[Analysis of death cases in the oral emergency department].

In order to analyze the clinical characteristics of death cases in the oral emergency department of the stomatological hospital, and to improve the first aid technique before and in hospitals, we collected the clinical data of death cases in the Department of Oral Emergency in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January 2010 to January 2023 for retrospective analysis. General cha-racteristics, such as the patients' gender, age, chief complaint, maxillofacial diseases, systemic underlying diseases, rescue situation, cause of death and seasonal distribution of death were summarized. The results showed that a total of 8 death cases (5 males and 3 females) occurred during the 13-year period, ranging in age from 40 to 86 years, with a median age of 66 years. Among the 8 patients, 5 reported bleeding from oral cancer, 1 reported chest tightness and dyspnea after oral cancer surgery, 1 reported loss of consciousness after maxillofacial trauma, and 1 reported oral erosion and aphagia. All the 8 patients had one or more underlying diseases, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, renal failure, and cerebral infarction, etc. and 2 of them showed dyscrasia. Among them, the cause of death in 5 cases was respiratory and circulatory failure caused by oral cancer rupture and hemorrhage or poor surgical wound healing and hemorrhage; 1 case was uremia and hyperkalemia leading to circulatory failure; 1 case was asphyxia caused by swelling of oral floor tissue after maxillofacial trauma; and the other case was acute myocardial infarction caused circulatory failure after oral cancer surgery. According to the vital state at the time of treatment, 6 patients had loss of consciousness, respiratory and cardiac arrest before hospital, and 2 patients suffered from loss of consciousness, respiratory and cardiac arrest during treatment. All the patients received cardiopulmonary resuscitation and some advanced life support measures, and the average rescue time was 46 min. Due to the low incidence of death in the oral emergency department, medical personel have little experience in first aid. First aid training and drills and assessment should be organized regularly. First aid facilities should be always available and regularly maintained by special personnel, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor, defibrillator, simple breathing apparatus, oxygen supply system, negative pressure suction system, endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy equipment. The death cases mainly occurred in the elderly patients with oral cancer bleeding and systemic underlying diseases. Education of emergency awareness for the elderly patients with oral cancer after surgery should be enhanced. Medical staff should strengthen first aid awareness and skills.

Preoperative Nutritional Laboratory Values, Demographics, and Wound Healing Following Facial Trauma Surgery: Which Variables Predict Postoperative Complications?

In individuals who have sustained maxillofacial trauma, inadequate nutrition is often a sequela and may lead to complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between preoperative laboratory values and postoperative complications in patients with maxillofacial trauma requiring surgical intervention. A retrospective cohort study of patients with maxillofacial trauma requiring surgical repair from 2014 to 2020 was performed at a single academic Level I Trauma Center. The primary predictor variables were preoperative laboratory values including serum albumin, white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, and lymphocyte count. Complications related to surgical reconstruction of facial injuries represented the primary outcome variable. The patient cohort included 152 patients, of whom 50 (32.9%) were female. When controlling for all other variables, female gender (odds ratio=2.08, 95% confidence interval, 1.02-4.21; P =0.04) and number of procedures performed ( P =0.02) were the only statistically significant predictors of postoperative complications. There were no significant differences between the complication groups for age ( P =0.89), injury severity score ( P =0.59), hospital length of stay ( P =0.30), serum albumin ( P =0.86), hemoglobin ( P =0.06), white blood cell count ( P =0.20), absolute neutrophil count ( P =0.95), lymphocyte count ( P =0.23), or absolute neutrophil/lymphocyte count ratio ( P =0.09). In this study, it was found that only gender and the number of procedures performed significantly predicted postoperative complications, while preoperative nutritional laboratory values did not. Further study with a larger cohort of patients is likely required.

Which sports have a higher risk of maxillofacial injuries?

