Use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for the Recovery of Oral Function after Orthognathic Surgery.

The oral functions of patients are markedly diminished immediately after orthognathic surgery, and novel approaches are needed to accelerate their recovery. The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of weekly applications of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for this purpose, based on the evidence of its effectiveness in other types of patients with muscle alterations. Maximum jaw opening, bite force, pain, and facial inflammation were compared between patients receiving TENS and those receiving sham-TENS for 30 min at baseline and weekly over a four-week period after orthognathic surgery and were also compared between the before and after of each procedure. TENS was applied at 220 Hz, applying the maximum intensity tolerated by each individual patient. The TENS procedure was identical for all patients, but the device was not turned on in the sham-TENS group. Patients were blinded to their group membership. Results were analyzed separately in skeletal class II and III patients. Improvements in jaw opening and inflammation were significantly greater in the TENS than in the sham-TENS group, attributable to the muscle relaxation achieved with the procedure. Research is warranted on the benefits of a more frequent application of TENS.

Giant carotid chemodectoma treated with a combination of surgery and CyberKnife radiotherapy: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Paragangliomas are rare vascular neuroendocrine tumors that develop in the extra-adrenal paraganglion tissue. They occur most commonly at the carotid bifurcation, where they are known as carotid body tumors. Most paragangliomas are benign, locally aggressive, infiltrative tumors. Approximately 10% of patients with paragangliomas develop distant metastases, 10% present with multiple or bilateral tumors (mostly carotid body tumors), and 10% have a family history of paragangliomas. The malignant transformation of carotid body tumors has been reported in 6% of cases. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 64 year-old Caucasian woman with a gigantic glomic tumor mass in the neck. Twenty years before the consultation, the patient had undergone an unsuccessful attempt to remove the mass. Over the last 3 years, the patient had felt enlargement of the mass at an increased rate, almost doubling the prior size. Angio magnetic resonance imaging showed a 9 cm paratracheal mass on the left cervical side that laterally displaced the sternocleidomastoid muscle and 2 c m of the trachea. Due to the change in the tumor behavior, the maxillofacial team at Ruber International Hospital decided to remove the tumor surgically after embolization. During the surgery the tumor was gently dissected from the carotid an removed from the carotid bifurcation uneventfully. Two small nodes adhering tightly to the internal carotid adventitia and the posterior torn hole were left in place to avoid any potentially life-threatening complications. The final biopsy confirmed the initial diagnosis of carotid body paraganglioma and showed a Ki-67 expression of 19%. Due to the aggressive growth behavior and high Ki-67 expression of the tumor, the patient was referred to the CyberKnife Unit of Ruber International Hospital for treatment of the remaining nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The management of cervical paragangliomas is difficult and remains a challenge. Although the likelihood of tumor control is high with surgical or radiotherapeutic treatments, we currently lack consensus regarding the best treatment option. Nevertheless, in selected complex cases, such as the case we present, the combination of surgery and radiosurgery may allow complete local tumor control with minimal morbidity.

Reconstructive subperiosteal midface lift: A three nonvisible incision approach.

This article describes our surgical technique for subperiosteal midface elevation in patients with paralytic lower eyelid malposition or cicatricial inferior eyelid retraction. Nineteen patients with paralytic lower eyelid malposition and 15 patients with cicatricial inferior eyelid retraction underwent a subperiosteal midface lift (n = 34). The procedure was performed under local anesthesia through three nonvisible incisions. A transconjunctival incision allows preseptal dissection to the orbital rim, followed by a subperiosteal dissection of the midface. An oral incision is useful to achieve complete subperiosteal dissection and to perform the distal periostomy, which allows complete release of the midface soft tissues. A temporal incision provides access to the temporal fascia for fixation of the elevated tissues and gives the surgeon the possibility of removing redundant skin from the scalp instead of the lower eyelid. Additional posterior lamellar grafting was performed in 24 patients. There was a statistically significant reduction in the distance from the pupil centre to the lower eyelid (margin reflex distance, MRD2) 1 month after surgery (preoperative MRD2 9.62 ± 4.52 mm, postoperative MRD2 5.28 ± 2.62 mm). The ectropion and lower eyelid retraction was resolved in all patients, except for one recurrence. Midfacial elevation is a safe and effective surgical technique in the treatment of static lower eyelid malposition after chronic facial nerve palsy or posttraumatic or iatrogenic lower eyelid retraction.

External dacryocystorhinostomy and transnasal canthopexy: new details of combined surgery.

