Satellite Epidemic of Covid-19 Associated Mucormycosis in India: A Multi-Site Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Sudden upsurge in cases of COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) following the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was recorded in India. This study describes the clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of CAM cases, and factors associated with mortality. METHODS: Microbiologically confirmed CAM cases were enrolled from April 2021 to September 2021 from ten diverse geographical locations in India. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and entered into a web portal designed specifically for this investigation. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression were conducted using R version 4.0.2. RESULTS: A total of 336 CAM patients were enrolled; the majority were male (n = 232, 69.1%), literate (n = 261, 77.7%), and employed (n = 224, 66.7%). The commonest presenting symptoms in our cohort of patients were oro-facial and ophthalmological in nature. The median (Interquartile Range; IQR) interval between COVID diagnosis and admission due to mucormycosis was 31 (18, 47) days, whereas the median duration of symptoms of CAM before hospitalization was 10 (5, 20) days. All CAM cases received antifungal treatment, and debridement (either surgical or endoscopic or both) was carried out in the majority of them (326, 97.02%). Twenty-three (6.9%) of the enrolled CAM cases expired. The odds of death in CAM patients increased with an increase in HbA1c level (aOR: 1.34, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.72) following adjustment for age, gender, education and employment status. CONCLUSION: A longer vigil of around 4-6 weeks post-COVID-19 diagnosis is suggested for earlier diagnosis of CAM. Better glycemic control may avert mortality in admitted CAM cases.

A Study of Comparison of Outcomes of Submucous Diathermy, Coblation and Micro-debrider Assisted Inferior Turbinoplasty in Patients Having Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy.

The cause of nasal obstruction in most of the patients is either nasal septal deviation or turbinate hypertrophy owing to vasomotor or perennial allergic rhinitis. Most cases of hypertrophic turbinate are usually mild and respond to antihistamine therapy, local decongestions, or allergy desensitization; however, surgery is required in some cases. In our present study, three surgical methods were used for inferior turbinoplasty i.e. Sub-mucous Diathermy, Coblation and Micro-debrider and patients were divided randomly in these groups. The efficacy and outcomes of these methods was compared on the basis of subjective and objective relief of symptoms and their safety, recurrence and post-operative morbidity. Out of 45 patients, highest number of patients belonged to 20-40 years of age with the mean age of 28.7 years and male female ration 0.78:1. All the patients were evaluated on the basis of preoperative Endoscopic grading of inferior turbinate and SNOT22 symptom scores (Sino Nasal Outcome Test 22), intra-operative timing and bleeding and post-operative pain, crusting, SNOT22 scores (Sino Nasal Outcome Test 22) and Endoscopic grading improvement in inferior turbinate. On comparing all the above methods, we found that Coblation and Micro- debrider were more or less equally effective and better than Sub-mucous diathermy for inferior turbinoplasty. Submucous diathermy has least benefits, still most commonly used method because of its simplicity, conventionality and least cost factor while other two methods need capital investment and higher learning curve of the surgeon.

A Retrospective Study on Profile of Patients with Faciomaxilary Fractures in a Tertiary Care Center.

Maxillofacial injuries in general occur quite commonly following trauma and these injuries if not properly managed can negatively influence both the psychosocial and functional activities of the patient. This is as a result of the centrality of the facial region as a key factor in human identity, aesthetics, and general well-being. Fractures involving the facial skeleton may be isolated or complex. High velocity trauma is usually seen in urban and semi-urban areas while low velocity trauma is the common setting in rural areas. The pattern of faciomaxillary fractures vary with geographical area, socioeconomic condition, enforcements of law and order of a country. Trauma to the faciomaxillary region mandates special attention as important sensory systems are contained within the face (e.g. vision, auditory, somatic sensation, gustatory, olfaction and vestibular), also, vital structures in the head and neck region are intimately associated (airway, blood vessels, nerves and gastrointestinal tracts. It should be noted that the treatment outcome of maxillofacial fractures is mainly dependent among other things on the degree of injury, type of fracture, the expertise of the surgeon, and available technology. The aim of this study is to find out the incidence of faciomaxillary injuries resulting from various etiological factor Classification of facial bone fractures; Diagnosis and different treatment modalities. This is a prospective cross sectional study comprising of  75  patients who were having different faciomaxillary fractures and visited to L.G. hospital from December 2020 to April 2022. Patients were evaluated thoroughly by history taking, proper examination and routine investigations. In general examination consciousness, orientation to time, place and person, neck movements, and general mobility of the patients were checked. In local examination- facial oedema, facial asymmetry, skin lacerations, deep cuts, decreased mouth opening, improper teeth occlusion, teeth loss, nasal bleeding, black eye, eyeball movements and redness of eyes were checked. In specialized radiological investigations x- rays, 2D & 3D Computed Tomography (CT) of Facial bones were done in all cases. CT Brain and CT Cervical spine were done in patients if needed. From our study, it seems reasonable to assume that road traffic accident remains the leading cause of faciomaxillary fractures and is closely followed by fall especially among men in their productive years. It is necessary to diagnose faciomaxillary fracture at the earliest to prevent the complications of fractures such as infection and malocclusion, for that thorough clinical examination and radiological investigations are very important. 3D CT face is the gold standard investigation in case of different faciomaxillary fractures. In isolated fractures nasal bone fractures remains the most affected bone of the facial skeleton followed by mandible. Among the different sites of mandibular fractures body of the mandible is the most common site for mandibular fractures.

Is Routine Use of High Resolution Computerized Tomography of Temporal Bone in Patients of Atticoantral Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media without Intracranial Complications Justified?

Role of high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of temporal bone is established in cases of atticoantral chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) with intracranial complications. Routine use of HRCT in management of patients of atticoantral CSOM without intracranial complications has been an issue of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the routine use of HRCT of temporal bone in such cases. This study was a prospective study done at LG hospital, AMC MET Medical College, Ahmedabad to evaluate and compare the temporal bone findings in HRCT and intraoperative findings in 100 patients with atticoantral CSOM. All patients underwent HRCT screening followed by surgical exploration of middle ear cleft. In extent of disease HRCT showed very high sensitivity and specificity for epitympanum (100, 94%) and mesotympanum (98, 98%) areas. It gave valuable information of disease extent in hidden areas like sinus tympani and facial recess of mesotympanum. HRCT satisfactorily delineated malleus and incus erosion but had 75% sensitivity for detecting erosion of stapes suprastructure, though specificity was of 97%. For bony anatomical landmarks HRCT showed very high sensitivity and specificity for detecting erosion of lateral semicircular canal, tegmen tympani and sinus plate. Detection of facial canal erosion on HRCT had moderate sensitivity of 75%. We concluded that routine use of HRCT is justified as a reliable preoperative tool in patients with atticoantral CSOM without intracranial complications and it helps to plan type of surgical intervention. HRCT has limited role to distinguish between granulations and cholesteatoma and also to delineate stapes supra structure and facial nerve canal.