New Perspectives in Third Molar Auto-Transplantation: Literature Review and a Case Report of Clinical, Financial and Forensic Implications.

Third molar extraction is the most common procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Third molars are considered less functional than other teeth and are often extracted. Sometimes, they are also used for auto-transplantation for the benefit of oral rehabilitation. Since many biological factors are involved in this surgical approach, herein, we outline a review of the biological characteristics of medico-legal/forensic interest, in addition to presenting a successful clinical case. A scoping review of currently available research data (following the principles of PRISMA-ScR or the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) on third molar auto-transplantation was conducted by drawing upon the main databases (Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and LILACS) to evaluate biological and clinical characteristics possibly relatable to forensic issues. All the collected data were summarized and elaborated on for the purpose of this article. A patient underwent extraction of the right upper first molar and auto-transplantation of the unerupted ipsilateral third molar. Many biologic and clinical factors are involved in the success of this clinical procedure. Knowledge of third molar anatomy, of its development and viable surgical approaches are all essential elements; just as important are the treatment of the tooth before and after transplantation and the integrity of the periodontal ligament. Follow-up of the clinical case for 5 years made it possible to verify the stability of the procedure over time. Third molar auto-transplantation is feasible and cost-effective. However, the use of third molars as donor teeth in auto-transplantation may have medico-legal implications. The lack of official protocols and consistent evidence-based guidelines for operators still prevent such a procedure from becoming mainstream; therefore, it is viewed with suspicion by clinicians and patients, even though the biological factors herein detected point to a reasonably high degree of safety. The understanding of many specific biological and clinical factors involved in the stability of third molar auto-transplantation allows for a thorough understanding of the forensic implications relevant to clinical practice. Effective communication and information provision are therefore of utmost importance, in the interest of both patients and doctors.

Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis and Metastasis Within the Same Site of the Jaw.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a well known complication in patients treated with bisphosphonates (BPs) for skeletal metastasis and multiple myeloma (MM). Few oncologic patients under treatment with BPs and with ONJ and metastasis or MM at the same site of the jaw have been described. We report here on a 54-year old white female who was treated with intra-venous zoledronic acid for skeletal metastasis of breast cancer who developed ONJ. Because of a fracture at the site of ONJ, resection of the affected segment was performed. Although metastasis was not suspected by pre-operative image analysis, histological examination revealed syncronous osteonecrosis and breast cancer metastasis in the resected mandibular segment. This case highlights that, in oncologic patients treated with BPs, ONJ may hide malignancy and that histology is the unique tool by which the diagnosis of either osteonecrosis or malignancy or both can be made definitely.

Disseminated necrotic mediastinitis spread from odontogenic abscess: our experience.

AIMS: Deep neck infections are rare but potentially fatal complication of pulpal abscess of the teeth. If an infection can progress rapidly from a toothache to a life threatening infection, then it is critical that dentists be able to recognize the danger signs and identify the patients who are at risk. Mediastinitis is a severe inflammatory process involving the connective tissues that fills the intracellular spaces and surrounds the organs in the middle of the chest. This pathology has both an acute and a chronic form and, in most cases, it has an infectious etiology. This study want to expose the experience acquired in the Oral and Maxillo-facial Sciences Department, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, regarding two clinical cases of disseminated necrotizing mediastinitis starting from an odontogenic abscess. METHODS: We report two clinical cases of disseminated necrotic mediastinitis with two different medical and surgical approaches. The radiographic and photographic documentation of the patients was collected in the pre-and post-operatively. All patients underwent a CT scan and MRI. RESULTS: Mediastinitis can result from a serious odontogenic abscess, and the extent of its inflammation process must be never underestimated. Dental surgeons play a key role as a correct diagnosis can prevent further increasing of the inflammation process. CONCLUSIONS: A late diagnosis and an inadequate draining represent the major causes of the elevated mortality rate of disseminated necrotizing mediastinitis.

Up to a quarter of patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with antiresorptive agents remain undiagnosed.

