What are the Effects of Internal Fixation on Trigeminal Neurosensory Function and the Temporomandibular Joints Following Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy?

PURPOSE: Intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) has, traditionally, been accomplished without internal fixation, necessitating a period of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF). With advances in instrumentation, internal fixation of IVRO is feasible, obviating the need for MMF. The purpose is to investigate the effects of transoral internal fixation on the prevalence of third division trigeminal nerve (CNV3) injury, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthralgia, and surgical site bleeding following IVRO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent IVRO at Vanderbilt University Medical Center between January 2017 and December 2020. The primary predictor variable was fixation status-internal fixation versus MMF. The primary outcome variable was postoperative CNV3 neurosensory disturbance. The secondary outcome variables were TMJ arthralgia and surgical site bleeding. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test and McNemar's Chi-squared test. RESULTS: Seventy two subjects (59 IVROs without internal fixation and 65 IVROs with internal fixation) were studied. The frequency of CNV3 neurosensory deficit was 0% in the IVRO without internal fixation group and 3.1% in the IVRO with internal fixation group (P = .49). Within group analysis showed a decreased frequency of postoperative TMJ arthralgia compared to preoperative records in both groups (IVRO without internal fixation group, P = .04 and IVRO with internal fixation group, P = .004). The frequency of active surgical site bleeding controlled with local measures was 1.7% in the IVRO without internal fixation group and 3.1% in the IVRO with internal fixation group (P = 1). CONCLUSION: Internal fixation of IVRO is associated with low incidence of neurosensory deficit, TMJ arthralgia, and active surgical site bleeding.

What are the Effects of Age and Presence of Third Molars on the Occurrence of Unfavorable Splits During Sagittal Split Osteotomy?

PURPOSE: Several studies have investigated risk factors of unfavorable splits associated with sagittal split osteotomies but yielded conflicting information. The purpose of this study is to estimate the frequency of and identify factors associated with unfavorable splits during sagittal split osteotomies (SSOs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent orthognathic surgery, including SSOs at our institution from January 2010 to October 2016. The independent variables were mandibular third molar (M3) status, age, gender, and preoperative dentofacial diagnosis. The outcome variable was the effectiveness of the sagittal split resulting in either favorable or an unfavorable split. Data analyses were performed using logistic regression models except in the case of small sample sizes of preoperative dentofacial diagnoses for which the Fisher's exact test was used. RESULTS: A total of 888 patients with an average age of 24.97 ± 5.09 years underwent 1,776 SSOs. Sixteen (0.90%) unilateral unfavorable splits occurred. Unfavorable splits were less common in patients with an M3 present than in patients with the M3 absent. Having an M3 present reduced the chance of an unfavorable split by 69%, adjusted for age and gender; OR (95% CI) = 0.308 (0.103, 0.919); P = .035. The odds of having an unfavorable split were increased by 8.8% for every year of age increase; adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.088 (1.004, 1.178); P = .038. Based on this estimation, a 45-year-old is 2.3 times more likely to have an unfavorable split compared to a 35-year-old (95% CI:1.041, 5.146), and is 5.4 times more likely to have an unfavorable split compared to a 25-year-old (95% CI:1.083, 26.48). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a mandibular third molar (M3) was associated with a decreased risk of an unfavorable split, independent of age and gender. There was a significant association between increased age and the incidence of an unfavorable split.

Effects of Hypotensive Anesthesia on Reducing Intraoperative Blood Loss, Duration of Operation, and Quality of Surgical Field During Orthognathic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hypotensive anesthesia in reducing intraoperative blood loss, decreasing operation time, and improving the quality of the surgical field during orthognathic surgery. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials addressing these issues were carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic database search was performed. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Jadad Scale and Delphi List. The inverse variance statistical method and a random-effects model were used. RESULTS: Ten randomized controlled trials were included for analysis. Our meta-analysis indicated that hypotensive anesthesia reduced intraoperative blood loss by a mean of about 169 mL. Hypotensive anesthesia was not shown to reduce the operation time for orthognathic surgery, but it did improve the quality of the surgical field. Subgroup analysis indicated that for blood loss in double-jaw surgery, the weighted mean difference favored the hypotensive group, with a reduction in blood loss of 175 mL, but no statistically significant reduction in blood loss was found for anterior maxillary osteotomy. If local anesthesia with epinephrine was used in conjunction with hypotensive anesthesia, the reduction in intraoperative blood loss was increased to 254.93 mL. CONCLUSIONS: Hypotensive anesthesia was effective in reducing blood loss and improving the quality of the surgical field, but it did not reduce the operation time for orthognathic surgery. The use of local anesthesia in conjunction with hypotensive general anesthesia further reduced the amount of intraoperative blood loss for orthognathic surgery.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint: case reports and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular (TM) joint is rare, but it is associated with high risk for significant morbidity. OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the available literature regarding the presentation, evaluation, treatment, and clinical course of TM joint septic arthritis, focusing on elements relevant to emergency physicians. CASE REPORTS: In the first case, a healthy 6-year-old boy presented with fever and trismus; computed tomography with contrast revealed a TM joint effusion. After empiric intravenous antibiotics, intraoperative arthrocentesis of the TM joint returned 1 mL of flocculent fluid, which was cultured and grew pan-sensitive Streptococcus pyogenes. He was discharged home with amoxicillin/clavulanate and experienced complete resolution of his symptoms. In the second case, more than 3 weeks after extraction of her third molars, an 18-year-old woman presented with facial pain, swelling, and trismus and was found to have a loculated abscess involving the left masseteric and pterygomandibular spaces with extension to the left deep temporal region and the skull base. She experienced a complicated postoperative course and required multiple procedures and intravenous antibiotics for growth of multiple bacteria. More than a month later she underwent TM joint arthrotomy for TM joint septic arthritis, and she was found to have acute osteomyelitis. She continued to require multiple treatment modalities; 20 months after her initial presentation, she underwent left total TM joint arthroplasty for fibrous ankylosis of the TM joint. CONCLUSION: Septic arthritis of the TM joint may be caused by hematogenous spread of distant infection or local spread of deep masticator space infections. Patients may present with TM joint septic arthritis acutely or sub-acutely. Septic arthritis of the TM joint should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with trismus and pain or fever.

Dental management of patients with diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease of metabolism resulting from impaired insulin secretion, varying degrees of insulin resistance, or both. Management of the diabetic dental patients must take into consideration the impact of dental disease and dental treatment on the management of diabetes as well as an appreciation for the comorbidities that accompany long-standing diabetes. Those comorbidities include obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Central to the management of diabetes is the intensive regulation of plasma glucose along with management of comorbidities comprising the "metabolic syndrome." Management of the diabetic dental patient should focus on periodontal health and the delivery of comprehensive dental care with minimal disruption of metabolic homeostasis and recognition of diabetic comorbidities.

Modified mandibular condylotomy.

Modified condylotomy is a technically simple extra-articular procedure for the surgeon who is comfortable with intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy for orthognathic surgery. Increasing joint space frequently promotes disc reduction in joints with disc displacement with reduction or recent progression to disc displacement without reduction; improves pain even if disc position remains unchanged; and seems to favorably alter the natural course of internal derangement.