Prospective evaluation of ultrasound features of magnesium-based bioabsorbable screw resorption in pediatric fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Bioabsorbable magnesium-based alloy screws release gas upon resorption. The resulting findings in the adjacent soft tissues and joints may mimic infection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ultrasound (US) findings in soft tissues and joints during screw resorption. METHODS: Prospectively acquired US studies from pediatric patients treated with magnesium screws were evaluated for screw head visibility, posterior acoustic shadowing, twinkling artifact, foreign body granuloma, gas (soft tissue, intra-articular), alterations of the skin and subcutaneous fat, perifascial fluid, localized fluid collections, hypervascularization, and joint effusion. RESULTS: Sixty-six US studies of 28 pediatric patients (nfemale = 9, nmale = 19) were included. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 10.84 years; the mean time between surgery and ultrasound was 128.3 days (range = 6-468 days). The screw head and posterior acoustic shadowing were visible in 100% of the studies, twinkling artifact in 6.1%, foreign body granuloma in 92.4%, gas locules in soft tissue in 100% and intra-articular in 18.2%, hyperechogenicity of the subcutaneous fat in 90.9%, cobblestoning of the subcutaneous fat in 24.2%, loss of normal differentiation between the epidermis/dermis and the subcutaneous fat in 57.6%, localized fluid collection in 9.9%, perifascial fluid in 12.1%, hypervascularization in 27.3%, and joint effusion in 18.2%. CONCLUSION: US findings in pediatric patients treated with magnesium screws strongly resemble infection, but are normal findings in the setting of screw resorption. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Bioabsorbable magnesium-based alloy screws release gas during resorption. The resulting US findings in the adjacent soft tissues and joints in pediatric patients may mimic infection, but are normal findings. KEY POINTS: • Bioabsorbable magnesium-based alloy screws release gas upon resorption. • The resulting ultrasound findings in children's soft tissues and joints closely resemble those of soft tissue infection or osteosynthesis-associated infection. • Be familiar with these ultrasound findings in order to avoid inadvertently misdiagnosing a soft tissue infection or osteosynthesis-associated infection.

Traditional culture methods fail to detect principle pathogens in necrotising soft tissue infection: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: Necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTIs) progress rapidly and mortality remains high, ranging from 10% to 30%, representing a significant challenge for health professionals. Early accurate diagnosis is crucial because timely and aggressive surgical intervention remains the number one indicator for a better clinical outcome. Understanding the microbial background of NSTIs would aid early diagnosis. PRESENTATION: We present a case of NSTI, in a seemingly healthy adult male, originating from a tooth abscess. The NSTI progressed rapidly, and eventually covered the patient's chest and abdominal skin and underlying soft tissue. RESULTS: Traditional blood and tissue culture only found Group C Streptococcus where 16S sequencing detected abundant Prevotella spp., a more likely causal organisms of the NSTI. The use of antibiotics with the approriate anaerobe coverage, in combination with timely surgical intervention, contributed to the ultimate successful clinical outcome. Complete wound healing and successful graft was achieved within one month of diagnosis of the microbes present. CONCLUSION: While surgical intervention remains the most important consideration in treatment of NSTI, correct identifcation of the microbial flora could also contribute to successful treatment.

[Plasma management in complex treatment of late inflammatory complications after injection contour plasty with polyacrylamide gel]. / Plazmennaia obrabotka pri lechenii pozdnikh vospalitel'no-gnoinykh oslozhnenii in''ektsionnoi konturnoi plastiki poliakrilamidnym gelem.

AIM: To improve the results of treatment of late inflammatory complications after injection contour plasty with polyacrylamide gel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors analyze treatment of 21 patients with late septic complications of body contour plasty with polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) for the period 2010-2015. Mean age of women was 47.4 years. Time after primary intervention was 10-22 years. The depth of soft tissue lesion corresponded to II-III grade by D. Ahrenholz classification (1991), length - from 67 to 180 cm2. Mammary glands were the most common area of augmentation (18 cases). Besides antibiotic therapy and surgery complex treatment included exposure with plasma flows in various modes. RESULTS: Plasma technology significantly accelerated regenerative processes and provided stable microbial decontamination in 100% patients. High-energy vaporization was associated with maximum possible removal of PAGE from the tissues that was confirmed by histological examination.