Recent data suggest that the traditional definition of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) may exclude patients who present with the non-exposed variant of the condition. To test the hypothesis that a proportion of patients with ONJ remain undiagnosed because their symptoms do not conform to the traditional case definition, we did a secondary analysis of data from MISSION (Multicentre study on phenotype, definition and classification of osteonecrosis of the jaws associated with bisphosphonates), a cross-sectional study of a large population of patients with bisphosphonate-associated ONJ who were recruited in 13 European centres. Patients with exposed and non-exposed ONJ were included. The main aim was to quantify the proportion of those who, according to the traditional case definition, would not be diagnosed with ONJ because they had no exposed necrotic bone. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, median regression, and Fisher's exact test. A total of 886 consecutive patients were recruited and 799 were studied after data cleaning (removal or correction of inaccurate data). Of these, 607 (76%) were diagnosed according to the traditional definition. Diagnosis in the remaining 192 (24%) could not be adjudicated, as they had several abnormal features relating to the jaws but no visible necrotic bone. The groups were similar for most of the phenotypic variables tested. To our knowledge this is the first study in a large population that shows that use of the traditional definition may result in one quarter of patients remaining undiagnosed. Those not considered to have ONJ had the non-exposed variant. These findings show the importance of adding this description to the traditional case definition.

Management and treatment of sinonasal inverted papilloma.

AIMS: The aim of this paper is to describe the surgical experience of 35 patients with Inverted Papilloma (IP) of paranasal sinuses and its recurrence rate after a year of follow-up. MATERIALS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients presenting with IP of paranasal sinuses. Thirty-five patients comprised the focus of this study. For all patients was performed a pre-surgery TC, and for more 5 patients it was necessary to perform a Magnetic Resonance (MR) with gadolinium. RESULTS: Among 35 patients selected, 18 patients underwent to open surgery, 4 patients had a combined approach with endoscopy and open surgery, while 13 patients were managed only with an endoscopic approach, with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. Our results highlighted that the global percentage of success 12 months after the treatment was 93% and it not vary according to the tipology of the approach used if a radical excision of the lesion is achieved. More in depth, among 35 cases, only 2 patients were found to have recurrences and were treated with coronal and endoscopic approach. CONCLUSION: It is fundamental to underline that surgery must be carried on in a radical manner to treat these tend to recur. A complete removal of the lesion and bone peripheral border filing are essential to perform a correct and definitive treatment. Also, endoscopic approach can be taken into account when tumors are localized median to a sagittal plan crossing the orbit median wall and when they did not massively compromised paranasal sinus walls.

Aesthetic restoration in maxillo-mandibular malformations: the role of genioplasty.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determinate how orthognatic surgery aids to cure many skull and face abnormalities and to help re-establishing the correct occlusive relation thanks to the repositioning of the maxillo-mandibular skeleton basis. METHODS: The study included 183 male patients and 338 female patients, with an average age of 23 years. The sample series was divided according to specific pathologies. All patients underwent surgical procedures and the therapeutic strategy was determined based on the anomalies presented. RESULTS: 113 patients had a II class dental skeletal occlusion, 180 patients had a III class dental-skeletal occlusion and 222 patients had skull-facial abnormalities. 5 patients underwent only a genioplasty, 82 patients underwent a genioplasty associated with BSSO, 175 patients underwent a genioplasty associated with Le Fort I osteotomy and the remaining 253 patients underwent a genioplasty associated with BSSO and Le Fort I osteotomy. CONCLUSION: The experience shows that genioplasty has been successfully introduced in orthognathic surgical therapeutic procedures, for dental-skeleton abnormalities and mandibular asymmetries treatment. In recent years, the evolution of computer systems has allowed an accurate assessment and programming, by means of the three-dimensional display, which are of great help in the course of diagnosis and evaluation of the displacements to be carried out, in order to obtain optimal aesthetic results.

Open reduction and internal fixation of extracapsular mandibular condyle fractures: a long-term clinical and radiological follow-up of 25 patients.

