Congenital heart defects in orofacial cleft: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are one of the most common associated anomalies in patients with an orofacial cleft (OFC). However, few studies have shown the association between cleft type and CHDs in our population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of CHDs in a cohort of OFC patients at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria, as well as assess the risk of CHD by OFC type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study design. Patients with an OFC were consecutively enrolled at a single OFC treatment facility. All subjects were assessed by a paediatric cardiologist and had echocardiography done. They were categorised based on the presence of CHDs, as well as the OFC phenotypic type (cleft lip and/or alveolus, cleft lip and palate and cleft palate only). Statistical analysis was done using STATA version 14 (College Station, Texas), and significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 150 subjects enrolled in the study over a period of 2 years (2018-2020). The median age of subjects was 6 months (interquartile range: 2-24), and 54.7% were female. The prevalence of CHDs in the subjects reviewed was 30.7%. Based on the severity of CHDs, the majority presented with simple defects (95.6%). Overall, the most common presentation was patent foramen ovale (12.7%), followed by septal defects (8.0%). There was no significant association between cleft type and the odds of a CHD. CONCLUSION: The study reports a relatively high prevalence of CHDs in patients with OFC; however, there was no association between the risk of CHD by cleft type. Although a majority of CHDs may pose a low operative risk, cardiac evaluation is recommended for all cases of OFC to aid the identification of potentially high-risk cases.

Missense Variants Within GJB2 Gene Locus and the Risk of Hearing Defects in Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and Palate.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of variants in GJB2 gene in the etiology of hearing defects in nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate. METHOD: Saliva samples were obtained from cases (subjects with orofacial clefts) and control (subjects without orofacial clefts) who consented to the study. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted using standardized protocol at Butali Lab (Iowa, IA). Primers for the coding region of GJB2 was designed using Primer 3 (http://bioinfo.ut.ee/primer3-0.4.0/) and optimized in the Butali lab using a gradient polymerase chain reaction to determine the annealing temperature for each primer set (forward and reverse). We measured the DNA concentration using Qubit and XY genotyping done for quality control. A concentration of 5 ng/µL of DNA was used for Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 150 subjects were sequenced (66 cases; 84 controls). Mutations in GJB2 gene were detected in 2 individuals with cleft palate. We found p.Arg165Trp variant in 1 case and p.Leu81Val variant in the second case. Although p.Arg165Trp was predicted to be either benign or tolerated by SIFT/POLYPHEN, the single nucleotide change from C>T, that is, CGG>TGG leads to a premature stop codon preventing the protein formation. The p.Leu81Val variant was predicted to be probably damaging/ deleterious. CONCLUSIONS: The present study implicates variants in the GJB2 gene in the etiology of hearing defects in nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate in the Nigerian population. Screening for variations in GJB2 gene is important for genetic counseling especially in high-risk families.

Management of Orofacial Cleft in Nigeria - A Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are among the most common craniofacial developmental abnormalities worldwide and a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to identify patterns of patient presentation, treatment approaches, and changes in our overall cleft care service between 2007 and 2019. METHODS AND METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review of patients managed at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria of all OFC cases operated between 2007 and 2019 was done using the postintervention data retrieved from the Smile Train database. Data of all OFC cases operated within the period were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. RESULTS: A total number of 740 OFC surgeries were performed in 565 patients, consisting of 269 females (48.2%) and 289 males (51.8%). The majority (63%) of the patients presented before the age of 2 years. Thirty-seven percent presented with cleft lip and alveolus, 27.1% with cleft palate only, and 36.7% with cleft lip, alveolus, and palate. Primary cleft lip repair was the most performed surgery (n = 320, 43.2%), the mean age at repair was 2.1 years. Since 2017, additional services such as speech therapy, mixed dentition orthodontics, and nutritional support were added to services provided to our cleft patients. Fifteen patients have undergone speech assessment and three have completed speech treatment. Eight patients have undergone mixed dentition stage orthodontic treatment. DISCUSSION: Our services have evolved from simply providing surgical care to comprehensive care with a multidisciplinary team approach and provision of a wide range of services including nutritional counseling, pediatric care, orthodontic services, and speech therapy. We believe these will improve the overall well-being of our patients while we continue to improve on services based on clinical research outcomes.