Knowledge of Nairobi East District Community Health Workers concerning HIV-related orofacial lesions and other common oral lesions.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related orofacial lesions (HROLs) impact negatively on the health of patients and could be managed at primary healthcare (PHC) level. Community health workers (CHWs) are crucial in optimal patient management through patient identification, education and early referral for professional care. The study objective was to assess knowledge of Nairobi East district CHWs regarding HROLs and other common oral diseases. METHODS: Of the total population of CHWs, 815 [94.5%] completed a 56-item questionnaire covering 5 topics: general dental knowledge, knowledge about HROLs, past encounters with HROLs, current care at community level, opinions regarding oral health problems; and items concerning background characteristics and past training activities. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed Cronbach's alpha coefficient values of 0.45, 0.59, 0.79, 0.50 and 0.09 respectively. The first four topics were confirmed as domains. Mean minimum score was 0 and mean maximum score was 1 for each variable. However, for 'past encounters with HROLs, the minimum score was 0 and maximum score was 5. RESULTS: CHWs had moderate knowledge about general oral health (mean = 0.47) and HROLs (mean = 0.43). None had been formally trained in oral health aspects. Although they had high opinions regarding their role in identifying, educating and referring patients with HROLs (mean = 0.80) to the health facilities, they actually rarely referred such patients. CONCLUSIONS: CHWs need training for building competence in promoting oral health among general and HIV patients in their communities and in early identification and management of non-HIV oral lesions.

Superimposed infection in mandibular osteoradionecrosis: diagnosis and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy can result in osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and mucosal ulceration predisposing to infection. METHODS: Fourteen patients presenting with infectious sequelae related to mandibular ORN were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: In most patients, infection followed diagnosis of ORN; but in 4 patients, ORN was not diagnosed until after the time of infection and imaging. An early imaging finding of ORN was lingual cortical defects near the last molar. Pain followed by erythema, purulent drainage, and subperiosteal abscess by imaging were the most common signs of infection. In most patients, conservative management eventually failed and segmental mandibulectomies were required. CONCLUSIONS: Soft tissue infection with characteristic bone findings such as subperiosteal abscess and cortical bone erosions helps to distinguish infected ORN from recurrent tumor or sterile ORN. In patients previously treated with radiation who present with infection, pain or an avid PET scan with bone involvement, the mandible should be scrutinized.

Infected facial tissue fillers: case series and review of the literature.

Since 2007, 21 female and 1 male patient aged 25 to 55 years, who either did not have any obvious causative infection source or, despite the presence of nonvital teeth, did not display typical symptoms of odontogenic infection, were treated for acute facial inflammation. All these patients admitted previous application of injectable soft tissue fillers (ISTFs) performed in either private plastic surgery and dermatology practices or cosmetic salons. The period between injection and infection varied from 1 week to 6 years. The injected substance remained unknown in many cases. Of the 22 patients, 3 were diagnosed with facial cellulitis, 4 with periorbital abscess, and 15 with a buccal space abscess. ISTFs provide an attractive option in facial rejuvenation. With their increasing use, the prevalence of complications is also expected to increase. Infectious complications of ISTFs were previously unknown in Kuwait. Although these products are primarily meant for treatment of the aging face, the age pattern of our patients suggests their frequent misuse and spurious indications. Especially worrisome is the recently observed application of fillers in cosmetic salons. We believe that the use of ISTFs should be regulated and their administration in nonmedical facilities prohibited. Patients with an atypical course of facial inflammation should be questioned about a history of cosmetic procedures.

Dexmedetomidine sedation for awake fiberoptic intubation of patients with difficult airways due to severe odontogenic cervicofacial infections.