PURPOSE: To describe the authors' modified combined surgical technique for external dacryocystorhinostomy and transnasal canthopexy. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was performed including patients with late posttraumatic telecanthus and nasolacrimal duct obstruction treated by their combined dacryocystorhinostomy-transnasal canthopexy technique. In this technique, the bony window is extended superiorly and posteriorly further than in standard dacryocystorhinostomy, to allow pulling the canthus though the window, but at the same time not disturbing the suture of the dacryocystorhinostomy anastomosis. The lacrimal sac opening is performed under the canthal tendon, and only an anterior anastomosis is performed. Silicone intubation was performed only in cases with evidence of canalicular disease, marked sac inflammation or atrophic sac. The wires are fixed to the contralateral orbit, passed through the 2 middle holes of a 4-hole straight 1,7 mm microplate. The microplate is placed on the contralateral side to avoid in-fracture of the contralateral orbital bones from the pressure exerted by the transnasal wires. RESULTS: Combined external dacryocystorhinostomy-transnasal canthopexy surgery was performed on 13 eyelids of 11 consecutive patients for correction of medial telecanthus and nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Proper canthal position and lacrimal pathway patency were achieved in all cases after a mean follow up of 14.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Combined dacryocystorhinostomy-transnasal canthopexy surgery with superior and posterior enlargement of the bony window avoided crossing of the wires and flaps and achieved a high success rate in the reconstruction of the lacrimal drainage pathway. This technique proved to be effective in the treatment of posttraumatic telecanthus with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Corticotomy-assisted orthodontics.

The use of orthodontic treatment in adult patients is becoming more common and these patients have different requirements specially regarding duration of treatment and facial and dental aesthetics. Alveolar corticotomy is an effective means of accelerating orthodontic treatment. This literature revision include an historical background, biological and orthodontic fundamentals and the most significant clinical applications of this technique. Orthodontic treatment time is reduced with this technique to one-third of that in conventional orthodontics. Alveolar bone grafting of labial and palatal/lingual surfaces ensures root coverage as the dental arch is expanded. Corticotomy-assisted orthodontics has been reported in a few clinical cases, and seems to be a promising adjuvant technique, indicated for many situations in the orthodontic treatment of adults without active periodontal pathology. Its main advantages are reduction of treatment time and postorthodontic stability. Further controlled prospective and histological studies are needed to study tooth movement, post-retention stability, and microstructural features of teeth, periodontium, and regenerated bone after using this procedure. Key words:Corticotomy, osteotomy, accelerated orthodontics.

Immediate semi-static loading using compression healing abutments: a stability study in dogs.

Loading in implant dentistry to accelerate prosthodontic treatment has been receiving increasing interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an early controlled lateral loading (after 7 days) on the establishment of osseointegration by means of resonance frequency analysis. Two groups of six beagle dogs each were used. Group I had implants without loading. Group II had implants loaded with a new prototype compression abutment that created controlled semi-static loading. Loaded implants showed slightly better stability after 5 weeks of healing, but the difference was not significant. We concluded that controlled loading is beneficial to maintain, and even improve, stability during the early critical healing period.

Glandular odontogenic cyst: two high-risk cases treated with conservative approaches.

BACKGROUND: The glandular odontogenic cyst is a rare jawbone cyst that is considered to be an independent entity, although its histopathological characteristics may lead to an incorrect diagnosis as a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The treatment of glandular odontogenic cysts is controversial. CASE REPORT: We present two high-risk cases treated with conservative approaches, one by enucleation and curettage and the other by marsupialisation. This report also presents a review of the clinical and pathological aspects of glandular odontogenic cysts, and considers their development. No evidence of disease was observed after 3 years of follow-up in the two cases presented. CONCLUSIONS: When possible, treatment plans for these lesions should be customised for each case, taking into account the data available in the literature and patient preferences. For high-risk cases, that are treated with conservative approaches, such as the two cases presented here, strict and regular controls and rigorous radiological follow-up evaluations are mandatory.

Displasia fibrosa maxilar poliostótica en paciente tratada con pamidronato: a propósito de un caso / Maxilar polyostotic fibrous dysplasia treated with pamidronate: a case report

El término displasia fibrosa hace referencia a un conjunto de lesiones óseas benignas que se caracterizan por la sustitución del tejido óseo normal por tejido conectivo. Se presenta el caso de una paciente afectada de displasia fibrosa poliostótica de predominio maxilar tratada de forma conservadora con bisfosfonatos(AU)

The term fibrous dysplasia refers to a variety of bony diseases characterized by the substituion of the bone by abnormal connective tissue. A case report of patient affected by a polyostotic form of fibrous dysplasia with an uneven evolution of its disease after being treated with pamidronate is presented(AU)