Handlebar sign: a bruise with underlying visceral injury.

A 14-year-old boy presented with a painful swelling topped by a bruise overlying the skin of the right inguinal region without peritonitis. This was the area of impact of bicycle handlebar while riding 6 days ago. On contrast-enhanced CT scan, we found a traumatic abdominal wall hernia (handlebar hernia) near the right deep ring without any solid organ, bowel or urinary bladder injury. Inguinal exploration revealed a defect in transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscle which was repaired and meshplasty was done.Delayed presentation and ignorance towards 'handlebar sign' is associated with visceral injury (haematoma/perforation) will incur the risk of rising morbidity and mortality. With CT scan we can assess the abdominal cavity to rule out associated visceral or vascular injury. Surgical repair for restoring disrupted anatomy with or without meshplasty is the preferred approach.

Addition of Dexmedetomidine to Ropivacaine in Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Potentiates Postoperative Analgesia among Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Patients: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

CONTEXT: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with moderate intensity postoperative pain especially in the early postoperative period. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been shown to reduce pain scores and analgesic requirements after abdominal surgery. AIMS: We hypothesized that a subcostal TAP block with ropivacaine and dexmedetomidine will prolong the duration of postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This prospective, randomized study was done in 60 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery done at a tertiary care institution. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups to receive either bilateral ultrasonography-guided subcostal TAP blocks with 18 mL 0.375% ropivacaine and 2 ml of normal saline (n = 30, Group R) or 18 ml. 375% ropivacaine with 0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine 2 mL (n = 30, Group RD). Numerical rating scale was measured postoperatively to primarily assess the pain severity and analgesic requirement for the first 24 h, hemodynamic parameters, and adverse effects were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square test/Fisher's exact test and quantitative data were analyzed using Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The study group (Group RD) had significantly prolonged postoperative analgesia (485.6 min) as compared to Group R (289.83 min). Moreover, consumption of morphine over 24-h period is significantly less in Group RD (14.5 mg) as compared to Group R (28.5 mg). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine in TAP block prolongs postoperative analgesia and reduces opioid consumption without any major adverse effects.

Effectiveness of the Pattern-Based Approach in the Cytodiagnosis of Salivary Gland Lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate, primarily, the effectiveness of the application of pattern-based analysis in the diagnosis of salivary gland (SG) lesions. Secondarily, an attempt was made to study the cytomorphology of the various lesions in detail and discuss the pitfalls and solutions involved in the challenging conditions at cytology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. All SG lesions over 2 years were subjected to fine-needle aspiration cytology with patients' prior informed consent. The lesions were classified based on the predominant pattern, and a provisional diagnosis was made. The secondary pattern and other features, such as background, were then taken note of, and a combined cytological diagnosis was rendered. The entire spectrum of lesions was divided into 6 morphological categories. RESULTS: We had a total of 72 SG lesions. The most commonly affected gland was the parotid gland in 79.16% (57/72) of the cases. Surgery was performed in 26 cases (36.11%). A concordant diagnosis was obtained in 22 cases. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy by the pattern-based approach was 75, 100 and 88.46%, respectively. There were no false-positive cases, but 2 false-negative cases were recorded. CONCLUSION: The precise cytological preoperative diagnosis of SG lesions is important for the management of patients. The pattern-based approach can be used routinely in the cytological diagnosis of SG lesions.

Mandibular ramus fractures: a rarity.

