[Pentoxifylline and tocopherol - The importance in the treatment of osteoradionecrosis - Literature review and case report]. / Pentoxifyllin und Tocopherol. Die Bedeutung in der Behandlung der Osteoradionekrose ­ Literaturreview und Fallbericht.

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a serious complication after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and is a challenging condition for both the therapist and the patient because of its difficult treatment. Different non-invasive approaches have been published for the treatment of low-grade ORN cases without establishing a standard regimen for treatment. Based on the approach of ORN pathogenesis, the so-called radiatio-induced fibroathrophic process (RIF), a new treatment concept with pentoxifylline and tocopherol (PENTO) has been published. The results of PENTO therapy seem promising as a conservative treatment approach for mild ORN or as an alternative when surgical intervention is not possible or desired. The present study summarizes the current state of the literature and shows the effectiveness of PENTO therapy based on a case report.

Clinical results of two different three-dimensional titanium plates in the treatment of condylar neck and base fractures: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine two different types of three-dimensional plate for their suitability for the treatment of condylar neck and base fractures, and to evaluate the most frequent complications, while considering three different surgical approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in patients who received two different types of three-dimensional plate for the treatment of condylar neck and base fractures, using three different surgical approaches, from January 2016 to December 2018. Medical records were obtained during an average follow-up period of 9 months after the traumatic event, with data collected on factors affecting success and failure of miniplates, clinical outcome parameters, and complications. RESULTS: A total of 43 fractures (38 patients) were examined. No differences were found between the two plate designs (mean = 0.093, SD = 0.294, p = 0.562). All fractures achieved complete bone healing, but in four cases, a revision operation had to be performed. No significant complications were found regardless of the surgical approaches chosen. There was no correlation between plate system (mean = 0.419, SD = 0.492, p = 0.497) or surgical access (mean = 0.163, SD = 0.432, p = 0.247) and the occurrence of facial nerve palsy found. Due to the extraoral approach used, permanent facial nerve palsy was reported in one case. With the intraoral approach, one case of transient facial paresis was observed. No facial palsy was observed in patients treated via a preauricular approach. CONCLUSION: Deltoid and trapezoid plates seem to perform equally in the treatment of condylar neck and base fractures.

Changing trends in epidemiology and management of facial trauma in a Swiss geriatric population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and surgical treatment of facial fractures in a Swiss population aged 65 and over. BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the characteristics of geriatric trauma may help to prevent injuries and better allocate clinical resources for the management of multimorbid patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 181 patients who presented at the Bern University Hospital in Switzerland from May 2012 to September 2016. Data on age, gender, aetiology and type of trauma, treatment and complications, co-morbidities and associated injuries were obtained. RESULTS: Women were most frequently affected (55.2%). Mean age was 80 years. Zygomatic complex fractures were the most frequent type of fractures (37%), followed by isolated orbital fractures (27.6%). Falls were the most common cause of trauma (76.1%). Thirty-five per cent of all patients were taking anticoagulation or platelet aggregation medication. Hospitalisation was required in 88.4%, whereby 92.3% of the patients underwent surgical treatment. Surgery had to be performed immediately in three cases to treat compression of the optic nerve. Median hospital length of stay was 4 days, with 68% of patients returning to a domestic environment and 32% being transferred to another institution for further treatment. CONCLUSION: The most common cause of facial injuries is a fall while standing in a domestic environment. Midface fractures were the most common type of fractures.

Borreliosis-associated orofacial pain: A case report / Myoarthropathische Beschwerden als Manifestation einer frühen Neuroborreliose. Ein Fallbericht

Lyme borreliosis is a prevalent disease with a wide variety of clinical manifestations. However, only a few pertinent references are found in the dental literature. Considering the diversity of differential diagnoses, borreliosis-associated orofacial pain may be a challenge for treatment providers and patients alike. The aim of this case report is to emphasize the importance of a sound, structured medical history and assessment to identify severe cases early and to start interdisciplinary therapy if indicated.

Cephalometric and three-dimensional assessment of the posterior airway space and imaging software reliability analysis before and after orthognathic surgery.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the reliability of three different imaging software programs for measuring the PAS and concurrently to investigate the morphological changes in oropharyngeal structures in mandibular prognathic patients before and after orthognathic surgery by using 2D and 3D analyzing technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study consists of 11 randomly chosen patients (8 females and 3 males) who underwent maxillomandibular treatment for correction of Class III anteroposterior mandibular prognathism at the University Hospital in Zurich. A set of standardized LCR and CBCT-scans were obtained from each subject preoperatively (T0), 3 months after surgery (T1) and 3 months to 2 years postoperatively (T2). Morphological changes in the posterior airway space (PAS) were evaluated longitudinally by two different observers with three different imaging software programs (OsiriX(®) 64-bit, Switzerland; Mimics(®), Belgium; BrainLab(®), Germany) and manually by analyzing cephalometric X-rays. RESULTS: A significant increase in the upper airway dimensions before and after surgery occurred in all measured cases. All other cephalometric distances showed no statistically significant alterations. Measuring the volume of the PAS showed no significant changes in all cases. All three software programs showed similar outputs in both cephalometric analysis and 3D measuring technique. CONCLUSION: A 3D design of the posterior airway seems to be far more reliable and precise phrasing of a statement of postoperative gradients than conventional radiography and is additionally higher compared to the corresponding manual method. In case of Class III mandibular prognathism treatment with bilateral split osteotomy of the mandible and simultaneous maxillary advancement, the negative effects of PAS volume decrease may be reduced and might prevent a developing OSAS.

Brushing force of manual and sonic toothbrushes affects dental hard tissue abrasion.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the brushing forces applied during in vivo toothbrushing with manual and sonic toothbrushes and to analyse the effect of these brushing forces on abrasion of sound and eroded enamel and dentin in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brushing forces of a manual and two sonic toothbrushes (low and high frequency mode) were measured in 27 adults before and after instruction of the respective brushing technique and statistically analysed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). In the in vitro experiment, sound and eroded enamel and dentin specimens (each subgroup n = 12) were brushed in an automatic brushing machine with the respective brushing forces using a fluoridated toothpaste slurry. Abrasion was determined by profilometry and statistically analysed by one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Average brushing force of the manual toothbrush (1.6 ± 0.3 N) was significantly higher than for the sonic toothbrushes (0.9 ± 0.2 N), which were not significantly different from each other. Brushing force prior and after instruction of the brushing technique was not significantly different. The manual toothbrush caused highest abrasion of sound and eroded dentin, but lowest on sound enamel. No significant differences were detected on eroded enamel. CONCLUSION: Brushing forces of manual and sonic toothbrushes are different and affect their abrasive capacity. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Patients with severe tooth wear and exposed and/or eroded dentin surfaces should use sonic toothbrushes to reduce abrasion, while patients without tooth wear or with erosive lesions confining only to enamel do not benefit from sonic toothbrushes with regard to abrasion.