Impacted dentures in the pharynx and esophagus - Implication for advocacy.

Background: Impaction of dentures has potentially significant morbidity and management challenges. This study sought to leverage on the occurrence of swallowed dentures to advance discussions on its management and prevention. Methods: A 5-year retrospective review of patients seen on account of impacted dentures at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital was done. Variables obtained included age, sex, location of impacted denture, treatment done, denture type, number of teeth, and complications. Variables were analyzed, and descriptive summaries were reported. Results: There was a record of 898 cases of impacted foreign bodies which presented to the department. Fifty-five (6.1%) records were on account of impacted dentures. These consisted of 25 (45%) males and 30 (55%) females. Ranging from 23 to 98 years, the mean and median ages were 55.7 (±18.1) years and 56.5 years respectively. There were no complications, and no identifiable predisposing patient conditions. All prostheses were removable acrylic dentures, and some observations included worn-out and loose dentures, while several had their prostheses dislodging in the process of swallowing tablet medications with water. Conclusion: Swallowed dentures are not rare occurrences in Ghana. Denture wearers should, therefore, be encouraged to get professional reviews, especially when prostheses get unretentive, while dental professionals are urged to incorporate measures in their fabrication to reduce the occurrence of swallowed dentures.

Résumé Contexte: L'impaction des prothèses dentaires présente des problèmes de morbidité et de gestion potentiellement importants. Cette étude visait à tirer parti de la survenue de prothèses avalées pour faire avancer les discussions sur sa prise en charge et sa prévention. Méthodes: Une étude rétrospective sur 5 ans des patients vus en raison de prothèses impactées au service des oreilles, du nez et de la gorge de l'hôpital universitaire de Korle Bu a été réalisée. Les variables obtenues comprenaient l'âge, le sexe, l'emplacement de la prothèse incluse, le traitement effectué, le type de prothèse, le nombre de dents et les complications. Les variables ont été analysées et des résumés descriptifs ont été rapportés. Résultats: On dénombre 898 cas de corps étrangers impactés qui se sont présentés au service. Cinquante-cinq (6,1 %) dossiers concernaient des dentiers impactés. Il s'agissait de 25 (45 %) hommes et 30 (55 %) femmes. Allant de 23 à 98 ans, les âges moyen et médian étaient respectivement de 55,7 (±18,1) ans et 56,5 ans. Il n'y a eu aucune complication et aucun état prédisposant identifiable du patient. Toutes les prothèses étaient des prothèses amovibles en acrylique, et certaines observations incluaient des prothèses usées et desserrées, tandis que plusieurs avaient leurs prothèses se délogant en avalant des médicaments en comprimés avec de l'eau. Conclusion: Les dentiers avalés ne sont pas rares au Ghana. Les porteurs de prothèses dentaires devraient donc être encouragés à obtenir des examens professionnels, en particulier lorsque les prothèses deviennent non rétentives, tandis que les professionnels dentaires sont invités à intégrer des mesures dans leur fabrication pour réduire l'apparition de prothèses avalées. Mots-clés: Dentier, Œsophage, Ghana, impacté, avalé.

A rare case of multiple minor salivary gland sialoliths in the masseteric region.

We report a case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with swelling of the right cheek. CT Scan showed three calculi located anteromedial to the masseter, and well isolated from other major salivary glands. Calculi were surgically removed with standard intraoral incision and exploration.

Paediatric maxillofacial fractures in Ghana: Pattern, household cost, and distress.

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial fractures in the paediatric population are peculiar in risks, management, and potential complications. AIM: To determine the pattern, psychological distress to parents, and economic cost of paediatric maxillofacial fractures in Ghana. DESIGN: This study combined a retrospective evaluation with a cross-sectional cost-of-illness (COI) analysis to describe the pattern and economic cost of paediatric maxillofacial fractures in Ghana. The DASS 21 was used to assess psychological distress to parents. Descriptive summaries were generated, and cross-tabulations done, with consequent tests of associations. RESULTS: In all, 253 patients were included in the study, with 68 households responding to the COI evaluation. Consisting of 179 (70.8%) males and 74 (29.2%) females, the ages ranged from 10 months to 17 years (mean age of 9.0 ± 5.0 years). Maxillofacial fractures frequently resulted from falls (56.5%), while traffic injuries accounted for 27.3%. The average household cost for paediatric maxillofacial fractures in Ghana was US$ 148.77, with the direct cost component accounting for 76% of this amount. At least half of the parents had some degree of psychological distress from the injury sustained. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the pattern and disease burden of maxillofacial fractures in children is vital in informing preventive strategies, especially for evolving health systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Salivary gland neoplasms: A 10-year review of a major referral center in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathologic features of salivary gland tumors (SGTs) that were managed at a major referral center in Ghana. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of all histologically diagnosed and managed Ghanaian patients with SGTs during the period January 2008 to December 2017. Information collected included age, gender, affected gland, presenting symptom, treatment modality, histologic diagnosis, and complications. Descriptive summaries of variables were generated. The χ2 test with Fisher's test was used to compare categorical variables with subsequent testing of association. RESULTS: The study included 116 patients, with 49 males (42.2%) and 67 females (57.8%), representing a ratio of 1:1.4. There were 82 (70.7%) benign SGTs and 34 (29.3%) malignant SGTs. The most common benign SGT was pleomorphic adenoma, which accounted for 62.1% of all SGTs. Malignant SGTs occurred more in older people, and the occurrence of SGTs was significantly at a lower age in males compared with females. CONCLUSIONS: Although the general pattern of SGTs did not seem to differ significantly in comparison with the findings of a review performed 10 years earlier, the findings of this study could inform hypotheses generation for future studies to explore the risk factors and associations peculiar to the Ghanaian environment.