OBJECTIVES: Sports etiology is one of the most common causes of maxillofacial injuries. This work aimed to provide an up-to-date review of sports-related maxillofacial injuries. METHODS: An updated review was conducted on Pubmed and Google Scholar. No publication year and language restrictions were applied. Two different search strategies were performed, the first addressed which sports, generally associated with maxillofacial injuries, and the second search was conducted to determine the frequency of maxillofacial injuries associated with each sport individually. RESULTS: The first search returned 26 articles distributed across different sports, from different countries, and with varied age distribution. The second search displayed 85 articles on individual sports group. Papers were rated and categorized according by the sport associated to the reported injury. A useful sports risk scale for maxillofacial injuries has been developed. Peculiar themes from all participating sports were evaluated. The use of protective equipment and other preventive measures were highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: Some sports with ball and cycling can be considered riskier sports for maxillofacial injuries. Athlete education and the mandatory use of mouthguards, helmets, and eye protection, among other things, are crucial to prevent these injuries. Tailor-made mouthguards and protective masks, which are becoming cheaper, are in vogue. The Sports-related Maxillofacial Injuries Risk scale can be useful for athletes, athletic coaches, and maxillofacial surgeons.

The psychological sequelae of maxillofacial trauma: a scoping review of the literature.

Managing the physical sequelae of facial trauma is routine for the maxillofacial surgeon. However, managing the psychological consequences is more challenging. The often violent mechanism of injury, changes in appearance, altered self-perception, and self-confidence can significantly impact daily life. This review summarises the literature regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and facial trauma, highlighting evidence to guide clinical practice. PubMed and MEDLINE were searched for relevant keywords and MeSH headings. Articles between 2000-2022 were independently reviewed by two authors. Articles were excluded if the full text was not available in English, did not relate to facial trauma, or was not related to PTSD/psychological sequelae. A total of 211 articles were retrieved. The most common reasons for exclusion were papers not reporting psychological outcomes (n = 68) or not relating to facial trauma (n = 35). Articles were sub-categorised to enable evaluation of key themes. Categories included children and adolescents, cross sectional, longitudinal studies, and interventional studies. Whilst there were potential confounders such as socioeconomic factors, overall, patients who had experienced facial trauma (regardless of the mechanism of injury) had an increased risk of PTSD and anxiety/depression. PTSD following facial injury is increasingly recognised as an important issue. A robust evidence base is desirable to inform clinical practice and provide holistic care to often vulnerable patients. Identifying those at increased risk of negative psychological sequelae is essential. We have appraised the literature relevant to OMFS trauma clinicians.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of arterial embolization compared with traditional management on outcomes of traumatic massive facial haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial trauma accounts for ~10% of trauma presentations to most centres, with massive haemorrhage occurring in 1.2-4.5% of cases. Despite its infrequent presentation, there is significant associated morbidity and mortality. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is playing an increasingly prominent role in trauma presentations. The aim of this article was to compare outcomes of TAE with more traditional management methods for the treatment of massive facial haemorrhage following maxillofacial trauma. METHODS: A database and Google Scholar search was performed, with articles discussing massive facial haemorrhage secondary to maxillofacial trauma and its management included. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were found that met inclusion criteria, encompassing 384 patients. Statistical testing comparing mortality between TAE and non-TAE groups did not find a significant difference, with a mortality rate of 30.2% in the TAE group and 38.9% in the non-TAE group. Assessment of morbidity directly related to interventions was difficult, as many of the included participants had significant associated injuries which contributed an indeterminate degree to morbidity. There was a 10% rate of adverse events associated with TAE, most commonly puncture site haematomas and soft tissue swelling, with more significant adverse events including cerebrovascular accidents and blindness. CONCLUSION: Embolization was correlated with increased rates of haemorrhage control when compared with other interventions. Overall, despite no significant impact on mortality, embolization is recommended in the management of massive haemorrhage following maxillofacial trauma due to improved success rates at haemorrhage control and a low rate of significant adverse events.

Haemorrhage control beyond Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocol in life threatening maxillofacial trauma - experience from a level â trauma centre.