Parental Age and the Risk of Cleft Lip and Palate in a Nigerian Population - A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Orofacial clefts are one of the most common congenital malformations in the facial region. Older maternal or paternal age presents higher odds of a child with an orofacial cleft. The objective of the study was to assess the association between parental age and risk of orofacial cleft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control study among 110 parents of children with orofacial cleft (case group) and 110 parents of children without orofacial cleft (control group). Information on maternal age, paternal age, and type of orofacial cleft in the children were obtained. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square analysis, and bivariate logistic regressions to measure the association between parental age and orofacial cleft. The value of P was <0.05, with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Information on 219 children (109 cases and 110 controls) was analyzed, of which 52% were females. One respondent from the case group withdrew from the study. The odds of a child with orofacial cleft was statistically significantly lower in mothers aged 26-35 years compared to mothers aged 25 years and less (odds ratio [OR]: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.79). Similarly, fathers aged above 35 years had statistically significantly lower odds of children with orofacial cleft than those 25 years and less (OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.99). DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that mothers aged 26-35 years may have lower odds of giving birth to babies with orofacial clefts, compared to younger mothers. Similarly, fathers aged above 35 years may have lower odds of giving birth to a child with orofacial cleft compared to fathers aged 25 years and less.

A comparative study of quality of life of families with children born with cleft lip and/or palate before and after surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) of parents/caregivers of children with cleft lip and/or palate before and after surgical repair of an orofacial cleft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Families of subjects who required either primary or secondary orofacial cleft repair who satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited. A preoperative and postoperative health-related QoL questionnaire, the 'Impact on Family Scale' (IOFS), was applied in order to detect the subjectively perceived QoL in the affected family before and after surgical intervention. The mean pre- and postoperative total scores were compared using paired t-test. Pre- and postoperative mean scores were also compared across the 5 domains of the IOFS. RESULTS: The proportion of families whose QoL was affected before surgery was 95.7%. The domains with the greatest impact preoperatively were the financial domain and social domains. Families having children with bilateral cleft lip showed QoL effects mostly in the social domain and 'impact on sibling' domain. Postoperatively, the mean total QoL score was significantly lower than the mean preoperative QoL score, indicating significant improvement in QoL (P<0.001). The mean postoperative QoL score was also significantly lower than the mean preoperative QoL score in all domains. Only 3.2% of the families reported affectation of their QoL after surgery. The domains of mastery (61.3%) with a mean of 7.4±1.8 and finance (45.1%) with a mean score of 7.2±1.6 were those showing the greatest postoperative impact. The proportion of families whose QoL was affected by orofacial cleft was markedly different after treatment (95.7% preoperative and 3.2% postoperative). CONCLUSION: Caring for children with orofacial clefts significantly reduces the QoL of parents/caregivers in all domains. However, surgical intervention significantly improves the QoL of the parents/caregivers of these children.

Novel IRF6 mutations in families with Van Der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome from sub-Saharan Africa.

Orofacial clefts (OFC) are complex genetic traits that are often classified as syndromic or nonsyndromic clefts. Currently, there are over 500 types of syndromic clefts in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database, of which Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is one of the most common (accounting for 2% of all OFC). Popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) is considered to be a more severe form of VWS. Mutations in the IRF6 gene have been reported worldwide to cause VWS and PPS. Here, we report studies of families with VWS and PPS in sub-Saharan Africa. We screened the DNA of eight families with VWS and one family with PPS from Nigeria and Ethiopia by Sanger sequencing of the most commonly affected exons in IRF6 (exons 3, 4, 7, and 9). For the VWS families, we found a novel nonsense variant in exon 4 (p.Lys66X), a novel splice-site variant in exon 4 (p.Pro126Pro), a novel missense variant in exon 4 (p.Phe230Leu), a previously reported splice-site variant in exon 7 that changes the acceptor splice site, and a known missense variant in exon 7 (p.Leu251Pro). A previously known missense variant was found in exon 4 (p.Arg84His) in the PPS family. All the mutations segregate in the families. Our data confirm the presence of IRF6-related VWS and PPS in sub-Saharan Africa and highlights the importance of screening for novel mutations in known genes when studying diverse global populations. This is important for counseling and prenatal diagnosis for high-risk families.