PURPOSE: Odontogenic infections present challenging airway scenarios to surgeons and anesthesiologists. Among specialists, there is controversy over airway management for those patients with airways made difficult by trismus and swelling with anatomic impingement and derangement. Awake fiberoptic intubation has achieved favor in the oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesiology communities for management of such difficult airways, but patient comfort and anxiety management with traditional agents may prove hazardous because of potential suppression of protective mechanisms and respiratory depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three cases are presented showing the utility and safety of the use of dexmedetomidine sedation for presurgical airway instrumentation and insertion in patients with challenging airways because of severe cervicofacial odontogenic infections. RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine administration provided safe and effective sedation and anxiolysis for awake fiberoptic airway instrumentation and airway insertion in patients presenting with severe cervicofacial infections with difficult airways because of anatomic obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine sedation is advocated for use in awake fiberoptic intubation of patients with cervicofacial infections and difficult airways because of its ability to provide sedation, analgesia, reversible anterograde amnesia, and anxiolysis without impairment of protective reflexes, respiratory depression, or hemodynamic compromise. One of the most significant challenges facing oral and maxillofacial surgeons is the difficult airway. Anatomically compromised airways present unique clinically daunting situations to both surgeon and anesthesiologist, who are both charged with the provision of safe, effective preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative airway management. Among these conditions, odontogenic infections and patients with head and neck trauma, temporomandibular disorders, orofacial tumors, and severe craniofacial anomalies present for surgical treatment by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Protecting the skin-implant interface with transcutaneous silver-coated skin-and-bone-integrated pylon in pig and rabbit dorsum models.

Implant-associated soft tissue infections at the skin-implant interface represent the most frequent complications in reconstructive surgery and lead to implant failures and revisions. Titanium implants with deep porosity, called skin-and-bone-integrated-pylons (SBIP), allow for skin ingrowth in the morphologically natural direction, thus restoring a reliable dermal barrier and reducing the risk of infection. Silver coating of the SBIP implant surface using physical vapor deposition technique offers the possibility of preventing biofilm formation and exerting a direct antimicrobial effect during the wound healing phase. In vivo studies employing pig and rabbit dorsum models for assessment of skin ingrowth into the pores of the pylon demonstrated the safety of transcutaneous implantation of the SBIP system. No postoperative complications were reported at the end of the follow-up period of 6 months. Histological analysis proved skin ingrowth in the minipig model without signs of silver toxicity. Analysis of silver release (using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) in the model of intramedullary-inserted silver-coated SBIP in New Zealand rabbits demonstrated trace amounts of silver after 3 months of in-bone implantation. In conclusion, selected temporary silver coating of the SBIP implant surface is powerful at preventing the periprosthetic infections without imparing skin ingrowth and can be considered for clinical application.

Changing clinical features of odontogenic maxillofacial infections.

Odontogenic maxillofacial infections occasionally require hospital care. Our aim was to study whether the number and the clinical features of patients hospitalized due to odontogenic abscesses in a large hospital district in Finland had changed in one decade. A retrospective analysis of two 12-month study cohorts one decade apart from the same population base was conducted. The first cohort comprised 71 patients and the second cohort comprised 101 patients. The incidence of odontogenic infections requiring hospital care increased from 5.3 to 7.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. The need for intensive care increased significantly from 15% to 32%, and the maximal C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in the latter cohort, 127 mg/L, compared to the first cohort, 104 mg/L. The proportion of previously healthy patients decreased significantly from 83% to 65%. Odontogenic maxillofacial infections have become more prevalent and more severe during the decade in our hospital district. An increasing proportion of patients had underlying diseases.

Prevention and management of complications arising from external fixation pin sites.

The use of external fixation devices to assist in the management of lower extremity trauma and reconstruction continues to rise. Despite the distinct advantages of external fixation, complications from external fixators continue to exist. The complicated external fixator-associated pin site may be a potential source of significant morbidity, especially in the at-risk patient, which may lead to soft tissue healing problems and infections, as well as osteomyelitis. This article describes both simple as well as more complex techniques that the authors use in the prevention and management of complications arising from external fixator pin sites, and solutions to the difficult task of incorporating external fixator wires into negative-pressure dressings.

Deep neck infection with dental origin: analysis of 85 consecutive cases (2000-2006).

CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic work-up should include contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and mandible orthopantogram. When a dental origin of deep neck infection is suspected, the intravenous antibiotic regimen has to be active against gram-positive bacteria, both aerobes and anaerobes. Surgical exploration and drainage may be mandatory at presentation, or in cases not responding to medical therapy within the first 24 h. OBJECTIVES: Deep neck infections are still associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates when complications occur. Despite worldwide improvement in dental care and oral hygiene, a significant prevalence of deep neck infections caused by dental infections has been described recently (> 40%). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed retrospectively 85 cases of deep neck infection with dental origin out of 206 consecutive cases of deep neck infection diagnosed in our institution between 2000 and 2006. RESULTS: The most frequent dental source was a periapical infection of the first mandibular molar, followed by second and third molar, respectively. Submandibular space infection involvement was diagnosed in 73 of 85 patients (85.9%), masticatory space infection in 28 (32.9%); in 56 patients (65.9%) the infection involved more than one space. Twenty-four patients (28.2%) were treated only with intravenous antibiotic therapy; 61 patients (71.8%) required both medical and surgical procedures.

