Does the Treatment Approach for Mandibular Condyle Fractures Impact Self-Perceived Quality of Life?

PURPOSE: There is no consensus in mandibular condylar fracture/s treatment. In medicine, quality of life (QOL) includes the individual's satisfaction toward their own health condition, disease, or treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate self-perception QOL outcomes for patients who sustained mandibular condylar fracture/s. METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed patients at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia from November 2016 to June 2020. The study included patients who were at least 16 years old at the time of injury, diagnosed with mandibular condylar fracture/s, treated by close reduction or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), presented for 6-months post-operative follow-up, and had a valid phone number. The primary predictor variable was treatment approach. The primary outcome variable was mood. Covariates were demographics, injury details, and self-perception QOL questionnaire. Univariate, bivariate, and ordinal regression analysis were performed (P < .05 significance). RESULTS: A total of 108 patients met inclusion criteria. Response rate was 84.2%. Our data showed that patients who underwent ORIF treatment were statistically more likely to experience no or milder pain when chewing (tau = 0.390, P = .002), to not require pain medications (tau = 0.389, P = .002), to report larger maximum mouth opening (tau = 0.402, P = .0003), and to report better QOL (tau = 0.440, P = 7.407e-05). Ordinal regression analysis showed that patients who had undergone ORIF treatment were positively associated with better mood (estimate: -0.062; OR: 0.54; P = .29) and statistically significant associated with excellent QOL (estimate: -2; OR: 0.13; P = 3.99e-05). Patients who sustained class III Lindahl mandibular condyle fracture were statistically significantly associated with depressed mood (estimate: 1.46; OR: 4.33; P = .002). CONCLUSION: ORIF treatment was positively associated with better QOL when compared to closed reduction for mandibular condyle fracture.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lip Infections.

PURPOSE: Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, cocci bacterium that naturally colonizes the skin. S aureus can cause a mild to severe infection depending on the location, depth of invasion, and immune status. Guidelines regarding treatment of patients with lip infections are scant. The purpose of this study was to present the diagnosis, management, and outcome of a cohort of patients with lip infections caused by S aureus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with a lip infection caused by S aureus treated by Emory Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service (Atlanta, GA). Predictor variables were patient demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, imaging characteristics, intervention, and length of stay. The outcome variable was infection resolution or persistence. Data were collected using a standardized collection form. Descriptive statistics were computed. RESULTS: Seven patients (mean age, 38 years) with lip swelling met the inclusion criteria. The patients did not undergo recent hospitalization and/or recent surgery. Patients had immunodeficiency virus or other medical comorbidities. Radiographic findings were consistent with abscess formation. Management consisted of antibiotics only or surgical intervention with antibiotics. Lip cultures showed S aureus with methicillin-sensitive or -resistant S aureus. Treatment was intravenous followed by oral antibiotics. The average length of inpatient stay was 4 days. There were no postoperative complications. All lip infections achieved complete clinical resolution. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, treatment of lip swelling caused by S aureus required surgical intervention and/or antibiotics. Immune compromise and antibiotic resistance should be considered in a patient with a similar presentation.

Management of Post-Traumatic Maxillofacial Pseudoaneurysms: Review of the Literature and Suggested Algorithm.

A pseudoaneurysm (PA) is a collection of blood caused by an incomplete tear in the vessel wall. PA can be arterial or venous in origin. In the maxillofacial region, arterial PA can result from surgical interventions. Venous PAs in the maxillofacial region have never been described. A standardized protocol for management of post-traumatic PAs in the maxillofacial region would help clinicians make treatment decisions. On the basis of the available literature and our institutional experience, we present an algorithm for management of post-traumatic maxillofacial PAs. We also present patients from our institution who illustrate some of the management options in the algorithm.

Assaying hematopoiesis using zebrafish.

The zebrafish has become a commonly used model for studying hematopoiesis as a result of its unique attributes. Zebrafish are highly suitable for large-scale genetic and chemical screens compared to other vertebrate systems. It is now possible to analyze hematopoietic lineages in zebrafish and validate cell function via transplantation assays. Here, we review advancements over the past decade in forward genetic screens, chemical screens, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and transplantation assays. Integrating these approaches enables new chemical and genetic screens that assay cell function within the hematopoietic system. Studies in zebrafish will continue to contribute and expand our knowledge about hematopoiesis, and develop novel treatments for clinical applications.

Changing Dynamics of Accreditation in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation is responsible for accrediting postgraduate dental education programs, including residencies and fellowships using a well-delineated process that includes an annual survey of various aspects of the program related to the Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a program self-study and site visit with a review by the Specialty Education Review Committee of the Commission and the Commission on a 5-year cycle. The primary goal of the accreditation process is to assure the public, the profession, and the institution that the program is in compliance with the published standards.

Angiopoietin-like proteins stimulate HSPC development through interaction with notch receptor signaling.

Angiopoietin-like proteins (angptls) are capable of ex vivo expansion of mouse and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Despite this intriguing ability, their mechanism is unknown. In this study, we show that angptl2 overexpression is sufficient to expand definitive HSPCs in zebrafish embryos. Angptl1/2 are required for definitive hematopoiesis and vascular specification of the hemogenic endothelium. The loss-of-function phenotype is reminiscent of the notch mutant mindbomb (mib), and a strong genetic interaction occurs between angptls and notch. Overexpressing angptl2 rescues mib while overexpressing notch rescues angptl1/2 morphants. Gene expression studies in ANGPTL2-stimulated CD34(+) cells showed a strong MYC activation signature and myc overexpression in angptl1/2 morphants or mib restored HSPCs formation. ANGPTL2 can increase NOTCH activation in cultured cells and ANGPTL receptor interacted with NOTCH to regulate NOTCH cleavage. Together our data provide insight to the angptl-mediated notch activation through receptor interaction and subsequent activation of myc targets.