Severe odontogenic infections: a 5-year review of a major referral hospital in Ghana.

INTRODUCTION: Odontogenic infections are fairly common in healthcare settings. However, late presentations such as Ludwig's angina, facial cellulitis, necrotizing cervical fasciitis (NCF), among others could lead to mortality. In view of suggestions that the occurrence of severe, near-fatal odontogenic infections is declining, this study set out to determine the incidence of such severe odontogenic infections over the past 5 years at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, a major referral centre in Ghana. METHODS: A retrospective review was done, involving all patients with severe odontogenic infection, thereby requiring admission, per stated criteria at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Dental clinic), Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, in the period between July 2012 and July 2017. The cumulative incidence for the respective years were then computed for the years of review. RESULTS: A total of 243 patients were included in the study. This consisted of 121 males and 122 females, with an average age of 42.9 years (SD = 16.6), ranging from 18 months to 91 years. Incidence proportions for the years of the review were 8.2, 8.9, 17.7, 17.9 and 27.7 people per 1000 cases of tooth-related infections for the respective years. With a fatality rate of 5.8%, the incidence of odontogenic infections among patients attending the outpatient Dental clinic of the hospital is 40.3%, while that of dentoalveolar abscess is 6.2%. Ludwig's angina was the commonest (52%) form of presentation of spreading odontogenic infection. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of persisting severe, near-fatal odontogenic infections in Ghana. Not only is there a need to assess the public, professional and institutional strategies to management, but for more evidence-based studies in our local setting to aid in management.

A comparative study of the efficacy of intravenous benzylpenicillin and intravenous augmentin in the empirical management of Ludwig's angina.

Background: Ludwig's angina is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by bilateral cellulitis of the submandibular, submental, and sublingual spaces. Intravenous (I.V) penicillin G or amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) has been recommended for use as empirical management before obtaining culture and sensitivity results. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacies and clinical outcomes of I.V benzylpenicillin with I.V Augmentin in the empirical management of Ludwig's angina. Methods: This was a prospective randomized clinical study carried out to measure the rate of swelling reduction (using the lobar rate, Adam's rate, and interincisal distance) and other clinical parameters among the two drug groups (I.V penicillin G and Augmentin). Descriptive summaries of variables were generated, and Student's t-test was used to compare the mean outcomes of the two groups. Results: A total of 26 individuals participated in the study, consisting of 46% (12) males and 54% (14) females. The participants ranged from 13 to 61 years with mean and median of 34.4 (±12.7) and 35 years, respectively. Only 8% of the cases of Ludwig's angina were not attributable to odontogenic factors, compared to 92% resulting from odontogenic causes. There was no significant difference in the efficacy of the two antibiotics used in this study. Conclusion: The efficacies and the clinical outcomes of the two antibiotics were similar. Benzylpenicillin is probably a suitable empirical alternative where Augmentin cannot be afforded, to reduce the mortality associated with the condition.

RésuméContexte: L'angine de Ludwig est une condition potentiellement mortelle caractérisée par la cellulite bilatérale des espaces sousmandibulaires, sousmentaux et souslinguaux. On a recommandé la pénicilline (I.V) intraveineuse G ou l'amoxicilline-clavulanate (Augmentin) pour l'utilisation comme la gestion(direction) empirique avant l'obtention de résultats de sensibilité et la culture. Objectif: Le but de cette étude était de comparer les efficacités thérapeutiques et les résultats cliniques d'I.V benzylpenicillin avec I.V Augmentin dans la gestion(direction) empirique de l'angine de Ludwig. Procédés: C'était une étude clinique randomisée éventuelle a effectué mesurer le taux de réduction se gonflant (utilisant le taux de lobar, le taux d'Adam et la distance interincisal) et d'autres paramètres cliniques parmi les deux groupes de médicament (la pénicilline I.V G et Augmentin). Les résumés descriptifs de variables ont été produits et le t-test de l'Étudiant a été utilisé pour comparer les résultats moyens des deux groupes. Résultats: un total de 26 individus a participé à l'étude, consistant de 46 % (12) mâles et 54 % (14) femelles. Les participants se sont étendus de 13 à 61 ans avec moyen et médian de 34.4 (±12.7) et 35 ans, respectivement. Seulement 8 % des cas(affaires) de l'angine de Ludwig n'étaient pas attribuables aux facteurs odontogenic, comparés à 92 % résultant odontogenic des causes. Il n'y avait aucune différence significative dans l'efficacité des deux antibiotiques utilisés dans cette étude. Conclusion: Il n'y avait aucune différence significative dans les efficacités des deux antibiotiques dans le résultat clinique de traitement. Benzylpenicillin est probablement une alternative empirique appropriée où Augmentin ne peut pas avoir droit, réduire la mortalité associée à la condition.

