The psychological sequelae of maxillofacial trauma: a scoping review of the literature.

Managing the physical sequelae of facial trauma is routine for the maxillofacial surgeon. However, managing the psychological consequences is more challenging. The often violent mechanism of injury, changes in appearance, altered self-perception, and self-confidence can significantly impact daily life. This review summarises the literature regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and facial trauma, highlighting evidence to guide clinical practice. PubMed and MEDLINE were searched for relevant keywords and MeSH headings. Articles between 2000-2022 were independently reviewed by two authors. Articles were excluded if the full text was not available in English, did not relate to facial trauma, or was not related to PTSD/psychological sequelae. A total of 211 articles were retrieved. The most common reasons for exclusion were papers not reporting psychological outcomes (n = 68) or not relating to facial trauma (n = 35). Articles were sub-categorised to enable evaluation of key themes. Categories included children and adolescents, cross sectional, longitudinal studies, and interventional studies. Whilst there were potential confounders such as socioeconomic factors, overall, patients who had experienced facial trauma (regardless of the mechanism of injury) had an increased risk of PTSD and anxiety/depression. PTSD following facial injury is increasingly recognised as an important issue. A robust evidence base is desirable to inform clinical practice and provide holistic care to often vulnerable patients. Identifying those at increased risk of negative psychological sequelae is essential. We have appraised the literature relevant to OMFS trauma clinicians.

Quantitative assessment of bony orbital volume symmetry: CT analysis in the uninjured caucasian population.

There is a surprising lack of evidence documenting the volumetric symmetry of the bony orbit. This paper establishes reference values for orbital volume (OV) and symmetry in the 25 - 40 year old caucasian population. Secondarily, this paper sets a landmark for the tolerances in OV that can be expected when reconstructing the bony defects which may occur from trauma. A standardised method of quantitative OV measurement was developed using CT sinus examinations acquired for indications unrelated to orbital trauma. Sex, ethnicity, age, right and left OV were recorded. Data for 100 patients was obtained (50 male, 50 female). Mean left OV was 23.1cm3 and mean right OV was 23.3cm3. Left and right OV were strongly positively correlated (correlation coefficient: 0.96). Mean female OV was 21.6cm3 and mean male OV was 24.8cm3. On average, male OV is 3.2cm3 larger than female OV. The mean difference between left and right OV was 0.5cm3 in females and 0.6cm3 in males. The intra-class coefficient score between the two assessors was 0.973 (excellent). There is strong positive correlation between left and right OV in this study population. Previous work suggests that orbital volume loss less than 1cm3 would not lead to significant clinical symptoms of orbital fracture. When orbital reconstruction is undertaken, this study suggests that a volume symmetry difference of <0.5cm3 in females and <0.6cm3 in males would be consistent with the variation seen in the study population of uninjured caucasian 25-40 year olds and is therefore a reasonable goal of surgical management.

Success of day-case treatment of zygomatic and orbital fractures.

Traditionally, surgical management of zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) and orbital fractures occurs within two to three weeks of the injury, followed by an overnight admission to allow for extended eye observations. This is due to the risk of postoperative retrobulbar haemorrhage (RBH) or orbital compartment syndrome (OCS), a rapidly progressive and sight threatening emergency that requires immediate intervention. In September 2016 the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) department at Leeds Teaching Hospitals redesigned their trauma service with a full-time trauma consultant, a dedicated clinic, and a weekly morning elective trauma theatre list. This allowed for standardisation of the management of patients with OMFS injuries. Furthermore, a formal day-case ZMC and orbital fracture pathway was developed to allow patients to undergo surgical management of such fractures with a same-day discharge. This has since been identified as an area of excellence by the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, and is in line with the addition of ZMC and orbital fractures to the procedural list written by the British Association of Day Case Surgery (BADS). Unbeknown to the unit, the volume of day-case procedures was the highest within the UK, demonstrating the importance of GIRFT in highlighting areas of good or unique practice. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of our day-case pathway and designated OMFS trauma service on compliance with recent recommendations by GIRFT and BADS. Secondly, it was to determine the safety of same-day discharge with regards to postoperative complications.