Accidental displacement of mandibular third molar into soft tissue: a case report.

A case of accidental displacement of a mandibular molar tooth into adjacent submandibular space during routine extraction by a general practitioner is reported. The localization and surgical retrieval of the displaced tooth is described, post-operative period was uneventful and salient lessons for the practitioners highlighted.

[Parona Space Abscess Derived from Dental Disease: Multidisciplinary Approach]. / Abcesso do Espaço de Parona com Origem em Foco Sético Oral: Abordagem Multidisciplinar.

Parona Space infection is a rare forearm condition. We present a case of a 55-year-old male with pain and loss of function in the distal forearm for one week, with no previous history of trauma. Additionally, he presented a history of odontogenic infection, synchronous with the onset of the symptoms in the forearm, with spontaneous resolution. The wrist ultrasound found an abscess in the Parona space that was surgically drained. The bacterial culture test was positive for Streptococcus constellatus. Oral evaluation revealed symptomatic exacerbation in the upper left second molar of chronic periodontitis. Oral septic foci were eliminated and the patient had full recovery. Dental history, the bacteria isolated and the absence of trauma confirm the dental origin of the abscess. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first published case of an odontogenic forearm abscess. This case highlights the importance of systematic elimination of oral septic foci in the population.

A infeção do espaço de Parona é uma patologia rara do antebraço. Reportamos um caso de um homem de 55 anos, com dor e impotência funcional na porção distal do antebraço, sem história de trauma, com uma semana de evolução. Associadamente, apresentava história de infeção odontogénica, síncrona com o início das queixas do antebraço, mas com resolução espontânea. A ecografia do punho documentou um abcesso, que foi prontamente drenado e o exame microbiológico demonstrou infeção por Streptococcus constellatus. A avaliação estomatológica revelou agudização sintomática de periodontite crónica no dente 2.7. O doente realizou a eliminação de focos séticos orais durante o internamento e teve alta com evolução favorável. As manifestações do quadro clínico e o agente isolado confirmam a origem odontogénica. Do que pudemos apurar, este é o primeiro caso publicado de um abcesso antebraquial odontogénico e demonstra a importância da eliminação sistemática de focos séticos orais na população geral.

The Role of Bacterial Biofilm in Adverse Soft-Tissue Filler Reactions: A Combined Laboratory and Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: The development of chronic nodules and granulomatous inflammation after filler injections has been attributed to bacterial biofilm infection. The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between filler and bacterial biofilm using a combined in vitro and in vivo study. METHODS: In vitro assays to investigate the ability of filler materials to support the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm and the effect of multiple needle passes through a biofilm-contaminated surface were designed. Analysis of clinical biopsy specimens from patients presenting with chronic granulomas following filler administration using a number of laboratory tests for biofilm was performed. RESULTS: All fillers (i.e., hyaluronic acid, polyacrylamide gel, and poly-L-lactic acid) supported the growth of S. epidermidis biofilm in vitro. Multiple needle passes through a biofilm-contaminated surface resulted in significantly increased contamination of filler material by a factor of 10,000 (p < 0.001). Six clinical samples from five patients all demonstrated bacterial biofilm. The mean number of bacteria was found to be 2.2 × 10 bacteria/mg tissue (range, 5.6 × 10 to 3.7 × 10 bacteria/mg tissue). Microbiome analysis detected a predominance of Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Propionibacterium as present in these samples. CONCLUSIONS: Filler material can support the growth of bacterial biofilm in vitro. Multiple needle passes can significantly increase the risk of filler contamination. Biofilm appears to be associated with high numbers in clinical samples of patients presenting with chronic granulomatous inflammation. Strategies to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination need to be further studied and translated into clinical practice. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, V.

Site-specific gene expression analysis of implant-near cells in a soft tissue infection model - Application of laser microdissection to study biomaterial-associated infection.

