Patient compliance--a factor in facial trauma repair.

The clinical records of 25 consecutive patients who were treated for facial trauma were reviewed and analyzed to ascertain what effect patient cooperation had on the outcome of facial fracture repair. The study was designed to establish the incidence of complications and to discover what factors contributed to untoward sequela in such patients. Overall, 15 patients (60%) were noncompliant in one or more aspects of their care. Six patients (24%) had significant postoperative complications associated with their facial injuries. Four of these patients were not fully cooperative.

Analysis of relapse after mandibular advancement surgery.

Seventeen cases of mandibular advancement surgery were evaluated for skeletal relapse; 12 included long-term evaluation. Inferior movement of the proximal segment with displacement of the condyle occurred at the time of surgery or in the immediate postoperative period. This movement was closely associated with subsequent skeletal relapse of the distal segment. This may represent a cause-and-effect relationship mediated through the soft tissue attachments of periosteum and muscle that are stretched at the time of surgery.

Senior residents' opinions about oral surgery programs.

A questionnaire for senior oral surgery residents was distributed to elicit their opinions about various phases of their oral surgical training. Of 206 questionnaires sent to members of house staffs in approved programs, 122 responses (59%) were received. The average senior resident felt well prepared in exodontia, trauma, and orthognathic surgery. He considered himself much less prepared in pediatric oral surgery and tumor management. The average resident believed oral surgery was well regarded and would again choose his own program for training.

Soft-tissue changes related to the surgical management of mandibular prognathism.

A series of fifty patients treated surgically for mandibular prognathism has been analyzed statistically to study relative soft- and hard-tissue changes. Changes in the soft tissue of the chin and in the lower lip position relative to the underlying mandibular structures are well related in a nearly 1:1 ratio. Upper lip modifications have been shown to be less well related to mandibular repositioning. The ratio of change of mandibular landmarks to soft-tissue points and their over-all positional change can be helpful in presurgical treatment planning of patients with mandibular prognathism.

Applicants' opinions about the selection process for oral surgery programs.

A survey of applicants to oral surgery graduate programs was distributed to 170 candidates requesting application forms from the University of Kentucky. Eighty-five applicants responded. The average candidate was approximately 28 years old, married, and attended dental school in the southeast or midwest. He applied to ten programs and viewed a personal interview as an important part of the application process. Traditional criteria such as basic science grades and class rank were not uniformly considered as important factors in the initial screening of candidates. Other views and criticisms of the applicants are examined and suggestions are provided to reduce some of the apparent inequities now inherent to the system.

Survey of resident-selection procedures for oral surgery graduate programs.

Results of a survey of the resident-selection procedures for oral surgery graduate programs have been reported. Data on the application process, interview mechanisms, decision process, and a retrospective view of past resident selections have been presented. Seventy-one percent of the respondents were satisfied with their current interview process. Eighty-two percent of the residents viewed retrospectively were considered worthy of reselection.