A proposal for a new classification of complications in craniosynostosis surgery.

OBJECTIVE Complications have been used extensively to facilitate evaluation of craniosynostosis practice. However, description of complications tends to be nonstandardized, making comparison difficult. The authors propose a new pragmatic classification of complications that relies on prospective data collection, is geared to capture significant morbidity as well as any "near misses" in a systematic fashion, and can be used as a quality improvement tool. METHODS Data on complications for all patients undergoing surgery for nonsyndromic craniosynostosis between 2010 and 2015 were collected from a prospective craniofacial audit database maintained at the authors' institution. Information on comorbidities, details of surgery, and follow-up was extracted from medical records, anesthetic and operation charts, and electronic databases. Complications were defined as any unexpected event that resulted or could have resulted in a temporary or permanent damage to the child. RESULTS A total of 108 operations for the treatment of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis were performed in 103 patients during the 5-year study period. Complications were divided into 6 types: 0) perioperative occurrences; 1) inpatient complications; 2) outpatient complications not requiring readmission; 3) complications requiring readmission; 4) unexpected long-term deficit; and 5) mortality. These types were further subdivided according to the length of stay and time after discharge. The overall complication rate was found to be 35.9%. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of children with some sort of complication using the proposed definition was much higher than commonly reported, predominantly due to the inclusion of problems often dismissed as minor. The authors believe that these complications should be included in determining complication rates, as they will cause distress to families and may point to potential areas for improving a surgical service.

Osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle: an unusual case of dentofacial asymmetry.

An osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle is a rare tumour of the maxillofacial region that could first present to the general dental practitioner. This case report describes an osteochondroma of the posterio-medial mandibular condyle presenting with marked facial asymmetry and trismus over a six- month period. Appropriate referral and investigation enabled successful removal of the tumour, recontouring of the condyle and an uncomplicated, positive outcome for our patient. Clinical Relevance: Temporomandibular joint disorders can be a cause of dento-facial asymmetry. Pathology of the temporomandibular joint should be considered in the differential diagnosis when such a patient presents.

An Unusual Extranodal Presentation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in the Upper Lip.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a peak incidence in South-East Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa. A significant number of patients in the UK are affected. Extra-pulmonary TB presentation varies, and includes head and neck manifestations that can present on routine examination in the dental practice setting. We report an unusual case of extra-nodal TB in the upper lip, and provide some guidance to general dental practitioners on the presenting features of such lesions, and what to refer for further investigation where TB is included in the differential diagnosis. CPD/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case report highlights important factors in TB diagnosis, with particular emphasis on presenting features relevant to general dental practitioners, and informs on the accepted and current treatment regimen.

Does patient ethnicity affect site of craniosynostosis?

OBJECT: There are no published papers examining the role of ethnicity on suture involvement in nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. The authors sought to examine whether there is a significant difference in the epidemiological pattern of suture(s) affected between different ethnic groups attending a regional craniofacial clinic with a diagnosis of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective case-notes analysis of all cases involving patients attending a regional craniofacial clinic was undertaken. Cases were coded for the patients' declared ethnicity, suture(s) affected by synostosis, and the decision whether to have surgical correction of synostosis. The chi-square test was used to determine whether there were any differences in site of suture affected between ethnic groups. RESULTS: A total of 312 cases were identified. Of these 312 cases, ethnicity data were available for 296 cases (95%). The patient population was dominated by 2 ethnic groups: white patients (222 cases) and Asian patients (56 cases). There were both more cases of complex synostosis and fewer cases of sagittal synostosis than expected in the Asian patient cohort (χ(2) = 9.217, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of the various sutures affected within the nonsyndromic craniosynostosis patient cohort when Asian patients are compared with white patients. The data from this study also suggest that nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is more prevalent in the Asian community than in the white community, although there may be inaccuracies in the estimates of the background population data. A larger-scale, multinational analysis is needed to further evaluate the relationship between ethnicity and nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.

