Training Australian military health care personnel in the primary care of maxillofacial wounds from improvised explosive devices.

Severe facial wounds frequently result from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as the face is still vulnerable despite advances in personal protection of soldiers. In contrast to the poor outcomes with civilian maxillofacial trauma management methods initially employed by the US Army for maxillofacial wounds from IEDs, advances in wound management methods for such injuries by the US Army have resulted in significant improvements in appearance and function. This article describes the features of a short course in the primary management of combat related maxillofacial wounds for deployed health care personnel who may not be facial specialists, including contemporary treatment techniques for those confronting wounds from IEDs which are explained in this course.

A new mandibulotomy technique for the dentate patient.

Past mandibulotomy techniques, useful for surgical access to pathology of the head and neck, are complicated by postoperative malocclusion when performed on dentate patients. Malocclusion results from closure of the gap created by the saw blade during reconstruction. A new method of mandibulotomy bicortically splits the symphysis using an osteotome, with modifications to spare healthy dentition. The bicortical split osteotomy allows the hemimandibular segments to be approximated, accurately aligned, and rigidly fixed with three bone screws and a dental arch bar.

Application of the MAST Immunodiagnostic System to the determination of allergen-specific IgE.

The MAST Immunodiagnostic Test System was developed to provide a comprehensive, simple means for the in vitro measurement of multiple antigens or antibodies. The first commercial application of the MAST system incorporates several novel features for cost-effective diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy in a clinical laboratory or a physician's office. The basis of the MAST system is a unique analytical test chamber, which contains cellulose thread as the solid-phase matrix and allows multiple test results from a single assay. This test chamber incorporates both positive and negative controls and requires no volume-dependent pipetting steps. Immunographic exposure onto high-speed Polaroid instant film allows for quantifying results with an automatic recording infrared-transmittance densitometer. Test results are easily interpreted by using a patient test record provided with the system. The MAST system greatly simplifies testing for allergen-specific IgE, while retaining specificity and sensitivity. Currently, with the MAST system one can simultaneously measure picomoles of allergen-specific IgE in up to 35 different allergen classes. In addition to allergy testing, the MAST technology is applicable to other immunodiagnostic profiles.