Congenital maxillomandibular syngnathia: case report.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital maxillomandibular fusion is a very rare condition with few cases reported. Cases of combinations of bony or soft tissue adhesions between the mandible and maxilla with cleft of the lip or palate, aglossia, popliteal pterygium and van der Woude syndrome have been reported. CASE REPORT: The aim of this paper is to report a case of fibrous maxillomandibular fusion of the jaws, with synechiae of buccal mucosa and the gingivae, which was referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial team of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana soon after delivery. Separation of the fusion was done under nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation. Cleft of the hard palate was discovered during surgery. CONCLUSION: Maxillomandibular syngnathia is considered rare and synechiae with other maxillofacial abnormalities without syngnathia could exist and should not be ruled out. This report adds more information to the literature, by reporting a baby with synechiae and a cleft of the palate. Prompt, definitive diagnosis and management of other abnormalities in the baby could only be done under deep sedation. This was necessary to avoid deformity and early death.

Tumours and tumour-like lesions of the lower face at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana--an eight year study.

BACKGROUND: The oro-facial region including the jawbones, the maxilla and mandible and related tissues can be the site of a multitude of neoplastic conditions. These tumours have a predilection for the entire facial region; however, odontogenic tumours tend to affect the mandible more than the maxilla, especially, in West African children. We report results from a retrospective study spanning eight years on the frequency, clinical presentation, sites and character of lower face tumours seen in the main referral hospital in Ghana. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of consecutive patients of all age and sex seen by the first author's team at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital with tumours affecting the lower part of the face from January 1996 to December 2003 were retrieved, coded and entered into a database. The data were then analyzed by age, sex, presenting signs and symptoms, site of lesion, and their histology. RESULTS: A total of 394 patients with oro-facial swellings were retrieved from the registry out of which 210 had lower face tumour and tumour-like lesions. The complete data set was obtained for 171 patients, comprising 99 (58%) males and 72 (42%) females. The most common clinical presenting features were mandibular facial swelling (63%), intra-oral swelling (55%), pain (41%) and ulceration (29%). The tumours were predominantly found in the right (43%), anterior (19%) and left (18%) aspects of the lower face. The remainder making up 20% were found in the floor of the mouth, tongue and lips. Seventy eight (45.6%) of the patients presented with lesions that were classified as malignant of which 54 (62%) were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Sixty-two (36.3%) had benign odontogenic tumours and thirty-one (18.1%) had non-odontogenic tumour-like lesions. Fifty-four (62%) of malignant tumours were squamous cell carcinoma; 58 (93.6%) of the benign odontogenic tumours were classified as ameloblastoma. The mean age at presentation of all lesions was 40.4 years with over 50% of benign lesions in patients aged between 11 and 30 years. Malignant tumours were more commonly detected in patients between 41 and 70 years (63%). CONCLUSION: Tumours and tumour-like lesions of the lower face comprising the mandible, tongue and adjacent structures are a diverse group of neoplasm and are seen commonly in practice of Maxillofacial surgery. Both malignant and benign tumours are seen in the Ghanaian population. In the present study, SCC and ameloblastoma were the commonest malignant and benign odontogenic tumours seen respectively; the two representing more than 65% of all tumours.

Brief chewing of Garcinia manii stick reverses reduced saliva pH after a glucose rinse.

BACKGROUND: A popular variety of wood, pieces of which are chewed as an oral hygiene practice in Southern Ghana, was tested for its capacity to reverse experimentally lowered pH of saliva. This was done to determine whether (Garcinia manii) stick-chewing neutralizes acidogenic challenge to teeth, and thereby potentially affords dental caries prevention benefit. MATERIAL/METHODS: Seventy-two volunteer medical students gave (baseline) saliva samples by spitting 3-4 times into a 25 ml conical flask. They then rinsed their mouths with a five-percent aqueous solution of glucose. Subsequent to the glucose rinse, half of the subjects (chewers), pre-selected by drawing lots, chewed a popular chewing stick Garcinia manii for five minutes, while the other half (controls) did not. The pH of saliva samples given by the volunteers at various time intervals was measured using a Kent EIL 7020 pH meter, and the results were analysed by the Analysis of Variance (Anova) method. RESULTS: As expected, saliva pH was reduced in both groups after the glucose rinse, but increased significantly faster in stick chewers compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested from this study that brief (Garcina manii) stick-chewing confers a caries prevention/control benefit by reversing acidogenic challenge to teeth.