Lessons learned in oral and maxillofacial surgery from British military deployments in Afghanistan.

This article describes the combined lessons learned from two deployments of a cadre of British Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons to Kandahar between July 2006 to April 2007, and September 2008 to April 2009.

Five months of surgery in the multinational field hospital in Afghanistan with an emphasis on oral and maxillofacial injuries.

The aim of this review was to assess the workload of theatres in the role 3 Multinational Field Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan and to identify what period of day most emergency admissions arrived. During the period 05 August 2006 to 21 December 2006, 288 operations were performed on 259 patients and comprised 393 individually quantifiable procedures. 98% of these operations were to treat acute injuries. Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons were involved in 24% of operations. 63% of procedures done at these operations involved upper or lower limbs, 19% the head and neck and 18% involved the torso. An analysis of emergency admissions in November 2006 showed that most occurred between 18.00 and midnight. Although theatre timetabling made provision for this, whenever possible, elective surgery was scheduled for the following morning when emergency injury admissions were at their lowest.

Use of a Therabite appliance in the management of bilateral mandibular coronoid hyperplasia.

Persistent restriction of mouth opening after coronoidectomy to treat bilateral coronoid hyperplasia, may be the result of soft tissue fibrosis. We present the use of a mouth-opening appliance that helps to overcome this problem and improves long-term results.

Use of mini-implants in orthognathic surgery.

We report a case in which mini-implants were used for intraoperative maxillomandibular fixation and for postoperative elastic traction in the treatment of a 20-year-old woman with mandibular prognathism.

Are soldiers at increased risk of third molar symptoms when on operational tour in Iraq? A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Pain associated with third molar (wisdom) teeth is a common cause of morbidity for soldiers in the United Kingdom and on operational deployments. This study compared the incidence of third molar symptoms between soldiers serving in Iraq and soldiers stationed in barracks in Northern Ireland and assessed if pre-deployment screening could be improved. METHOD: Data was collected in a prospective cohort study over five consecutive months. Dental officers recorded each time an Army soldier presented with third molar related symptoms. RESULTS: 1% of soldiers in Iraq had third molar related symptoms in this time compared to 1.4% of those stationed in Northern Ireland. The range of pathologies and teeth affected were similar between locations. In both locations approximately 40% of teeth that caused problems had been symptomatic before and 13 -16% had untreated decay. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that soldiers experience a lower incidence of symptoms related to third molars when in Iraq compared to Northern Ireland (P < 0.033) possibly due to pre-deployment treatment. If ideal pre-deployment screening of third molars was carried out and National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines applied 38% of the Operation Telic group of patient's problems could have been prevented.

Optimising ballistic facial coverage from military fragmenting munitions: a consensus statement.

VIRTUS is the first United Kingdom (UK) military personal armour system to provide components that are capable of protecting the whole face from low velocity ballistic projectiles. Protection is modular, using a helmet worn with ballistic eyewear, a visor, and a mandibular guard. When all four components are worn together the face is completely covered, but the heat, discomfort, and weight may not be optimal in all types of combat. We organized a Delphi consensus group analysis with 29 military consultant surgeons from the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to identify a potential hierarchy of functional facial units in order of importance that require protection. We identified the causes of those facial injuries that are hardest to reconstruct, and the most effective combinations of facial protection. Protection is required from both penetrating projectiles and burns. There was strong consensus that blunt injury to the facial skeleton was currently not a military priority. Functional units that should be prioritised are eyes and eyelids, followed consecutively by the nose, lips, and ears. Twenty-nine respondents felt that the visor was more important than the mandibular guard if only one piece was to be worn. Essential cover of the brain and eyes is achieved from all directions using a combination of helmet and visor. Nasal cover currently requires the mandibular guard unless the visor can be modified to cover it as well. Any such prototype would need extensive ergonomics and assessment of integration, as any changes would have to be acceptable to the people who wear them in the long term.

Results of the centralisation of adult emergency oral and maxillofacial surgical services at the University Hospital, Birmingham.

In 2001, the oral and maxillofacial surgical (OMFS) services for adults in Birmingham were centralised at the Selly Oak site of the University Hospital and the OMFS department was given access to the emergency operating theatre every day. We examined the effects of this on the emergency workload during the 6 months after centralisation and compared it with the emergency workload at the University Hospital during the 6 months before centralisation. The number of adult patients who attended the University Hospital as emergencies increased from 242 in the 6 months before centralisation to 545 in the subsequent 6 months (an increase of 127%). Of the latter 164 (30%) were admitted and operated on, 138 (84%) within 24h of admission. Despite the large increase in the number of patients, 102 (74%) were operated on during normal working hours. After centralisation, all operations were done on multidisciplinary emergency lists compared with only 55% before centralisation. Centralisation did not reduce the access of patients to the emergency service and conformed with the guidelines of the National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths (NCEPOD).

Case report: computed tomography in the investigation of bilateral mandibular coronoid hyperplasia.

Bilateral mandibular coronoid hyperplasia is characterized by restricted mouth opening due to impingement of the coronoid processes on the zygomatic arches. The condition is unfamiliar to many clinicians and may be significantly under-reported. The presented case highlights the benefits of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis and surgical evaluation of this disorder.

The CRABEL score--setting standards in maxillofacial medical note-keeping.

