External auditory canal injuries in maxillofacial trauma - Proposal of a symptom-based treatment algorithm with a report of twelve cases.

Purpose: Injury to the external auditory canal (EAC) may occur following facial trauma. They manifest as otalgia, ear bleeding, otorrhea, facial palsy, or altered hearing. But literature regarding its management is sparse. The study aimed to identify the incidence and types of EAC injury in facial trauma, grade their severity, and propose a symptom-based treatment algorithm. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective case series involving patients with signs/symptoms of EAC injury following maxillofacial trauma. The EAC was evaluated by clinical examination, imaging, endoscopy, and audiometry. Clinical findings were graded into mild, moderate, and severe. Treatment was matched to clinical findings according to the proposed algorithm. The outcomes of the study were incidence and types of EAC injury in facial trauma and resolution of presenting signs/symptoms. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics using SPSS software (v26; IBM, Armonk, NY). Results: A total of 88 patients reported with maxillofacial trauma during a 6-month period. Signs/symptoms of EAC injury were observed in 41 patients, of which 12 (11 males and 1 female) were confirmed with a diagnosis of EAC injuries. Eight patients demonstrated only cartilaginous injuries while three had bony injuries. Treatment was successful in 11 out of 12 patients, with a best point estimate of 0.86 (Z score-1.959, 95% CI). Conclusion: Clinical findings of EAC injury mandate thorough investigation to ascertain the site and severity of the injury. Symptom-based treatment of EAC injuries produces an effective resolution of signs/symptoms and improved treatment outcomes.

A Rare Case of Osteomyelitis Presenting as Cyst-Like Lesion in the Coronoid Process: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Cyst-like lesion in the coronoid process of the mandible is a challenging diagnosis to make, as it may present with a range of non-specific symptoms. A middle-aged woman reported a one-year history of non-bloody, pus discharge from the right angle of the mandible. There was a history of prior surgery comprising teeth removal two years ago for a painful swelling on the right side of her face, following which her symptoms regressed but in the due course, she developed a chronic sinus with draining abscess. Radiographic findings, in combination with clinical symptoms, are critical in the diagnosis and evaluation of cysts and cyst-like lesions of the jaws. The orthopantomograph (OPG) revealed a cyst-like lesion in the coronoid process of the mandible with an extra-oral sinus tract leading to the epicenter of the cyst-like radiolucency, and so this, in combination with the patient's atypical symptoms, presented a diagnostic challenge. This case report explores the events which led to the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and shows several unique learning points.

Inferior Repositioning of Coronoid Process for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Subluxation/Dislocation.

Subluxation/dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is characterized by transient locking of the jaw following wide mouth opening. The etiology of the condition is multifactorial relating to hard-tissue or soft-tissue components of the joint. Myriad treatment procedures have been described in the literature, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We present a new intraoral technique of coronoid repositioning for the treatment of TMJ subluxation/dislocation.