Comparative efficacy and safety of different corticosteroids to reduce inflammatory complications after mandibular third molar surgery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

A variety of corticosteroids are available as an alternative to reduce inflammatory complications after mandibular third molar surgery (3MS). However, it is unclear which are the best preoperative drugs, doses, and routes of administration. A frequentist network meta-analysis was performed to assess the comparative effectiveness of corticosteroids to reduce inflammatory complications after 3MS. We searched Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library without language restrictions. Only randomised clinical trials (RCTs) were included. We obtained the relative effectiveness using network meta-analysis and an estimate of the relative ranking of interventions according to their effects. Our search yielded 2427 results, from which 61 studies involving 3561 subjects fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Five corticosteroids (dexamethasone, betamethasone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, and triamcinolone) were compared. Dexamethasone 8mg via submucosal injection (-3.58[-6.98; -0.17]) and via pterygomandibular injection (-3.56[-6.30; -0.82]) were significantly more effective than placebo to reduce oedema after 3MS. The ranking analysis showed that dexamethasone 8mg via submucosal injection and via oral tablets were the interventions with the highest probability of being the most effective methods to reduce oedema after 3MS (p values = 0.71 and 0.75, respectively). Compared with placebo, only dexamethasone 8mg via submucosal injection effectively reduced pain in the first and second days after 3MS (-30.95[-43.41; -18.49]) and (-15.25[-23.27; -7.22]), respectively. Overall, corticosteroids reduced inflammatory complications after 3MS and did not show any serious adverse effects. Among the corticosteroids reviewed, dexamethasone 8mg was the best preoperative option to control inflammatory complications after 3MS. Further RCTs are needed to confirm the optimal route of administration.

Complications of the Transmasseteric Anteroparotid Approach for Subcondylar Fractures: A Retrospective Study.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of patients with subcondylar fractures treated via a transmasseteric anteroparotid approach by the Oral and Maxillofacial Department at the University of Oklahoma. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate complications, morbidity, and safety with the transmasseteric anteroparotid approach for treatment of subcondylar fractures, and compare it to other findings previously reported in the literature. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted that consisted of 23 surgically treated patients in the past 2 years for subcondylar fractures. Only patients with pre-operative malocclusion and who underwent open reduction with internal fixation with the transmasseteric anteroparotid (TMAP) approach were included. Exclusion criteria included 1) patients treated with closed reduction 2) patients who failed the minimum of 1, 3, and 6-week post-operative visits. The examined parameters were the degree of mouth opening, occlusal relationship, facial nerve function, incidence of salivary fistula and results of imaging studies. Results: 20 of the surgically treated patients met the inclusion criteria. Two patients were excluded due to poor post-operative follow up and 1 was a revision of an attempted closed reduction by an outside surgeon that presented with pre-existing complications. There were no cases of temporary or permanent facial nerve paralysis reported. There were 3 salivary fistulas and 2 sialoceles, which were managed conservatively and resolved within 2 weeks, and 2 cases of inadequate post-surgical maximal incisal opening (<40 mm) were observed. Conclusion: The transmasseteric anteroparotid approach is a safe approach for open reduction and internal fixation of low condylar neck and subcondylar fractures, and it has minimal complications.

Three-segment versus 2-segment surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the 2 surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) techniques, the conventional 2-segment osteotomy between maxillary central incisors and the 3-segment osteotomy between maxillary lateral incisors and canines bilaterally. Authors hypothesized that the 3-piece would provide better bone expansion. STUDY DESIGN: A pilot study was conducted; 19 patients were divided into 2 groups: conventional 2-segment osteotomy (10 patients) and 3-segment osteotomy (9 patients). Dental and skeletal measurements of the preoperative and postoperative cone beam computed tomography images were analyzed. Pre- and postoperative periodontal probing was performed, patients' cosmetic perception was evaluated in a colored visual analog scale (VAS), and surgical time was measured with a regular chronometer. RESULTS: Three-segment SARME resulted in greater bone expansion (5.12 vs 6.20 mm; P = .016), less molar inclination (7.16 vs 3.57 degrees; P = .028), better patient cosmetic perception (3.13 vs 7.68 in a VAS; P = .000), and longer surgical time (43 vs 52 minutes; P = .026). Furthermore, the 2-segment group presented necrosis of 1 central incisor. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that 3-piece SARME is more effective for bone expansion of the maxilla.

Arthrocentesis versus nonsurgical methods in the management of temporomandibular joint closed lock and pain: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The present double-blind randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the efficacy of conservative treatment and articular lavage, either alone or combined, to reduce joint pain and improve mandibular opening. STUDY DESIGN: The sample consisted of patients presenting with limited mouth opening and joint pain. The diagnosis was made according to the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders guideline and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Sixty patients were selected and randomly allocated to 4 groups of 15 patients each with different treatments: group A (conservative), group B (conservative + medication), group C (arthrocentesis), and group D (arthrocentesis + medication). The groups were compared in terms of maximal interincisal opening and pain. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 34.17 ± 13.1 years, 88.1% were women, 72.9% had internal derangement, 54% had joint sounds, and 55.9% presented with locking. Clinical improvement was noted in all parameters compared with baseline in all groups (P < .005), but no significant differences were observed when the groups were compared (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Both arthrocentesis and conservative modalities were efficient treatments to reduce joint pain and increase mandibular opening.

Impact of orthognathic surgery on quality of life and comparison of patients' postoperative experience after single- and double-jaw surgery: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of orthognathic surgery on quality of life (QoL) and to compare single- and double-jaw surgeries in terms of ratio and patient perceptions of the postoperative period. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, longitudinal observational study was conducted. The short form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) were applied preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively to evaluate oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL). Additionally, patient perceptions of the immediate postoperative period were assessed at the first and fourth week after surgery. RESULTS: One hundred consecutive patients were recruited and assigned to the single-jaw group (n = 24) or the double-jaw group (n = 76) according to the characteristics of each facial or occlusal deformity. The questionnaires showed lower scores for both groups after surgery, indicating significant benefits to OHRQoL. The whole sample OHIP-14 mean total scores decreased from 10.5 to 2.8 (P < .001, d = 1.35), whereas OQLQ showed a decrease from 48.4 to 11.6 (P < .001, d = 1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Orthognathic surgery can improve OHRQoL, and long-term benefits outweigh the risks and discomfort associated with the treatment.

Can Alloplastic Total Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction be Used in the Growing Patient? A Preliminary Report.

INTRODUCTION: Although primarily reserved for adult patients, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) total joint reconstructive (TJR) surgery is rarely used in the pediatric population due to its many challenges; it is only performed after all other non-invasive or invasive procedures have been exhausted. Although autogenous grafting has been discussed in the literature, there is very little regarding synthetic or alloplastic materials. In this study, we performed alloplastic TMJ reconstruction on 5 patients with severe ankylosis due to various craniofacial deformities and prior traumatic injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case series analysis of skeletally immature patients who received alloplastic TMJ reconstruction for recurrent and advanced ankylosis. Our inclusion criteria were as follows: less than 16 years of age, diagnosis of TMJ ankylosis, skeletally immature patients, and unilateral/bilateral total alloplastic TMJ reconstruction. We used the maximum incisal opening (MIO) changes as 1 component to assess for functional improvement. RESULTS: Since many of these cases involved gross discrepancies from the normal variants, it was difficult to quantitatively compare the patients with one another. Nevertheless, we used cephalometric analysis to compare pre- and postoperative results on each patient. For this study, we used MIO as our primary assessment: the preoperative average for MIO was 7.4 mm, and the postoperative average 24 mm. CONCLUSION: It is our experience that the use of alloplastic material will not result in harm to either the growth of the mandible or patient's ability to achieve an improved MIO based on our long- and short-term results. These results demonstrate that for even complex craniofacial deformities and traumatic injuries, our patients experienced a significant improvement in MIO, 1 of the main indicators for TMJ function. We conclude that the alloplastic joint can provide a predictable pathway to restore patient's MIO and obviate the need for repeated surgeries, which can be a more challenging alternative with poorer outcomes.

Anatomical Location of Initial and Repeat Mandible Fractures: A 5-Year, Multi-Institution Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate new fracture patterns resulting from low velocity mechanisms in subjects who had previously fractured their mandible and had been treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or closed reduction. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was designed to analyze subjects presenting at 2 tertiary care centers with mandibular fractures with specific interest in subjects who had repeat mandible fractures. Variables recorded included demographic (age, sex, etc) data, fracture location of all fractures treated, and the location of previous fracture. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were completed of the data. RESULTS: The sample included a total of 492 subjects and 875 total fractures from both institutions. Four hundred fourty-four (91.1%) were male. The average age of all subjects was 36.4 ± 14.9 years. Twenty-six (5.28%) subjects were previously treated for a mandible fracture. All subjects' subsequent fractures occurred outside of previous ORIF except for 1 subject. Original fracture location (P = .596) and previous ORIF type (P = .689) did not influence if the subsequent fracture was within a site of previous ORIF. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that repeat mandible fractures are relatively rare, likely to occur only 5% of the time at large tertiary care centers. The repeat fracture is not likely to occur in a site of previous ORIF, regardless of the ORIF modality. Furthermore, the fracture is likely to occur on the contralateral side. This is 1 of the largest data sets on repeat mandible fractures, which, given their rarity, are difficult to study.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and antibiotic use in septorhinoplasty: case report and review of literature.

Septorhinoplasty is a commonly performed procedure for facial aesthetics and obstructed nasal breathing. There have been only 4 reported cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-associated postoperative complications following septorhinoplasty reported in the literature across all specialties. In this article, we report a case of MRSA-associated infection after an uncomplicated septorhinoplasty. Risk stratification and outcome of treatment are described, followed by a review of the current literature. We discuss the epidemiology of MRSA colonization, prophylactic use of antibiotics in septorhinoplasty, previously reported MRSA-associated septorhinoplasty infections, and management of complications. There are no current standards for MRSA decolonization before septorhinoplasty. Finally, we offer recommendations for patients at high risk for MRSA infection undergoing septorhinoplasty and considerations for treatment of MRSA infections should they occur after septorhinoplasty.

Mandibular fractures: an analysis of the epidemiology and patterns of injury in 4,143 fractures.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to complete a comprehensive retrospective review of the epidemiology and patterns of injury in mandibular trauma based on the Parkland Memorial Hospital trauma database over a 17-year period. The authors identified 4,143 fractures in 2,828 patients from the databank. In mandibular trauma, the mechanism of injury and several other variables can be an important point of differentiation with regard to fracture pattern. By showing the statistical relation between these and fracture pattern, the authors hope to provide surgeons with a better understanding of such a relation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mandibular fracture data were collected from the Parkland Memorial Hospital trauma registry using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes (802.21 to 802.39). Information included fracture type, age, gender, mechanism of injury, and associated injuries. The Parkland Memorial Hospital trauma registry yielded 4,143 mandibular fractures in 2,828 patients managed at Parkland Memorial Hospital from 1993 through 2010. RESULTS: Based on retrospective analysis, results were obtained for age, gender, monthly distribution, anatomic distribution, and mechanism of injury. The average age was approximately 38 years, with most patients (33%) in the third decade. An overwhelming majority of patients were men (83.27%), with only 16.27% consisting of women. Most injuries occurred in the summer months, with July being the most common month of occurrence. The mechanism of injury predominantly involved low-velocity blunt injuries (62%) compared with high-velocity blunt injuries (31%). The anatomic distribution of fractures evaluated was the angle (27%), symphysis (21.3%), condyle and subcondyle (18.4%), and body (16.8%). CONCLUSION: This study helps provide and support the relation between several variables associated with many common traumatic injuries seen in the mandible. This analysis can be used to help surgeons identify and anticipate injuries based on age, gender, and mechanism of injury.