BACKGROUND: During the last 2 decades, many studies on the treatment of mandibular condyle fracture have been published. The incidence of mandibular condyle fractures is variable, ranging from 17.5% to 52% of all mandibular fractures. This retrospective study evaluated the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes after surgical treatment of 25 patients with a total of 26 extracapsular condyle fractures. METHODS: We used 2 types of surgical approaches, the retromandibular retroparotid or preauricular approach. Three kinds of rigid internal fixation plates were used-single plate, double plate, and trapezoidal plate. The following post-operative clinical parameters were evaluated: dental occlusion, facial nerve functionality, skin scarring, and temporomandibular joint functionality. All patients underwent post-operative orthopanoramic radiography and computed tomography. The patients were also monitored for complications such as Frey's syndrome, infection, salivary fistula, plate fracture, and permanent paralysis of the facial nerve; the patient's satisfaction was also recorded. RESULTS: Of the 25 patients, 80% showed occlusion recovery, 88% had no facial nerve injury, and 88% presented good surgical skin scarring. The patients showed early complete recovery of temporomandibular joint functionality and 72% of them were found to be asymptomatic. The postoperative radiographs of all patients indicated good recovery of the anatomical condylar region, and 80% of them had no postoperative complications. The average degree of patient satisfaction was 8.32 out of 10. Our results confirm that the technique of open reduction and internal fixation in association with postoperative functional rehabilitation therapy should be considered for treating patients with extracapsular condylar fractures. CONCLUSION: The topic of condylar injury has generated more discussion and controversy than any other topic in the field of maxillofacial trauma. We confirm that open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice for patients with neck and sub-condylar mandibular fractures.

Bisphosphonate therapy and osteonecrosis of the jaw complicated with a temporal abscess in an elderly woman with rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an adverse drug reaction described as the progressive destruction and death of bone tissue of the mandible or maxilla, in the course of bisphosphonate therapy. Orally administered bisphosphonates, widely used for the treatment of osteoporosis, are rarely associated with BRONJ. Instead, the risk greatly increases whether the patient is concomitantly taking steroid and/or immunosuppressant agents. The aims of this paper are to briefly discuss the evidence of the associations between bisphosphonate therapy and BRONJ, and the effects of co-occurring factors such as the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, dental surgery, and concomitant corticosteroid therapy. In particular, we present the case of an elderly woman with BRONJ suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, with a recent dental extraction and with a very unusual complication: a temporal abscess, who was successfully treated.

Staging of osteonecrosis of the jaw requires computed tomography for accurate definition of the extent of bony disease.

Management of osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with antiresorptive agents is challenging, and outcomes are unpredictable. The severity of disease is the main guide to management, and can help to predict prognosis. Most available staging systems for osteonecrosis, including the widely-used American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) system, classify severity on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings. However, clinical inspection and radiography are limited in their ability to identify the extent of necrotic bone disease compared with computed tomography (CT). We have organised a large multicentre retrospective study (known as MISSION) to investigate the agreement between the AAOMS staging system and the extent of osteonecrosis of the jaw (focal compared with diffuse involvement of bone) as detected on CT. We studied 799 patients with detailed clinical phenotyping who had CT images taken. Features of diffuse bone disease were identified on CT within all AAOMS stages (20%, 8%, 48%, and 24% of patients in stages 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Of the patients classified as stage 0, 110/192 (57%) had diffuse disease on CT, and about 1 in 3 with CT evidence of diffuse bone disease was misclassified by the AAOMS system as having stages 0 and 1 osteonecrosis. In addition, more than a third of patients with AAOMS stage 2 (142/405, 35%) had focal bone disease on CT. We conclude that the AAOMS staging system does not correctly identify the extent of bony disease in patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Variation of the upper airways in pediatric patients with OSAS and retrusion of the midface.