Van der Woude syndrome: a review of 11 cases seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Van der Woude syndrome (VWS), an autosomal dominant condition associated with clefts of the lip and/or palate and lower lip pits and is caused by mutations in interferon regulatory factor six gene. It is reported to be the most common syndromic cleft world-wide. Non-penetrance for the lip pit phenotype is found in at least 10% of affected individuals and those without the pits are phenocopies for non-syndromic clefting. The aim of this study is to present the phenotypic characteristic of VWS seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) cleft clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of cases of patients with VWS that attended the cleft lip and palate clinic at the LUTH Idi-Araba, Lagos, from January 2007 to December 2012 was conducted. Data analyses included sex of affected patients, types of cleft, presence of lower lip pits and history of lower lip pits/cleft in the family. RESULTS: A total of 11 cases were seen during the period (male = 4; female = 7). Age at presentation ranged between 1 week and 12 years, with majority (n = 10) less than 2 years of age. Bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) was seen in six patients, isolated soft palatal cleft (n = 3) and unilateral cleft lip and alveolus (n = 1) and cleft of hard and soft palate (n = 1). Bilateral lower lips were presented in 10 out of the 11 cases. The mother of the only patient without lip pits presented with bilateral lower lip pits. No family history of cleft/lip pits was elicited in 10 other cases. CONCLUSION: Most of the cases of VWS presented with BCLP and lower lip pits. Non-penetrance for the lip pits was seen in one out of 11 cases. Our study emphasizes the need to screen family members in all cleft cases, especially clinically diagnosed non-syndromic cases who may be VWS with no lip pits. Future studies are required to investigate the genetic causes of this syndrome in our population.

Prevalence and bacteriology of bacteremia associated with cleft lip and palate surgery.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and bacteriology of bacteremia associated with cleft lip and palate (CLP) surgery. Three venous blood samples were obtained from 90 eligible subjects who presented for CLP surgery: before surgical incision, 1 minute after placement of the last suture, and 15 minutes thereafter. The samples were injected into an Oxoid Signal blood culture and transported to the laboratory for gram-positive/negative and aerobic/anaerobic bacteria analysis. Prevalence of bacteremia associated with cleft surgery was 38.1%. Prevalence rates of bacteremia in cleft lip surgery, cleft palate surgery, and alveoloplasty were 40.9%, 33.3%, and 50%, respectively. There was no significant difference in prevalence rate of positive blood culture in cleft lip surgery, cleft palate surgery, and alveoloplasty (P = 0.69). Positive blood culture was detected most frequently (47%) 1 minute after placement of the last suture. Of the 23 subjects who had positive blood culture at 1 minute, bacteremia persisted in 8 (35%) of them after 15 minutes. The most common bacteria isolated were coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Acinetobacter lwoffii, and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Sex and age of the subjects, duration of surgery, blood loss, and type of cleft surgery were not significantly associated with positive blood culture. Bacteremia associated with CLP surgery is polymicrobial and persisted for at least 15 minutes after surgery in 35% of cases. This may reinforce the need for prophylactic antibiotics to protect at-risk patients from developing focal infection of the heart by oral flora.

Is healing outcome of 2 weeks intermaxillary fixation different from that of 4 to 6 weeks intermaxillary fixation in the treatment of mandibular fractures?