Maxillofacial injuries are usually not life-threatening and do not get priority over other associated injuries. However, some maxillofacial injuries with active oral or nasal bleeding need immediate management due to threatened airway and blood loss. In the case of major active vascular bleeding, measures such as local pressure, anterior nasal packing, posterior nasal packing, and balloon tamponade are ineffective. In these cases, angiography and transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) are used to treat life-threatening haemorrhage caused by maxillofacial trauma. We analysed the medical records of 39 patients with severe maxillofacial trauma and life-threatening haemorrhage that was a result of intractable oral or nasal bleeding. These patients were considered for TAE from January 2010 to December 2019. A total of 1668 patients was admitted, out of which 39 (2.3%) had severe maxillofacial injuries with life-threatening oral or nasal bleeding and underwent TAE. Out of a total of 39 patients, 38 were male and one female. Ages ranged from 16 to 65 years. Road traffic injury was the most common cause of injury (79.5%), Lefort I and II were the most common facial fractures, and traumatic brain injury was the most common associated injury. Embolisation and bleeding control were done successfully in all 39 patients with no procedure-related complications. A total of 17 deaths during the study period were due to severe traumatic brain injuries or haemorrhagic shock.

A rare case of pneumomediastinum after blown tire.

Subcutaneous facial emphysema is a well-known consequence of oral and maxillofacial traumatic injury. In some rare cases, the subcutaneous air collection could spread through the retropharyngeal and paralatero-cervical spaces, reaching the mediastinum. A 55-year-old man was presented to the emergency room after a blast injury caused by a blown truck tire while trying to change tires. The chest radiograph demonstrated suspected pneumomediastinum or pneumothorax. A computed tomography scan of the neck and thorax revealed widespread surgical emphysema along the thoracic wall, extending through the mediastinum. The patient was monitored in the Thoracic Surgery Department after surgery and managed with conservative methods. He had no complications on clinical follow-up following hospital discharge. The development of pneumomediastinum after oral or maxillofacial trauma is rare. Nevertheless, given the mortal complications that may develop, clinicians should keep pneumomediastinum in mind in the differential diagnosis.

The Prevalence of Blood-Borne Pathogens in Maxillofacial Trauma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Blood-borne pathogen infections (BPIs), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C and hepatitis B viruses pose an occupational hazard to healthcare workers. Facial trauma reconstruction surgeons may be at elevated risk because of routine use of sharps, and a higher than average incidence of BPIs in the trauma patient population. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed health records of patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center with a facial fracture between January 2010 and December 2015. Patient demographics, medical history, mechanism of injury, type of fracture, and procedures performed were documented. The authors detemined the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C diagnosis and utilized univariable/multivariable analyses to identify risk factors associated with infection in this population. RESULTS: In total, 4608 consecutive patients were included. Infections were found in 4.8% (n = 219) of patients (human immunodeficiency virus 1.6%, hepatitis C 3.3%, hepatitis B 0.8%). 76.3% of BPI patients in this cohort were identified by medical history, while 23.7% were diagnosed by serology following initiation of care. 39.0% of all patients received surgical treatment during initial hospitalization, of whom 4.3% had a diagnosed BPI. History of intravenous drug use (odds ratio [OR] 6.79, P < 0.001), assault-related injury (OR 1.61, P = 0.003), positive toxicology screen (OR 1.56, P = 0.004), and male gender (OR 1.53, P = 0.037) were significantly associated with a BPI diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Patients presenting with facial fractures commonly harbor a BPI. The benefit of early diagnosis and risk to surgical staff may justify routine screening for BPI in high risk facial trauma patients (male, assault-related injury, and history of intravenous drug use).

Transarterial embolization of the external carotid artery in the treatment of life-threatening haemorrhage following blunt maxillofacial trauma.

