum voluntary bite force in patients with alloplastic total TMJ replacement--a prospective study.

Alloplastic temporomandibular total joint replacement (TJR) for end-stage disease, congenital disorders and following ablative oncological surgery has been shown to reduce pain and improve function. The purpose was to assess the maximum voluntary bite force and maximum interincisal opening (MIO) in patients undergoing alloplastic total temporomandibular joint replacement (TJR). Seventeen patients with different diagnoses resulting in condylar hypomobility (8 patients; 15 joints) and condylar instability (9 patients; 12 joints) had undergone alloplastic TMJ reconstruction. Maximum voluntary bite force and MIO were measured at pre-operatively (T0), 2 (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 (T3) months. For ordinal data comparison at different time-points, the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was used. There was a significant improvement in maximum voluntary bite force for both, patients with condylar hypomobility (P = 0.003) and condylar instability (P = 0.007). Analysis of MIO revealed a significant improvement at T3 (P = 0.002). Alloplastic TJR would appear to increase maximum voluntary bite force and MIO. Biomechanical integrity of the stomatognathic system and the ability of the patient to triturate food could be improved by alloplastic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement.