Meta-analytic study on the frequency and treatment of oral antral communications.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimum surgical treatment for oral antral communications (OAC) and to understand the main post-operative complications. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analytical, observational and retrospective study of 1.072 cases of OAC obtained from a literature review of 15 articles. RESULTS: OAC occur slightly more often in men and during the fourth decade of life. Its primary etiological factor is dental extraction, most often affecting the third molar. The most common treatment has been the use of Bichat's fat pad grafts, whereas the technique with the highest percentage of complications has been the use of the palatal rotation flap. The most frequent complication has been the fistulization of the OAC. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of OAC and its treatment within 48 hours of evolution are fundamental in order to properly resolve this pathology. The use of Bichat's fat pad grafts is a simple technique that offers excellent vascularization and results.

Incidence of oral sinus communications in 389 upper thirmolar extraction.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of oral sinus communications (OSC) following the extraction of an upper third molar remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of OSC following the extraction of 389 consecutive upper third molars during 2003 in the Master of Oral Surgery and Orofacial Implantology (Barcelona University, Spain). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Different variables were recorded, including patient age, sex, molar angulation, surgical technique and radiological sinus proximity, to determine the relation between third molar extraction and the incidence of OSC. RESULTS: Only 5.1% (95% CI: 2.2-7.3%) of the upper molar surgical extractions produced OSC, the risk of which was found to be similar in all age groups and increased with the depth of third molar inclusion, the complexity of the surgical technique and the performance of an ostectomy.

Incidencia de comunicación bucosinusal tras la extracción de 389 terceros molares superiores / Incidence of oral sinus communications in 389 upper thirmolar extraction

Introducción. La incidencia de las comunicaciones bucosinusales (CBS) tras la extracción del tercer molar superior no se conoce con exactitud.Objetivos. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar la incidencia de las CBS tras la extracción de 389 cordales superioresrealizadas durante el año 2003 en el Máster de Cirugía Bucal e Implantología Bucofacial de la Universidad de Barcelona.Material y método. Se registraron diversas variables con el fin de determinar la relación de la extracción del tercer molar con la incidencia de las CBS: la edad y el sexo del paciente, la angulación del cordal, la técnica quirúrgica y la sospecha radiológica de proximidad con el seno maxilar.Resultados. Únicamente el 5.1% (IC 95%: 2.2-7.3%) de las extracciones quirúrgicas de los cordales superiores provocaronuna CBS. El riesgo de producir una CBS fue similar en todos los grupos de edad, y aumentó con la profundidad de inclusión del tercer molar, la complejidad de la técnica quirúrgica y al efectuar ostectomía

Introduction. The incidence of oral sinus communications (OSC) following the extraction of an upper third molar remainsuncertain. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of OSC following the extraction of 389 consecutiveupper third molars during 2003 in the Master of Oral Surgery and Orofacial Implantology (Barcelona University, Spain). Patients and method. Different variables were recorded, including patient age, sex, molar angulation, surgical technique and radiological sinus proximity, to determine the relation between third molar extraction and the incidence of OSC. Results. Only 5.1% (95% CI: 2.2-7.3%) of the upper molar surgical extractions produced OSC, the risk of which was found to be similar in all age groups and increased with the depth of third molar inclusion, the complexity of the surgicaltechnique and the performance of an ostectomy

Clinically significant oroantral communications--a study of incidence and site.

The incidence of clinically significant oroantral communications (OACs) after simple tooth extraction during the period 1980-9, at the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, was studied retrospectively. The total number of OACs was 87. The tooth most frequently involved was the upper first molar, followed by the second and third molars. The difference, however, was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The sockets of the palatal roots of the first and the second molars were most frequently involved. There was no statistically significant difference between the incidence of OACs on the right and the left sides (P > 0.05).

Parotid fistula in children in the tropics.

A study of 15 Nigerian children with parotid fistulae was carried out. The causes of the fistulae were found to be infection in nine children (60%), trauma in five (33.3%) and carcinoma in one (6.7%). The commonest infection was tuberculosis, with the primary site in the palatine tonsil and with associated tonsillar gland enlargement. In these cases there was no good response to tympanic neurectomy, surgical repair and anti-tuberculous therapy until palatine tonsillectomy was performed. It is therefore advised that the continued role of the tonsils as a primary site of tuberculous infection in the head and neck must always be sought, even in the management of parotid fistulae in children.

Oroantral communication. Epicritical study of 175 patients, with special concern to secondary operative closure.

A total of 175 patients with oroantral communications have been investigated in a follow-up study. The results show the importance of a fast and reliable diagnosis, and therapy which can save the patients from more radical treatment. Operation of the maxillary sinus should be avoided if conservative treatment of sinusitis is possible, or at least careful operation techniques should be chosen.