Background Severe bleeding after blunt maxillofacial trauma is a rare but life-threatening event. Non-responders to conventional treatment options with surgically inaccessible bleeding points can be treated by transarterial embolization (TAE) of the external carotid artery (ECA) or its branches. Case series on such embolizations are small; considering the relatively high incidence of maxillofacial trauma, the ECA TAE procedure has been hypothesized either underused or underreported. In addition, the literature on the ECA TAE using novel non-adhesive liquid embolization agents is remarkably scarce. Patients and methods PubMed review was performed to identify the ECA TAE literature in the context of blunt maxillofacial trauma. If available, the location of the ECA injury, the location of embolization, the chosen embolization agent, and efficacy and safety of the TAE were noted for each case. Survival prognostic factors were also reviewed. Additionally, we present an illustrative TAE case using a precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid (PHIL) to safely and effectively control a massive bleeding originating bilaterally in the ECA territories. Results and conclusions Based on a review of 205 cases, the efficacy of TAE was 79.4-100%, while the rate of major complications was about 2-4%. Successful TAE haemostasis, Glasgow Coma Scale score ≥ 8 at presentation, injury severity score ≤ 32, shock index ≤ 1.1 before TAE and ≤ 0.8 after TAE were significantly correlated with higher survival rate. PHIL allowed for fast yet punctilious application, thus saving invaluable time in life-threatening situations while simultaneously diminishing the possibility of inadvertent injection into the ECA-internal carotid artery (ICA) anastomoses.

Predictors of swallowing outcomes in patients with combat-injury related dysphagia.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic injuries, such as those from combat-related activities, can lead to complicated clinical presentations that may include dysphagia. METHODS: This retrospective observational database study captured dysphagia-related information for 215 US military service members admitted to the first stateside military treatment facility after sustaining combat-related or combat-like traumatic injuries. A multidimensional relational database was developed to document the nature, course, and management for dysphagia in this unique population and to explore variables predictive of swallowing recovery using Bayesian statistical modeling and inferential statistical methods. RESULTS: Bayesian statistical modeling revealed the importance of maxillofacial fractures and soft tissue loss as primary predictors of poor swallowing outcomes. The presence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), though common, did not further complicate dysphagia outcomes. A more detailed examination and rating of videofluoroscopic swallow studies from a subset of 161 participants supported greater impairment for participants with maxillofacial trauma and no apparent relationship between having sustained a TBI and swallow functioning. CONCLUSION: These analyses revealed that maxillofacial trauma is a stronger indicator than TBI of dysphagia severity and slower or incomplete recovery following combat-related injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management study, level IV.

Cervical Spine Injuries in Pediatric Maxillofacial Trauma: An Under-Recognized Problem.

Pediatric cervical spine injuries (CSI) are uncommon events, but can be devastating injuries. Facial fractures have been associated with injuries to the cervical spine in children, but may be deemed isolated facial fractures and bypass the standard trauma pathway. The objective of this study is to describe the mechanisms, associated injuries and outcomes of pediatric cervical spine injuries in patients with known maxillofacial trauma at a level 1 trauma center. An analysis was performed of all patients under the age of 18 with maxillofacial trauma admissions to a single level 1 trauma center, from 2006 to 2015. Patients were stratified based on the presence or absence of a cervical spine injury. Data was abstracted to include demographic, mechanism and clinical outcomes data. There were 1274 patients who were admitted with maxillofacial trauma during the study period. Of these, 72 (5.7%) experienced a cervical spine injury. Factors associated with cervical spine injuries include older age and penetrating mechanism. Cervical spine injuries were associated with concomitant traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures. Patients with spine injuries were more like to experience a longer length of stay and death. On multivariate analysis, only increased age predicted CSI. Our database demonstrated a 5.7% incidence of pediatric cervical spine injuries in patients with maxillofacial trauma. This incidence is higher than previously published reports of smaller cohorts. Clinicians must take care to stabilize the cervical spine in any patient with facial fractures, especially during work up and diagnostic maneuvers performed before spinal injuries are ruled out.

Lesiones Oro-maxilofaciales en el Servicio Médico Legal de Curicó, Chile: Estudio descriptivo / Oro-maxillofacial injuries in the Medical Legal Service of Curicó, Chile: Descriptive study