Vessel injuries of the head and neck presenting in mandibular fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Extracranial vascular injuries of the head and neck are relatively underdiagnosed in patients with acute trauma and can carry devastating sequelae. We wished to identify the correlation between mandibular fractures and injuries to major vessels of the head and neck. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of our trauma registry was performed for the 1993-2007 period. The data on all mandibular fractures were collected. RESULTS: A total of 2288 patients presented to Parkland Memorial Hospital with mandibular fractures, of whom 47 (2%) had an injury to a major vessel of the neck. Nearly half, 23 (48.9%), were the result of high-velocity penetrating injuries, namely gunshot wounds, whereas 17 (36.2%) were the result of high-velocity blunt motor vehicle or motorcycle collisions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who sustain a mandibular fracture in the setting of a high-velocity mechanism should be approached with the possibility of vascular injury of the great vessels of the neck kept in mind.

Long-term clinical outcome analysis of poly-methyl-methacrylate cranioplasty for large skull defects.

PURPOSE: The goal of secondary cranioplasty is permanent cerebral protection in an esthetically acceptable fashion. Reconstruction of cranial defects can be performed with several different materials. Alloplastic materials, such as preformed methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) cranioplasties, are an alternative frequently used at our institution. This retrospective analysis was designed to review the outcomes of PMMA cranioplasty for skull defect reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy consecutive patients who had 78 PMMA cranioplasties placed from 2003 through 2010 were identified. Mechanism of injury, location of cranioplasty, type of original repair, postoperative complications, and follow-up time were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients, 6 patients had failure and removal of their original PMMA cranioplasty and reinsertion of another, and 2 patients had failure and removal of 2 cranioplasties with replacement of a third, creating a total of 78 PMMA cranioplasties placed. The predominant mechanism of injury was trauma (64%). The most frequent postoperative complication was infection (13%). With the exception of the 2 patients with implant exposure, no patients reported an unacceptable cosmetic result. An overall complication rate of 24% was seen. CONCLUSIONS: The results of previous studies have shown that infection and complication rates of cranioplasties accomplished with bone cement are substantially higher, that titanium-based implants may obscure follow-up imaging for tumor patients, and that the outcomes regarding hydroxyapatite-based ceramics, although similar to PMMA, are associated with a much higher cost. PMMA remains a cost-effective and proven method to repair cranial defects that fulfills the goals of cranial reconstruction for skull defects.

Facial skeletal trauma in the growing patient.

The management of pediatric craniomaxillofacial trauma requires the additional dimension of understanding growth and development. The surgeon must appreciate the considerable influence of the soft tissue envelope and promote function when possible. Children heal well but with an exuberant tissue response that may contribute to greater scarring, therefore, careful and prudent attention given to meticulous soft tissue repair and support is critical. Support must also be given and sought from the family of the injured child. Follow-up management of children must continue to ensure that the growth of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton continues within the normal parameters of development.

The use of risdon cables in pediatric maxillofacial trauma: a technique revisited.

Although less common than adult fractures, fractures of the pediatric maxillofacial skeleton present unique challenges. Different considerations including variations of anatomy including tooth buds, dental variations, as well as considerations for future growth must be addressed. When traditional techniques to treat adult fractures are applied for securing intermaxillary fixation (IMF) such as arch bars, difficulty arises because the primary teeth are shorter and conventional arch bar techniques may slip off intra or postoperatively. We present a technique to achieve both IMF as well as interdental stability using a Risdon cable. Although this technique is not new, we present it as our preferred method for treating pediatric fractures of the facial skeleton where IMF must be accomplished.