In pediatric patients, the incidence of Sleep-Disorder breathing (SDB) is 2% for OSAS and 7-8% for snoring. Snoring, sleep apnea and the development of neurocognitive and behavioral disorders represent the main symptoms. In these children, snoring is noisy and is present for the greater part of sleep. Accurate diagnosis and treatment protocol is critical for a child with OSAS as it is associated to complications as: pulmonary hypertension, chronic pulmonary heart disease, low height-weight development, behavioral problems, reduced school performance, bedwetting and daytime sleepiness or irritability. For this reason, over the years different surgical techniques were developed to solve the clinical symptoms evident on the polysomnographic test. In this paper, the authors report the experience at the Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, in the treatment of pediatric patients with OSAS and midface retrusion.

Atypical localization and atypical magnetic resonance imaging findings of a paraganglioma at the mouth mucosa.

We present a case of a paraganglioma located at the cheek. The benign nature of the lesion was certainly suggested by the patient's anamnesis, ecotomography, and needle biopsy; nevertheless, before the excision, the surgeon requested magnetic resonance imaging with contrast stain only to better evaluate the relationship between the lesion and the surrounding structures and not to have a precise diagnosis.Under magnetic resonance examination by using T1, T2, and T1 before and after contrast sequences, it showed an aspect different from the conventionally described features for this kind of lesion. After excision, the mass showed a yellowish color and a liquid content. Histologic examination described it as having the features of a glomus tumor.

Ozone therapy in extractive surgery on patients treated with bisphosphonates.

It is certain that oral extractive surgery is a remarkable trigger to avascular osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients treated with pyrophosphate analogous. This acquisition limits the use of endo-oral surgery in those patients, even when they have already developed the lesions. In this study, we present the results obtained in a group of 15 patients deriving from a 33-patient cluster with osteonecrosis of the jaw in treatment at our department with a new protocol based on ozone therapy. The object of this article is to demonstrate how dental extraction becomes possible in a patient with avascular bisphosphonate-related jaw osteonecrosis or in those who simply received pyrophosphate analogous when proper treatment with ozone therapy has been done.

Role of ozone therapy in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaws in multiple myeloma patients.

Current treatments for bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in multiple myeloma patients have limited efficacy. The biological effects of ozone indicate it may be therapeutic for ONJ. We, here, report the efficacy of a 15-day course of antibiotics, surgery and ozone therapy in 12 MM patients with ONJ.

New therapeutic protocol in the treatment of avascular necrosis of the jaws.

Osteonecrosis of the jaws is being increasingly reported in patients with bone metastasis from a variety of solid tumors and disseminated multiple myeloma receiving intravenous bisphosphonates. Agreement exists that these drugs can initiate vascular endothelial cell damage and accelerate disturbances in the microcirculation of the jaws, possibly resulting in thrombosis of nutrient-end arteries. The role of bisphosphonates in cancer patients with previously treated jaws has yet to be elucidated. The signs and symptoms that may occur before the appearance of evident osteonecrosis include changes in the health of periodontal tissues, nonhealing mucosal ulcers, loose teeth and unexplained soft tissue infection. A series of 30 periodontally involved patients showing osteonecrosis of the jaws that appeared following the intravenous use of bisphosphonates is reported. Clinical management of the avascular necrosis of the jaws in patients treated with bisphosphonates presents several problems. An analysis of the international medical literature shows that surgical treatment of the necrotic jaws in patients treated with bisphosphonates has proven to be ineffective in stopping the pathological process. The use of hyperbaric oxygen and antibiotics are not effective, either. The authors have developed a new protocol for the management of these lesions. Compared with other therapeutic choices, this protocol has introduced the use of ozone therapy as therapeutic support.

Complex-type penetrating injuries of craniomaxillofacial region.