RESUMEN: Las ocurrencias de lesiones en la región oro-maxilofacial adquieren importancia debido a su complicada anatomía y fisiología, pudiendo resultar en deformidades faciales, adquiriendo interés cuando son causadas por un tercero, pudiendo traer repercusiones legales. El objetivo fue realizar un estudio transversal con el fin de estimar frecuencia y tipificación de lesiones oro-maxilofaciales que requirieron peritaje forense en el Servicio Médico Legal de Curicó, Chile. Se recopilaron datos encriptados de 79 fichas de pacientes entre 17-88 años que realizaron su constatación de lesiones en Servicio Médico Legal de Curicó, Chile, en el lapsus de un año. La frecuencia de lesiones con peritaje forense en la región oro-maxilofacial fue de un 25,82 %, provocada principalmente por mecanismo físico. En su mayoría efectuados a individuos del sexo masculino, con un rango etario de entre 20 a 40 años. La violencia interpersonal fue observada como el agente causal más frecuente de lesiones, seguida por accidentes de tránsito. Los sujetos periciados por violencia intrafamiliar, fueron en su totalidad mujeres. Las lesiones más recurrentes fueron fractura y contusión, dentro de ellas encontramos a fractura nasal como la más frecuente, seguida de herida contusa, herida por instrumento cortante, fractura maxilar y por último fractura dental. De la totalidad de las lesiones en estudio solo un tercio estuvieron confinadas exclusivamente en el territorio oro-maxilofacial.

ABSTRACT: Occurrences of lesions in the oromaxillofacial region acquire importance due to their complicated anatomy and physiology, which may result in facial deformities, acquiring interest when caused by a third party, and may have legal repercussions. The objective was to carry out a crosssectional study in order to estimate the frequency and typing of oro-maxillofacial injuries that required forensic expertise in the Legal Medical Service of Curicó, Chile. Encrypted data was collected from 79 records of patients between 17-88 years who made their findings of injuries in the Medical Legal Service of Curicó, Chile, in the lapse of one year. The frequency of injuries with forensic expertise in the oro-maxillofacial region was 25.82 %, caused mainly by physical mechanism. Mostly made to individuals of the male sex, with an age range of between 20 to 40 years. Interpersonal violence was observed as the most frequent causal agent of injuries, followed by traffic accidents. The subjects trained by intrafamily violence were all women. The most recurrent injuries were fracture and contusion, within which we found a nasal fracture as the most frequent, followed by a contusive wound, a cutting instrument wound, a maxillary fracture and finally a dental fracture. Of the totality of the lesions under study, only one third were confined exclusively in the oro-maxillofacial territory.

Retrobulbar haematoma in the era of anticoagulants.

AIM: The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the frequency and distribution of retrobulbar haematoma (RBH) among 26 patients (12 male/14 female) who had suffered maxillofacial trauma/surgery, with special focus on anticoagulants, causes of accidents, treatment, and outcome. METHODS: Patient ages ranged from 8 to 94 years, with a mean of 65 years. Among all patients, 43% had received anticoagulant therapy at admission; 92.3% had a previous history of maxillofacial trauma. RESULTS: The most frequent cause of RBH were falls (65.4%), and three patients experienced RBH postoperatively after treatment using polydioxanone foil. Postoperatively (after RBH relief), 33.3% of the patients reported persistent complete visual loss; of these patients, 29% had received anticoagulation therapy, and the oral anticoagulant intake was not documented in further 29% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Awareness of this pathologic process is crucial for preventing permanent loss of vision via early diagnosis and adequate therapy. With increasing age, patients are more likely to receive an anticoagulant, which leads to a higher risk of RBH. Because falling was the most frequent cause of RBH in our patient population and increases in frequency with increasing age, fall prevention is crucial.

Surgical Algorithm for Alveolar Bone Augmentation in Implant Dentistry.

Replacement of failing and ailing natural teeth with dental implants has become a mainstream treatment option since the discovery of osseointegration by P.-I. Brånemark in the 1960s. The techniques and the variety of methods for alveolar bone reconstruction have evolved to address a restoratively driven approach in implant dentistry. Modern 3D cone-bean computed tomography has helped with the diagnosis and treatment of bone deficiencies to idealize implant positioning. This article focuses on bone augmentation techniques, classified into horizontal and vertical ridge augmentation, and discusses block grafting, guided bone regeneration particulate grafting, distraction osteogenesis, and ridge-split expansion procedures.

Prospective analysis of mid-facial fractures in a single-center pediatric-adolescent cohort.