Analysis of the implant-tissue interface is important for an understanding of the cellular response to biomaterials with different surface characteristics. However, inaccessibility to the site has restricted the detailed evaluation of the tissue surrounding the implant. Laser microdissection enables the isolation of specific cells and tissues for subsequent DNA, RNA, or protein analysis. The present experimental study employed laser microdissection to analyze tissue-specific differences in gene expression in cells around infected or control titanium implants 72 h after subcutaneous implantation in a rat model. Three different tissue zones located 0-800 µm away from the implant-tissue interface were analyzed. Implant sites challenged with a dose of 106  CFU Staphylococcus epidermidis demonstrated higher gene expression of selected markers for inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6), cell recruitment (MCP-1, IL-8, IL-8 R), infection (TLR2), and tissue remodeling (MMP-9) compared with control implants. Furthermore, the gene expression analysis of the three extracted tissue zones revealed marked spatial differences, depending on the distance to the implant. Control implants continuously induced higher cell gene expression in the implant-tissue interface compared with cells 200-800 µm away from the implant, whereas the sites inoculated with S. epidermidis resulted in high gene expression further away from the implant as well. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that laser microdissection is an interesting tool, revealing both gene- and site-specific gene expression patterns in the implant-tissue interface. The technique provides an opportunity for detailed molecular dissection of the biological events related to the implant but occurring at different distances from the implant. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2210-2217, 2017.

Factors associated with limb loss despite a patent infrainguinal bypass graft.

Lower-extremity limb salvage should parallel infrainguinal bypass graft patency. To determine factors associated with limb loss despite a patent bypass, we reviewed 191 consecutive infrainguinal bypasses in 158 patients followed prospectively over 42 months. In this series of 176 (92%) vein grafts, 15 (8%) expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, 122 (64%) tibial artery bypasses, and 170 (89%) bypasses placed for limb salvage, 29 major lower-extremity (above-knee or below-knee) amputations were performed in 29 patients, 12 because of ischemia after graft thrombosis and 17 (9% of series) due to progression of soft tissue infection/necrosis despite a functioning bypass. Primary and secondary 36-month vein graft patencies by life-table analysis were 61 per cent and 81 per cent, respectively. When the 17 cases of limb loss were compared to the rest of the series, nonstatistically significant variables included male sex [11 (65%) vs 79 (56%); P = 0.608] and diabetes [12 (71%) vs 80 (57%); P = 0.310]. Statistically significant variables included black race [9 (53%) vs 39 (28%); P = 0.048]; chronic renal failure [6 (35%) vs 12 (9%); P = 0.005], placement to a tibial/pedal artery [15 (88%) vs 107 (62%); P = 0.034], distal anastomosis to the anterior tibial/dorsalis pedis (AT/DP) artery [8 (47%) vs 27 (16%); P = 0.004], and grafts requiring late revision [7 (41%) vs 22 (13%); P = 0.006]. Thirteen (76%) extremities had an intact pedal arch. Nine amputations were performed within 30 days (early group), and eight were performed from 45 days to 20 months (median, 8 months) after bypass placement (late group). The most common primary causes of limb loss in the early group were overwhelming progression of soft-tissue infection despite patent bypass (n = 4; 44%) and insufficient runoff in the foot (n = 3; 33%). In the late group, amputation most often followed long treatment of a chronic proximal diabetic neuropathic foot ulcer with osteomyelitis. Five (63%) grafts in this group were anastomosed to the AT/DP arteries. These data suggest that patients with chronic renal failure, chronic neuropathic heel ulcers, and an AT/DP bypass are at greater risk for amputation despite a working bypass, especially if the graft develops a hemodynamically significant stenosis. Careful judgment and patient selection under these circumstances are thus justified.

The treatment of Eikenella corrodens soft tissue infection in an injection drug user.

Eikenella corrodens is a gram negative rod considered normal mouth flora and is commonly linked to human bite injuries. In rare cases, E. corrodens can cause systemic infections. This article describes the case of a 30-year-old injection drug user who presented with a serious polymicrobial infection of the arm. Usual empiric antibiotic coverage resulted in little improvement, and eventually 300 milliliters of purulent material was drained from his upper arm. Cultures of the drainage grew E. corrodens as well as other oral flora. After surgical drainage, specific antibiotic therapy directed towards E. corrodens was added to his antimicrobial therapy and the patient fully recovered. We conclude that E. corrodens is common in the injection drug user population as part of mixed infections, and that empiric antibiotic coverage for this organism, namely penicillin, may be warranted in certain clinical situations.