Access to the skull base: modular facial disassembly.

Access to the skull base is not new. The different modules of the facial skeleton can be removed to give access to the skull base based on target zones, which were first described by Grime et al in 1991. However, the vertical plane is not considered, and this article adds to the original classification and develops a decision-making algorithm for preferred access to identified lesions of the skull base.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in open reduction and internal fixation of compound mandibular fractures: a collaborative regional audit of outcome.

We conducted a regional 2-stage prospective audit involving 5 different maxillofacial units in the Yorkshire region of the UK to evaluate the effectiveness of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in the treatment of mandibular fractures. In the first stage (145 patients) we surveyed current practice concerning antimicrobial prophylaxis and found out the current infection rate after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of mandibular fractures. In the second stage (157 patients) we implemented a common antimicrobial protocol in all units and recorded the infection rates using the new regimen. In the first stage a wide range of antimicrobial prophylaxis was used in different units. The agreed perioperative antimicrobial protocol in the second stage was to begin amoxicillin or clarithromycin and metronidazole intravenously on admission and include 2 postoperative doses. The infection rates were 10.3% and 8.9%, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not significant (χ(2)=0.051, df=1, p=0.83). The infection rate in the Yorkshire region was similar to results from other centres. We recommend short perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis with a maximum of 2 postoperative doses after ORIF of mandibular fractures.

Inner table corticectomy of the fronto-orbital bar in correction of metopic and coronal craniosynostoses.

Fronto-orbital advancement is an established method for correction of metopic and coronal craniosynostoses. Many techniques involve creation of a single fronto-orbital bar that is then shaped with osteotomies with or without bone grafting. We present a technique that minimizes osteotomy of the frontal bar and gives superior lateral brow aesthetics.Standard fronto-orbital bar bone cuts are made without a midline osteotomy. Selective inner table corticectomy of the fronto-orbital bar allows the bone to become malleable without greensticking. The need for osteotomy of the fronto-orbital bar is obviated. An additional bandeau is created from the temporoparietal calvaria. The malleable fronto-orbital bar is then fixed to this bandeau. The frontal bar and bandeau complex is then advanced in a conventional manner. The remaining frontal calvaria is then rotated creating a more vertical forehead.This technique has been used in Leeds for more than 10 years with good cosmetic results. It has become our standard method for management of the fronto-orbital bar in correction of nonsyndromic metopic and coronal craniosynostoses.

Oral cancer teaching of medical students in the UK: time for a new approach?

Many patients with oral lesions present to general medical practitioners (GMPs). GMPs are also more likely to see patients with higher oral cancer risk. Therefore, GMPs play an important role in the early detection and prevention of oral cancer but is this reflected in undergraduate medical teaching. A questionnaire regarding oral cancer teaching was delivered to the curriculum directors of all UK medical schools. A response rate of 66% was achieved. There was wide variation in teaching time, teaching methods employed, and specialties involved. Sixty percent of schools provided clinical examination of patients with oral lesions. Up to 55% of medical schools included oral cancer in student assessment. There is wide variation in oral cancer teaching in UK medical schools. There is a need to develop a curriculum that addresses the important aspects of oral cancer from an evidence-based consensus approach.