AIM: To determine the incidence of mandibular ramus fractures in KLE's PK Hospital and to analyze the outcome of open reduction and internal fixation of these fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a retrospective study design, records of all trauma patients who reported to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, KLE's PK Hospital Belgaum, between the years January 2006 to October 2011 was obtained from the medical records office. The data variables that were analyzed were the name, age, sex, cause of injury, pretreatment occlusion, treatment given, period of MMF and post-treatment occlusion. RESULTS: Total number of mandibular fracture cases was 298. Ramus fractures were 10 in number which accounted for 3.3% of fractures. The age range of these 10 patients was seen to be between 20 to 80 years with the average age being 35.6 years. Of these 10 patients, 9 were male and 1 was female and 7 patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation and the remaining 3 by closed reduction. The average period of MMF was 3 days for the patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation. There was improvement in occlusion in all 10 patients post-treatment and there was no complication reported in any of the cases. CONCLUSION: Ramus fractures accounted for 3.3% of all mandibular fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation of ramus fractures ensures adequate functional and anatomic reduction. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study makes an attempt to throw a light on the increasing incidence of ramus fractures and a successful management of these fractures by open reduction and internal fixation. How to cite this article: Kale TP, Kotrashetti SM, Louis A, Lingaraj JB, Sarvesh BU. Mandibular Ramus Fractures: A Rarity. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013;14(1):39-42. Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None declared.

Open cap splint with circummandibular wiring for management of pediatric mandibular parasymphysis/symphysis fracture as a definitive treatment modality; a case series.

Management of pediatric maxillofacial injuries is mainly governed by their psychological, physiological, developmental, and anatomical characteristics. Pediatric mandibular fractures can have variable etiologies but have similar manifestations as those in adult patients. There are various treatment modalities to treat mandibular parasymphysis/symphysis fractures in children, which have their own limitations and complications. We currently describe our experience with open cap splint as a treatment modality which involves fewer risks in treating 10 pediatric parasymphysis/symphysis mandibular fractures.

Transnasal Fixation of NOE Fracture: Minimally Invasive Approach.

PURPOSE: Nasal fractures may occur in association with other facial injuries like Le-forte II and III and also severe comminuted midface fractures or by themselves. Bony fractures of the nose may involve one or both nasal bones, the frontal process of the maxilla, the bony septum, and in severe trauma the nasal-orbital-ethmoid complex. Treatment of these fractures range from closed reduction and support to open reduction and miniplate osteosynthesis. Purpose of this article is to describe a technique of managing nasal bone fractures associated with midface fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four consecutive patients who sustained nasal bone fracture associated with multiple midfacial fractures were included in the study. RESULTS: Postoperatively, results showed symmetry in the intercanthal to lateral canthal width. Nasofronal angle and nasal prominence was established to the expected position in most of the cases. CONCLUSION: This technique can be used for Le forte II and III cases where nasal bones to be addressed. This method has shown predictive results with minimal intervention.

Traumatic optic neuropathy after maxillofacial trauma: a review of 8 cases.

PURPOSE: To study the incidence and prognostic factors of traumatic optic neuropathy in maxillofacial trauma cases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eight patients diagnosed with traumatic optic neuropathy among 354 cases of maxillofacial trauma treated from December 2008 through May 2011 were included in this retrospective study. Factors at the time of trauma, clinical findings, computed tomographic findings, and interventional modalities were studied for any improvement in vision. RESULTS: Of 354 maxillofacial trauma cases, 8 cases (2.25%) were diagnosed with traumatic optic neuropathy. Patients' ages ranged from 21 to 60 years. The causes of trauma were road traffic accidents in 7 patients and surgery for zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures in 1 patient. All patients had ZMC fracture; 1 patient had Le Fort II, mandible condyle, and ramus fractures and 2 had associated cranial bone fracture. Six patients were administered steroid therapy; 1 patient showed improvement in visual acuity. Two patients underwent decompression by a lateral orbital approach; 1 patient showed an improvement in visual acuity. In 2 other patients, a spontaneous recovery was observed. Four of the 8 patients underwent open reduction and fixation of the maxillofacial fractures. Of the remaining patients, 1 patient had a nondisplaced ZMC fracture that was treated without surgical intervention and the other 3 patients refused any surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings showed the occurrence of traumatic optic neuropathy in association with ZMC, Le Fort II, and cranial bone fractures. Additional risk factors such as a history of a loss of consciousness, injury to the superolateral orbital region, fracture of the optic canal, evidence of orbital hemorrhage, and evidence of blood within the posterior ethmoidal cells should be considered during the evaluation.