Craniofacial traumas are one of the most common clinical events of the 21st century. The possibility of associated injuries of the head and neck may also determine functional and cosmetic problems in these patients. The most frequent pathologic conditions observed are contusions, lacerations, abrasions, avulsions, and the inclusion of foreign bodies. In particular, penetrating injuries represent a rare but complex variety of craniofacial trauma. Generally, the penetrating material is stiff enough to cross through different anatomic structures during a particularly violent collision caused by a road or work accident or during an attack. The therapeutic strategy adopted for this type of patient depends mainly on diagnostic procedures such as skull radiograms in different projections, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and, occasionally, echotomography. However, on arrival at the emergency department, the clinical conditions of the patient will determine the type of investigation to be carried out. Last, to prevent any postoperative infections, wide spectrum antibiotic therapy is advisable. Ideally, imaging should be repeated postoperatively to confirm resolution of the initial clinical condition. In this article, the authors describe three unusual clinical cases of patients with penetrating injuries of the head and face together with the protocol adopted for treatment of such complex craniofacial injuries. The three cases described demonstrate that, despite the initial appearance of penetrating wounds, a correct diagnostic assessment followed by a suitable therapeutic protocol can reduce cosmetic and functional defects to a minimum.

LeFort III advancement with and without osteogenesis distraction.

The LeFort III osteotomy is the surgical treatment performed in patients with mid-facial retrusions in craniofacial dysostoses such as Crouzon, Apert, Pfeiffer syndromes, etc. The first authors to report the accomplishment of this osteotomy were Gillies and Harrison in 1951, this technique was then resumed and improved by Tessier in 1967, who made five different variants mainly regarding the typology of the osteotomy concerning the lateral wall of the orbit. Recently, distraction techniques have been applied to the upper mid-face which foresees a gradual advancement of the mid-face through the osteogenetic distraction procedure. The purpose of this retrospective clinical outcome study is to evaluate and compare the two different surgical techniques through the experience acquired during the treatment of 15 cases of craniofacial dysostoses from 1990-2005, and through international literature. The standard surgery technique was performed in 5 of these patients, whereas the osteogenetic distraction technique was performed in the remaining 10. All patients were studied preoperatively through the acquisition of photographic images, cephalometric analysis of the skull, and the study on plaster models of the occlusion of the dental arches. The instrumental exams required before surgery are the following: telecranium X-rays in two projections, orthopanoramic X-rays, CT. The results of this study indicate that the osteodistraction technique represents the choice treatment in severe retrusions of the mid-face while the traditional surgical technique remains indicated in adult patients that are in need of moderate advancements.

Hypophosphaturic mesenchymal tumor of the ethmoid associated with oncogenic osteomalacia.

Oncogenic osteomalacia is an uncommon syndrome characterized by bone pain, proximal muscle weakness, hypophosphatemia, hyperphosphaturia, and a low plasma concentration of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D. The disease affects both sexes at around 40 years of age, although it can sometimes affect children and adolescents. Generally, the syndrome is associated with a tumor, usually benign, of mesenchymal origin and is resolved after removal of the tumor; this syndrome can sometimes be associated with malignant tumors. These tumors seem to be histologically heterogeneous and are generally localized in soft tissues and bone. In this article, a case of oncogenic osteomalacia associated with a hypophosphaturic mesenchymal tumor of the ethmoid is reported in a 24-year-old man. After surgical and radical removal of the tumor, the patient noted a decrease in the clinical symptoms and signs.

Combined surgical therapy of temporomandibular joint ankylosis and secondary deformity using intraoral distraction.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a pathological process caused by damage of the mandibular condyle. When this event takes place in subjects during the developmental age, it results in an alteration of the entire maxillofacial complex. Therefore, surgical methods able to remove the temporomandibular ankylosis also include necessary operations to correct the secondary maxillofacial deformity. The distraction osteogenesis has induced our center to modify the surgical protocol for the therapy of patients who have developed TMJ ankylosis and secondary maxillomandibular deformity. We have treated four patients with monolateral ankylosis of the TMJ and serious deformities of the maxillomandibular complex secondary to functional limitation. During the same operation, arthroplasty was performed with the removal of the ankylotic block and the interposition of a temporal muscle flap in the new articular space; an intraoral osteodistractor was also positioned to lengthen the mandible. All patients showed recovery of the eurhythmy of the face and good re-establishment of the symmetry. An average 12-month follow-up showed the average opening of the mouth to be at least 35 mm. The combination of TMJ arthroplasty and intraoral osteodistraction provides good functional and aesthetic results in patients affected by ankylosis who have developed secondary maxillofacial deformities.