Maxillofacial surgical oncology during Covid-19 phase-1 and phase-2 of Italian lockdown. Single centre experience.

AIM: The aim of this retrospective study is to analyse the impact of Covid-19 on oncological surgical activity of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italia. MATERIALS OF THE STUDY: This single-centre study includes patients treated for head and neck cancer (HNC) during lockdown months of March, April, May 2020 (Phase-1) and October, November and December 2020 (Phase-2); the data were compared with the same months for the previous two-year period (2018-2019). RESULTS: 35 oncological surgeries were performed at our Maxillofacial Surgery Unit in 2020. Applying both analysis of t-Student and ANOVA emerged an increase in activity for 2020. DISCUSSION: The epidemic of the 2019 novel coronavirus infection, declared a global pandemic by WHO on March 2020, has interfered with ordinary medical practice, in particular, with head and neck surgical oncology. Data for all three years (2018-19-20) were normalized for the number of beds available (in 2020, half compared to 2018-19) and were compared. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates how it is possible, following strict guidelines and standard surgical protocols, to address the growing demand for surgery on cancer patients and to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection. KEY WORDS: Head and neck cancer, Oral oncology, Covid-19 infection, Maxillofacial surgery, Prevention and control, Telemedicine.

Effects of cold therapy in the treatment of mandibular angle fractures: hilotherm system vs ice bag.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of Hilotherm, a recently introduced cooling system, in controlling postoperative edema and pain and to compare the results with those obtained with conventional cryotherapy. MATERIAL OF STUDY: The investigators selected 40 patients with unilateral angle fracture of the jaw and divided them into two groups, cryotherapy with ice bag (A group), and Hilotherapy system (B Group); both groups with the same drug treatment. Facial swelling was preoperatively quantified measuring skin segments (called α, ß, γ and δ), pain and patient satisfaction were measured for each with questionnaires. RESULTS: Data analysis showed better decrease of soft tissue edema and better pain control with Hilotherapy system in post-surgical treatment. DISCUSSION: The cooling procedures described are ice packs, gel packs or cold compresses. An alternative to conventional cooling methods is Hilotherapy (HilothermGmbH, Ludwigsburg, Germany) a water-circulating cooling device that permits continuous cooling through a face polyurethane preshaped mask. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Hilotherm is the better method for patient's postoperative edema and pain management when compared to conventional cooling probably due to possibility of mean temperature control and to greater patient's compliance. KEY WORDS: Cold therapy, Cooling methods, Mandibular fractures.