Frontal bone fractures.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the epidemiology, treatment, and complications of frontal bone fractures associated, or not, with other facial fractures. This evaluation also sought to minimize the influence of the surgeon's skills and the preference for any rigid internal fixation system. The files from 3758 patients who attended the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the School of Dentistry of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, from March 2004 to November 2011 and presented with facial trauma were scanned, and 52 files were chosen for the review. Eleven (21.15%) of these patients had pure fractures of the frontal bone, and trauma incidence was more prevalent in men (92.3%), whites (61.53%), and adults (50%). Despite the use of helmets at the moment of the trauma, motorcycle crashes were the most common etiological factor (32.69%). Fracture of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus with displacement was the main injury observed (54.9%), and the most common treatment was internal fixation with a plate and screws (45.09%). Postoperative complications were observed in 35.29% of the cases. The therapy applied was effective in handling this type of fracture, and the success rate was comparable to that reported in other published studies.

Effect of surgical treatment of mandibular fracture: electromyographic analysis, bite force, and mandibular mobility.

This study aimed to examine individuals undergoing surgery for the treatment of the fractured mandibular angle, using bite force, mandibular mobility, and electromyographic (EMG) analysis in many different clinical conditions, after 2 months postoperatively. Bite force was recorded with a digital dynamometer, model IDDK. The EMG activity (Myosystem-Br1) included the analysis of the masseter and temporal muscles. Mandibular mobility was measured using a digital pachymeter. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: G1, mandibular angle fracture (n = 7); G2, condylar process fracture (n = 5); and G3, control (n = 12). Data were tabulated and submitted to statistical analysis using the repeated-measure test carried out over time and the Student's t-test (P < 0.05), using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, version 19 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). G1 and G2 had an increase in bite force. In G1, there was a regular decrease in the EMG activity in the second postoperative month. G2 presented an irregular pattern in EMG data during the period tested. Regarding the mandibular mobility, both groups obtained amplitude of all mandibular movements with a high percentage, when compared with control. A good functional recovery was achieved by the individuals who had a mandible angle fracture or condylar process fracture, after 2 postoperative months.

Orbital abscess during endodontic treatment: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Orbital infections may result in permanent morbidity because of the severity of infection. Furthermore, delayed diagnosis or treatment of orbital infections can lead to intracranial complications and even death. The majority of orbital infections develop from paranasal sinus infections, cutaneous infections, and periorbital trauma. Dacryocystitis and odontogenic infection are also accounted as potential etiologies but are scarcely reported in scientific literature. METHODS: The patient revealed a history of having endodontic treatment on left maxillary second molar performed 2 weeks previously. Moreover, she exhibited signs of facial pain accompanied by sinusitis symptoms, fever, and nasal obstruction the week after this endodontic procedure. The patient presented proptosis, impairment of ocular motility to the right side, facial tenderness, palpebral erythema, and referred decreased visual acuity. Intraoral exam revealed root fragments of left maxillary first molar and an extensive carious lesion on left maxillary second molar. Computed tomography enabled the observation of frontal sinus, left-sided maxillary, opacity of sphenoidal and ethmoidal sinuses, and apical lesion of left maxillary first and second molars, all suggesting the presence of their apex in the maxillary sinus. In addition, images revealed ocular proptosis and presence of high-density areas suggestive of pus in the medial orbital wall region. RESULTS: The patient was submitted to surgical drainage under general anesthesia approximately 8 hours after the clinical evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of orbital infection, proper diagnostic tests, and treatment may provide successful outcomes of this rarely occurring disease.