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to compare the healing outcome of a short period (2 weeks) of intermaxillary fixation (IMF) with conventional (4-6 weeks) IMF in the management of fractures of the mandibular tooth-bearing area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, between November 2007 and January 2009. Subjects with minimally displaced mandibular fractures in the tooth-bearing area were randomly allocated into 2 treatment groups: IMF for 2 weeks (study group) or IMF for 4 to 6 weeks (control group). For the purpose of study analysis, the primary predictor variable was the treatment (IMF for 2 weeks vs IMF for 4-6 weeks). Other predictor variables were the age and gender of subjects. The primary healing outcome was considered either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The following outcome variables that described the healing process were also compared in the 2 groups: healing time, postoperative infection, paresthesia, and maximal interincisal opening. Loss of body weight and oral hygiene status at the end of treatment were compared in the 2 groups. A value of P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Satisfactory healing was observed in all cases in both groups. However, satisfactory healing was observed earlier (5.4 ± 0.9 weeks) in the control group than in patients with the short IMF period (7.2 ± 0.9 weeks) (P < .001). Malocclusion that was amenable to selective grinding was the only complication seen in both groups (n = 2 in study group and n = 1 in control group) (P = .492). Subjects in the control group lost more weight after treatment than those in the study group (P < .001). The recovery of interincisal mouth opening was also better in the study group than in the control group (P < .001). The study group had better oral hygiene than the control group at the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The healing outcome was comparable in both groups. However, the healing time was significantly longer in the group with the short IMF period. The recovery of maximal mouth opening, oral hygiene status, and loss of weight body in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group. This study suggests that a short period (2 weeks) of IMF in the management of minimally displaced mandibular fractures of the tooth-bearing area in young adults is a suitable alternative to the conventional method in terms of the healing outcome.

Oral health-related quality of life following non-surgical (routine) tooth extraction: A pilot study.

AIM: The study was designed to explore the changes in oral health-related quality of life (QoL) in the immediate postoperative period following routine (non-surgical) dental extraction. SETTING AND DESIGN: A prospective study carried out at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects attending who required non-surgical removal of one or two teeth under local anesthesia were included in the study. A baseline QoL questionnaire (oral health impact profile-14 [OHIP-14]) was filled by each patient just before surgery, and only those who were considered to have their QoL "not affected" (total score 14 or less) were included in the study. After the extraction, each subject was given a modified form of "health related QoL" [OHIP-14]-instrument to be completed by the 3(rd) day-after surgery, and were given the opportunity to review the questionnaire on the 7(th) day postoperative review. RESULTS: Total OHIP-14 scores ranged between 14 and 48 (mean ± SD, 26.2 ± 8.3). Majority of the subjects (60%) reported, "a little affected." Only few subjects (5.8%) reported, "not at all affected," and about 32% reported, "quite a lot." Summation of OHIP-14 scores revealed that QoL was "affected" in 41 subjects (34.2%) and "not affected" in 79 subjects (65.8%). More than 30% of subjects reported that their ability to chew, ability to open the mouth and enjoyment of food were affected following tooth extraction. Few subjects (14-34%) reported deterioration in their speech and less than 20% of subjects reported that change in their appearance was "affected." Only few subjects (12.5-15.1%) reported sleep and duty impairment. Thirty-percent of subjects reported their inability to keep social activities, and 41% were not able to continue with their favorite sports and hobbies. Multiple regression analysis revealed no significant association between age, sex, indications for extraction, duration of extraction, intra-operative complications, and deterioration in QoL (P < 0.05). Consumption of analgesics beyond postoperative day 1 (POD1) was more common in subjects with socket healing complications than those without (P = 0.000). About 33% of subjects reported, "inability to work" (1-3 days). CONCLUSION: About a third of subjects experienced significant deterioration in QoL. The most affected domains were eating/diet variation and speech variation. Therefore, patients should be informed of possible deterioration in their QoL following non-surgical tooth extraction.