BACKGROUND: The complex architecture of the midface renders diagnosing and treating fractures challenging, especially for young patients who present the additional risk of suffering growth and development deficiencies, which is to be avoided at all costs. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to characterize pediatric mid-facial fractures considering the possible complications. METHODS: Between September 2008 and September 2018, data was collected on inpatients aged <18 years, treated for mid-facial fractures at the Halle University Hospital. Evaluated parameters were age, gender, cause and type of fracture, associated injuries, treatment, and complications. RESULTS: In total, 31 patients were examined; 20 were boys. The most common cause of injury was road traffic accident (41.9%). Orbital floor fracture was the most common type of injury (58.1%). In 54.8% of cases, surgery was performed. CONCLUSION: The incidence of complications associated with mid-facial fractures was low (n = 7), requiring treatment in only three cases (orthodontic, ophthalmological).

Maxillary Artery Pseudoaneurysm as a Complication of Maxillofacial Injuries: Report of three cases and literature review.

Traumatic maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm is an uncommonly reported complication in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is usually discovered incidentally, either early after trauma or weeks-to-months later. Quick recognition and prompt management are essential to avoid devastating consequences. In this paper, we report three uncommon cases of maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm recognised during the surgical management of maxillofacial injuries in Muscat, Oman. All cases presented as sudden brisk bleeding during the intraoperative surgical repair and were subsequently diagnosed and successfully managed by endovascular embolisation with platinum coils. This case report highlights the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm, in addition to a brief review of the literature.

Traumatic displacement of teeth into maxillary sinus and the retrieval assisted by computer-assisted navigation: A case report.

RATIONALE: Traumatic displacement of teeth into the maxillary sinus is rare. This report described a case of 2 molars accidentally displaced into the maxillary sinus and the retrieval of teeth assisted by computer-assisted navigation. PATIENT CONCERN: A 16-year-old male patient suffered from maxillofacial trauma with the first and second molars in the left maxilla were missing, and an orificium fistula to the maxillary sinus appeared in the dentition region of molars. DIAGNOSE: The tomography revealed 2 tooth-like hyperdensity images in the left maxillary sinus. INTERVENTION: Computer-assisted navigation surgery was scheduled for the retrieval surgery, and the displaced teeth were removed from the maxillary sinus smoothly. OUTCOMES: The patient displayed uneventful wound healing without postoperative complications in the maxillary sinus. LESSONS: Surgeons should be alert to the presence of missing teeth in maxillofacial trauma and avoid missed diagnosis, and computer-assisted navigation is recommended for the retrieval of teeth displaced into the maxillary sinus.

Ophthalmic Injuries Related to Maxillofacial Trauma Due to Urban Warfare.

: Midfacial trauma commonly causes ocular injuries of varying degrees. Eye injuries account for approximately 10% of all battle injuries. Severity of injuries may range from a subconjunctival haemorrhage to optic nerve injury and globe laceration and rupture. AIM OF STUDY: Is to evaluate the associated ophthalmic injuries in maxillofacial trauma due to war and to emphasize the need for proper ophthalmic examination to exclude and manage any associated ophthalmic injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 66 patients with maxillofacial trauma due to war were considered in this study and underwent classification of the fractures to know patterns of fractures and to specify the ophthalmic injuries which might be associated with each fracture. Referral to ophthalmologist was considered to determine the exact nature of ophthalmic injuries. Results by a maxillofacial surgeon and ophthalmologist were evaluated. RESULTS: Midfacial trauma particularly those associated with zygomatic bone fracture was highly significant due to blast and bullets can lead to serious ophthalmic injuries. This was related to 57% of ophthalmic injuries. The related ocular injuries which were subconjunctival hemorrhage and the rupture or lacerated eye globe found to be highly significant war injuries while the preretinal hemorrhage and diplopia were significant. CONCLUSION: A thorough proper ophthalmic examination should be carried out for every patient with these fractures and suspected cases should be placed under close observation so that immediate and active treatment can be taken if necessary.

