Prognostic Significance of Lymph Node Ratio in Predicting the Outcome of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma - A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: The lymph node status is a very important prognostic factor in head-and-neck cancer. The presence of metastatic lymph nodes will reduce the overall survival by 50%. Lymph node ratio (LNR) is defined as the ratio of the number of positive lymph nodes to the total number of lymph nodes dissected. The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic value of LNR in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods: Medical records of pathologically confirmed OSCC patients who reported with loco-regional recurrence from January 2017 to January 2022 were analysed. LNR and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated for each patient. The endpoint of the study was disease-free survival. Spearman's correlation was used to establish a correlation between DFS and LNR. Results: A total of 33 patients were included in the study. DFS was calculated for all the patients. LNR was calculated in patients with pathological N+ neck. There was a negative significant moderate correlation between LNR and DFS (Spearman's rho = -0.593, P < 0.001). A higher LNR value of more than 0.01 was associated with a shorter DFS period. T4 tumour stage had significantly higher LNR. A positive significant moderate correlation was found between LNR and tumour stage (Spearman's rho = 0.703, P = 0.01). As the T stage increased, the LNR ratio also increased. In the present study, tumour subsite tongue was associated with significantly higher LNR (P = 0.001). Discussion: LNR can be considered an independent prognostic parameter for DFS in OSCC patients with cervical lymph node metastasis.

Management of Frontal Bone Fracture in a Tertiary Neurosurgical Care Center-A Retrospective Study.

Objective We present our experience in the management of frontal bone fractures using the previously described radiologic classification of frontal bone fractures. Methodology A retrospective study was conducted, which reviewed the medical records and computed tomographic (CT) scan images of patients with frontal bone fracture from January 2016 to February 2019. Patients with complete medical records and a follow-up of minimum 1 year were included in the study. Demographic details, mechanism of injury, associated intracranial injuries, maxillofacial fractures, management, and complications were analyzed. CT scan images were used to classify the frontal bone fractures using the novel classification given by Garg et al (2014). The indications for surgical treatment were inner table frontal sinus fracture with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, intracranial hematoma with significant mass effect requiring surgical evacuation, and outer table comminuted fracture that is either causing nasofrontal duct obstruction or for cosmetic purpose. Results A total of 55 patients were included in the study. Road traffic accidents as the commonest cause of frontal bone fractures. The most common fracture pattern was type 1 followed by type 5 and depth B followed by depth A. Four patients presented with CSF rhinorrhea. CSF rhinorrhea was more frequent with fracture extension to the skull base (depth B, C, D), which was statistically significant ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Frontal bone fracture management has to be tailor-made for each patient based on the extent of the fracture, presence of CSF leak, and associated intracranial and maxillofacial injuries.

Comparative Assessment of Microplates with Miniplates in the Fixation of Midface Fractures: A Prospective Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the treatment outcome following fixation of midface fractures with microplates to that of miniplates. Materials and Methods: The prospective study included 30 patients with confirmed diagnosis of midface fractures (Le Fort I, II, III, ZMC fractures or combination) and who gave written informed consent. The patients were categorized into microplate (1.2 mm) group and miniplate (2.0 mm) group with 15 patients in each group using computer-generated randomization. The clinical parameters like occlusion, stability of fixation, chewing efficiency, pain, infection, paresthesia, plate exposure, palpability, aesthetic outcomes and patient's perspective were assessed on postoperative day 1, day 3, after 1 week, 1 month and after 3 months. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of occlusion, stability of fixation, chewing efficiency, pain, infection, paresthesia, plate exposure, aesthetic outcomes and patient's perspective. One patient in microplate group and five patients in miniplate group complained of plate palpability (P = 0.16), suggesting clinically significant difference but statistically no significant difference. Conclusion: Microplate osteosynthesis gives equivalent results compared to miniplate osteosynthesis, in the fixation of midface fractures in terms of stability and function and clinically superior in terms of aesthetics.

Self-Drilling Versus Self-Tapping Screws: A 3D Finite Element Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Self-tapping and self-drilling screws are two modalities available for plate fixation. When compared to self-drilling, self-tapping screws have a few drawbacks like screw loosening, thermal osteolysis, equipment dependent, and time-consuming. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of self-tapping and self-drilling screws with relation to plate retention and stability in internal fixation of mandibular fractures using 3D finite element analysis (FEA). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of screw placement technique on stress concentration and deformation occurring at the screw-bone interface in self-drilling and self-tapping screws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 3D computer-aided design modeling system was used to build a trilaminate mandibular bone, self-tapping screw and self-drilling screw, and a 2-holed miniplate with gap that were converted into finite element models using Hypermesh 13.0 software. Material properties and boundary conditions were assigned to these models. Pullout, torque, and torsional forces were applied to evaluate the stress concentration and deformation at the screw-bone interface. RESULTS: The comparison of stress concentration and deformation values between the two types of screws was interpreted using ANSYS software version 14.5. Results of torque test, pullout test, and torsional test showed maximum Von Mises stress, and deformation around the screw-bone interface was higher in self-tapping screw than in self-drilling screw. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the 3D FEA, the findings provided significant evidence to suggest that self-tapping screws have a greater incidence of fatigue when compared to self-drilling screws as there was more stress distribution and deformation at their screw-bone interface.