Oral cancer awareness amongst hospital nursing staff: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is as prevalent as cervical and testicular cancer in the United Kingdom. Nursing staff provide the oral health care for the patient population in hospital. Admission to hospital provides a 'window of opportunity' for oral cancer 'screening' via an oral health check during nursing clerking. This study aimed to investigate whether nursing staff are aware of risk factors for oral cancer, its clinical signs, and could therefore provide a 'screening' service for oral cancer. METHOD: Through the use of a questionnaire we assessed 121 nursing staff on oral health check behaviour and attitudes; their knowledge of risk factors for oral cancer; their understanding of common clinical signs of oral cancer; and their undergraduate and postgraduate training in oral health and oral cancer. RESULTS: Over 80% thought oral health checks were important although only 49% performed this task regularly; approximately 70% identified smoking as a risk factor but less than 30% identified alcohol. Awareness of the clinical signs of oral cancer was low with 21% identifying white patches, 15% identifying ulceration and only 2% identifying red patches despite their malignant potential. Nurses within 3 years of qualification were significantly better at recognising risk factors for oral cancer than their colleagues, identifying a need for continuing postgraduate education on oral health and oral cancer. Sixty-one percent of nursing staff received oral healthcare as an undergraduate with 34 percent receiving postgraduate training. CONCLUSION: An oral health check upon admission to hospital provides an opportunity for nurses to 'screen' for oral diseases including oral cancer and allows nurses a greater role in total patient care. Nurses' awareness of oral cancer risk factors and clinical signs was, however, poor. This study highlights a need for improved education of nurses on oral cancer to make the oral health check on admission viable for oral cancer screening.

Carotid artery injury from an airgun pellet: a case report and review of the literature.

Historically airguns were powerful weapons. Modern models, though less lethal, are still capable of inflicting serious or life threatening injuries. Current United Kingdom legislation fails to take into the account the capacity for airguns to maim and kill. We believe that airguns should be governed by the same law that applies to firearms. We present a case of a potentially fatal airgun injury to the neck. The airgun pellet caused a defect in the anterior wall of the external carotid artery, which required rapid access and surgical repair. We discuss the mechanism of airgun injury and review the literature in terms of investigation and management.

Lingual infarction in Wegener's Granulomatosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a multi-system disease, characterised by the triad of necrotising granulomata affecting the upper and lower respiratory tracts, disseminated vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. Oral lesions are associated with up to 50% of cases, although are rare as a presenting feature. The most common oral lesions associated with WG are ulceration and strawberry gingivitis. We review the literature regarding oral manifestations of WG and present a case of lingual infarction, an extremely rare oral lesion associated with WG, in a severe, rapidly progressive and ultimately fatal form of the disease.

Penetrating facial injury from angle grinder use: management and prevention.

Injuries resulting from the use of angle grinders are numerous. The most common sites injured are the head and face. The high speed disc of angle grinders does not respect anatomical boundaries or structures and thus the injuries produced can be disfiguring, permanently disabling or even fatal. However, aesthetically pleasing results can be achieved with thorough debridement, resection of wound edges and careful layered functional closure after reduction and fixation of facial bone injuries. A series of penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use are presented and the management and prevention of these injuries discussed.

The median artery: its potential implications for the radial forearm flap.

The median artery is an infrequent anomaly with a highly variable origin and course in the forearm. It is associated with other local anatomical variations, and may contribute significantly to the superficial palmar arch. We describe the incidental finding of a palmar median artery during harvesting of a radial forearm flap despite normal preoperative Allen's test and colour Doppler ultrasonography. A review of the anatomy and embryology suggests that there is an association of a persistent palmar median artery and an incomplete palmar arch, and that the median artery may arise from the radial artery, leading to an increased risk of hand ischaemia if it is sacrificed during harvesting. In this case the origin of the median artery was not encountered, and the patient did not develop ischaemia. We suggest that in the event of finding such an artery, the surgeon must be vigilant in order to ensure its origin is not ligated during harvesting.

Facial pseudotumours A case report and review of their management.

The term inflammatory pseudotumour is given to a group of benign lesions, which are comprised of spindle myofibroblasts and chronic inflammatory cells. They rarely present out with the orbit in the head and neck and can appear sinister in their clinical and radiological presentation. Local resection is curative, whilst steroids and radiotherapy can be helpful adjuncts. Accurate histological diagnosis is essential to avoid radical and disfiguring resections being undertaken.