Trauma maxilofacial en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Universitario "General Calixto García". 2016-2017 / Maxillofacial Trauma in the Emergency Service of General Calixto García University Hospital. 2016-2017

Introducción: La región maxilofacial es vulnerable a lesiones. En Cuba son escasos los estudios realizados sobre la atención en la urgencia dentro de la traumatología maxilofacial, por lo que surgió la motivación para realizar esta investigación. Objetivo: Caracterizar desde el punto de vista clínico-epidemiológico el trauma maxilofacial en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital General Calixto García en el período de junio 2016 a junio 2017. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal del universo de pacientes (2412 pacientes) atendidos en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Universitario General Calixto García, desde junio del 2016 a junio del 2017; que tuvieron como diagnóstico trauma maxilofacial. Las variables empleadas fueron: grupos de edad, sexo, factor etiológico, tipo de lesión, conducta terapéutica. Resultados: En el estudio los pacientes con edades comprendidas entre 19 y 30 años representaron 41,0 por ciento; el sexo masculino 69,0 por ciento y los accidentes de tránsito 34,6 por ciento. Las lesiones de tejido duro más frecuentes fueron las fracturas nasales (13,9 por ciento); y de tejidos blandos las heridas puramente tegumentarias (82,1 por ciento). La colocación de vendajes se utilizó en 89,1 por ciento, y la sutura de heridas en 84,1 por ciento. Conclusiones: El comportamiento del trauma maxilofacial en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Universitario General Calixto García, muestra que es predominante en hombres de edad intermedia y debido a accidentes de tránsito. Hay superioridad de lesiones de tejido blando y dentro de estas, de heridas puramente tegumentarias. La conducta conservadora, en su modalidad de colocación de vendaje, es la más empleada(AU)

Introduction: The maxillofacial region is vulnerable to injuries. In Cuba, few studies related to urgent care services have been carried out in maxillofacial traumatology, which led to an increase of motivation to conduct this research. Objective: To characterize maxillofacial trauma from a clinical and epidemiological point of view in patients treated in General Calixto García Hospital from June 2016 to June 2017. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with the universe of patients (2412 ones) that were treated in the Emergency Service of General Calixto García University Hospital with the diagnosis of maxillofacial trauma from June 2016 to June 2017. The variables used were: age groups, sex, etiological factor, type of injury, and therapeutic behavior. Results: In the study, the patients aged between 19 and 30 years represented 41.0 percent; the male sex 69.0 percent; and the traffic accidents 34.6 percent. The most frequent hard tissue injuries were nasal fractures (13.9 percent); and the soft tissue injuries were purely integumentary wounds (82.1 percent). Bandage placement was used in 89.1 percent, and wound suture in 84.1 percent. Conclusions: The behavior of the maxillofacial trauma in the Emergency Service of General Calixto García University Hospital, showed that it predominates in men of middle age due to traffic accidents. Soft tissue injuries were the predominant type of injuries, among them, the purely integumentary wounds. The conservative behavior in its modality of bandage placement was the most commonly used(AU)

Cervical spine fractures associated with maxillofacial trauma: A 3-year-long study in the Greek population.

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial fractures have been recognized as high risk trauma for concomitant cervical spine or spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of concomitant cervical spine fractures (CSF) in patients with maxillofacial trauma and elucidate their relationship, guiding diagnosis and pointing their implications in maxillofacial trauma repair. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analysis of 432 patients with maxillofacial fractures, treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the "KAT" General Hospital of Attica during a three-year-long period, was conducted to investigate concomitant CSF. RESULTS: 22 patients or 5.1% (14 male/8 female, mean age 39.81 years) sustained a total of 29 concomitant CSF. In 77.3% of the cases the injury mechanism was motor vehicle accidents. The most frequent levels of CSF were C6-C7 (55.17%) and C1-C2 (27.58%). Regarding the type/site of maxillofacial fractures, 5 patients (22.73%) had sustained isolated zygomatoorbital, 5 (22.73%) isolated mandibular and 12 (54.54%) combined fractures. Concomitant injuries (i.e. intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral concussion, etc) were registered in 14 patients; additional thoracic/lumbar spine fractures in 5. Hospital stay ranged from 6 to 86 days (mean 27.6 days). CONCLUSIONS: Maxillofacial surgeons should be aware of the relationship between CSF and maxillofacial fractures, having implications in their patients' treatment.