The CRABEL score (developed by Crawford, Beresford and Lafferty) was introduced for auditing medical note-keeping at Morriston Hospital in June 2001. Guidelines detailing the scoring system were issued to all clinicians in the maxillofacial unit. An auditor selected two sets of medical notes from each consultant's firm, giving an initial allocation of 100points/firm (50 points for each set of notes). The notes of the most recent in-patient admission were analysed using the CRABEL marking sheet to give a score out of 100 for each firm. The audit was repeated at 3-month-intervals. CRABEL scores within the maxillofacial unit improved from 70 to 97. The CRABEL score is simple, reliable and repeatable. It is a successful and objective measure for audit and for improvement in the quality of note-keeping. We propose that it be adopted in maxillofacial units throughout the United Kingdom.

Can warfarin be continued during dental extraction? Results of a randomized controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial was set up to investigate whether patients who were taking warfarin and had an International Normalised Ratio (INR) within the normal therapeutic range require cessation of their anticoagulation drugs before dental extractions. Of 109 patients who completed the trial, 52 were allocated to the control group (warfarin stopped 2 days before extraction) and 57 patients were allocated to the intervention group (warfarin continued). The incidence of bleeding complications in the intervention group was higher (15/57, 26%) than in the control group (7/52, 14%) but this difference was not significant. Two patients in the study required hospital review for bleeding and all other episodes of bleeding were controlled by patients at home. Continuing warfarin when the INR is < 4.1 may lead to an increase in minor post-extraction bleeding after dental extractions but we found no evidence of an increase in clinically important bleeding. As there are risks associated with stopping warfarin, the practice of routinely discontinuing it before dental extractions should be reconsidered.

Blood transfusion requirements in bimaxillary osteotomies.

The over-ordering of cross-matched blood to cover operations can result in blood shortages and is costly; it can never be free of risk. Current published guidelines recommend cross-matching 2 units of blood for bimaxillary orthognathic procedures with an additional 2 units if combined with a genioplasty. We reviewed the records of 115 consecutive cases of simultaneous bimaxillary osteotomies at Morriston Hospital over a 5-year period (January 1996 to December 2000). Ordering and use of blood were investigated and the cost analysed. Blood loss was minimised using a strategy of controlled moderate hypotension and meticulous haemostasis. Nine patients were given transfusions of blood but five of these were deemed inappropriate. No predisposing factors for transfusion were identified. We recommend that the tariff for ordering blood for bimaxillary osteotomies should be revised to a "group and save" with antibody screen, providing that a 30-min indirect antibody cross-match is available.

Ballistic injuries of the face and mouth in war and civil conflict.

Ballistics is the science of thrown or projected objects. The consequences of ballistic injuries to the face may be devastating and lead to considerable disability and disfigurement. Reconstructive techniques for maxillofacial injuries have improved greatly since World War II; however, the basic principles for the initial, early and reconstructive phases of treatment have stood the test of time. This paper gives an overview of the management of ballistic injuries to the face and jaws.

Trismus due to bilateral mandibular coronoid hyperplasia.

Bilateral mandibular coronoid hyperplasia is a rare cause of restricted mouth opening. Diagnosis of the condition prior to general anaesthetic is essential, as oral intubation may be impossible. The reported case illustrates the role of computed tomography in assessment of the disorder and effective treatment by coronoidectomy.

A two year review of the treatment and complications of mandibular angle fractures.

A review of all patients with treated mandibular angle fractures at a district general hospital, over a two year period, was undertaken. Forty one consecutive patients with 43 mandibular angle fractures were identified. Thirty eight fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with miniplates and 5 by intermaxillary fixation (IMF). Fractures treated with miniplates were reduced under direct vision to give an anatomical reduction without using temporary intermaxillary fixation. The shortened operative time together with the prompt administration of intravenous antibiotics following injury and rapid treatment of fractures after admission resulted in a low complication rate of 7.3% of patients requiring a subsequent surgical procedure. Although IMF has an important role to play in the general treatment of facial fractures, we suggest that there is a place for single miniplate fracture fixation without the use of temporary IMF when treating simple angle fractures. As this technique is quick and has a low complication rate its use in military situations should be considered.

Use of a custom designed external fixator system to treat ballistic injuries to the mandible.

The authors describe a custom designed mandibular external fixator II system that can be used to treat complex, comminuted fractures. The system is adjustable and lightweight, quick, robust, simple to apply, and allows mouth opening during healing, It is well suited to use in the modern war surgery environment. The authors present a case of successful treatment of a ballistic fracture of the mandible using this device.

Oral and maxillofacial surgical contribution to 21 months of operating theatre activity in Kandahar Field Hospital: 1 February 2007-31 October 2008.

Our aim was to assess oral and maxillofacial operating theatre activity at the NATO Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield (MMU KAF). We made a retrospective analysis of the theatre logbook of the MMU KAF between 1 February 2007 and 31 October 2008. During that period, 1778 operations were done for 1639 patients. A total of 563 local civilians (34% of all patients) were operated on. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons were involved in 322/1778 (18%), general surgeons in 943/1778 (53%), and orthopaedic surgeons in 716/1778 (40%) of operations. Neurosurgeons were present only between March and October 2008, resulting in them being involved in 73/789 procedures (9%). Debridement and closure of wounds were the most common procedures in all specialties. A total of 247 operations on the face, neck, and scalp made up 16% of the total operations for trauma (n=1556), but most for coalition service personnel (n=69, 24%). Only 28 operations (10%) on coalition service personnel were done on the torso. This could be accounted for by the increased numbers of blast injuries and the effectiveness of modern body armour among coalition forces. Brain injuries were also more common among this group of patients than among the other groups, showing that helmets have only a limited effect in protecting against the effects of blast injury. Of all procedures, 163 operations (9%) were done for children. Training of general surgeons is becoming more specialised, which may result in greater dependence on larger teams of subspecialists (including oral and maxillofacial surgeons) in future conflicts.