Association of frontal and maxillary bone fractures and concomitant craniocerebral injuries in patients presenting with head trauma.

Background: Maxillofacial fractures and craniocerebral injuries are common in patients with head trauma. These are injuries with high mortality and morbidity. Therefore, patients with head trauma should be evaluated early with a multidisciplinary approach. Aim: The association between frontal and maxillary bone fractures and concurrent craniocerebral injuries were investigated in patients presenting with head trauma in this study. The data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. Methods and Material: Age and gender distributions were evaluated in frontal and maxillary fractures. Concomitant craniocerebral injuries were investigated. Craniocerebral injuries were grouped as pneumocephalus, extra-axial, intra-axial injuries and brain edema. Craniocerebral injuries in frontal and maxillary fractures were compared statistically. Results: Frontal bone and maxillary bone fractures were detected in 24% and 95% of the patients. Coexistence of pneumocephalus and intra-axial injuries in frontal bone fracture was statistically significant. The association of frontal posterior wall fractures with pneumocephalus and parenchymal contusion was found to be statistically significant. In addition, the association of craniocerebral injuries were evaluated and statistically significant ones were determined. Conclusion: The presence of maxillofacial fractures in patients presenting with head trauma increases mortality and morbidity. Craniocerebral injuries can be life-threatening and delay the treatment of facial fractures. Upper facial bone fractures are significantly more common in craniocerebral injuries.

Identification of pathogens isolated in acute external otitis cases and evaluation of aminoglycoside and quinolone sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify pathogens isolated in acute external otitis cases and determine their distribution according to ages and seasons as well as investigate the susceptibility or resistance to the aminoglycoside and quinolone group antibiotics of which topical forms are available. METHOD: A total of 168 patients diagnosed with acute external otitis were evaluated retrospectively. Growing bacteria were identified according to the species by conventional methods. Antibiotic susceptibility status was determined for the growing bacteria. RESULTS: The most common bacteria detected were pseudomonas group bacteria (38.7 per cent). Resistance to the amikacin group of antibiotics was found to be the lowest and resistance to the ciprofloxacin group of antibiotics was the highest. CONCLUSION: External auditory canal cultures should be taken simultaneously with empirical treatment. Seasonal effect and age group should be taken into consideration in the choice of treatment and after questioning about chronic exposure to water. Empirical treatment should then be started.

Distribution of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis (Nematoda: Metastrongyloidea) in white-tailed deer from Oklahoma.

The meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) was found in 75 of 190 (39%) white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) examined in Oklahoma from 1977-81. Infections were found in deer from southeastern mixed forest, oak-hickory forest, oak-bluestem parkland and oak-hickory parkland, and not in deer from western bluestem prairie, bluestem-grama prairie and grama-buffalo grass ecoregions. Factors which may influence the distribution of meningeal worm in Oklahoma include distribution and densities of suitable snail hosts and deer feeding habits.