A randomized comparison of the effect of partial and total wound closure techniques on postoperative morbidity after mandibular third molar surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of total and partial wound closure techniques on immediate postoperative tissue reactions and complications after mandibular third molar surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled study was carried out at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. Patients were randomly allocated to partial (group I) and total (group II) wound closure groups. Data were collected on pain, trismus, swelling, and complications experienced by the patients. Data analysis was carried out with SPSS software for Windows (version 13.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL) and GenStat (Discovery Edition, 2005; VSN International Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK). RESULTS: We studied 82 patients, consisting of 54 female and 28 male patients, with mandibular third molar teeth impaction. There were 40 patients (48.8%) in group I and 42 patients (51.2%) in group II. A statistically significant reduction in facial swelling (P = .001) was found in group I compared with group II, but no difference was recorded for pain and trismus. Group I presented with significant postoperative reactionary bleeding (P = .007), but no difference was recorded between the 2 groups regarding dry socket and socket infection. CONCLUSION: The partial wound closure technique after third molar surgery was considered to be associated with more postoperative morbidity, in view of the distressing nature of reactionary bleeding that was found to be associated with it. However, patients should be adequately informed about the possibility of attendant facial swelling each time the technique of total wound closure is used.

Blood transfusion requirements in cleft lip surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Cleft lip surgery is a common procedure performed by surgeons worldwide. The aim of the study was to determine blood transfusion requirements and factors influencing blood transfusion in cleft lip surgery. METHODS: Transfusion rate in 100 consecutive patients who had cleft lip surgery was prospectively evaluated at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Data collected included age and sex of patients, type of cleft defects, type of surgery done, preoperative haematocrit, duration of surgery, amount of blood loss during surgery, the number of units of blood cross-matched and those used. Cardiovascular parameters at the point of transfusion were also recorded. Each patient was made to donate a unit of homologous blood prior to surgery. RESULTS: Mean estimated blood loss during surgery was 26.5 ± 47.1 ml. Most patients (92%) lost between 2 and 50 ml of blood. Mean estimated blood loss in unilateral cleft lip surgery was not significantly differently from that of bilateral cleft lip surgery (P=0.46). Only five patients (5%) required blood transfusion. The mean blood transfused was 50.0 ± 16.9 ml. All the patients transfused had a preoperative haematocrit of <30% (23-27%). The cross-match-to-transfusion ratio for cleft surgery was 20. The transfusion index was 0.05 and overall blood-ordering quotient was 20. CONCLUSION: Cleft lip surgery is a low volume blood loss surgery. Homologous blood donation prior to cleft lip surgery in patients with preoperative haematocrit of 30% or more is not necessary. For patients with preoperative haematocrit of less than 30%, type and screen of donated blood should be adequate.

Frequency of homologous blood transfusion in patients undergoing cleft lip and palate surgery.

AIM: The study aims to determine the frequency of homologous blood transfusion in patientsundergoing cleft lip and palate surgery at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. SETTING AND DESIGN: A prospective study of transfusion rate in cleft surgery conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients who required cleft lip and palate surgery were recruited into the study. Data collected included age, sex and weight of patients, type of cleft defects, type of surgery done, preoperative haematocrit, duration of surgery, amount of blood loss during surgery, the number of units of blood cross-matched and those used. Each patient was made to donate a unit of homologous blood prior to surgery. RESULTS: There were 52 females and 48 males with a mean age of 64.4 ± 101.1 months (range, 3-420 months). The most common cleft defect was isolated cleft palate (45%) followed by unilateral cleft lip (28%). Cleft palate repair was the most common procedure (45%) followed by unilateral cleft lip repair (41%). The mean estimated blood loss was 95.8 ± 144.9 ml (range, 2-800ml). Ten (10%) patients (CL=2; CP=5, BCL=1; CLP=2) were transfused but only two of these were deemed appropriate based on percentage blood volume loss. The mean blood transfused was 131.5 ± 135.4ml (range, 35-500ml). Six (60%) of those transfused had a preoperative PCV of < 30%. Only 4.9% of patients who had unilateral cleft lip surgery were transfused as compared with 50% for CLP surgery, 11% for CP surgery, and 10% for bilateral cleft lip surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of blood transfusion in cleft lip and palate surgery was 10% with a cross-match: transfusion ratio of 10 and transfusion index of 0.1. A "type and screen" policy is advocated for cleft lip and palate surgery.

A comparative study of surgical morbidity associated with mandibular third-molar surgery in young and aging populations.

AIM: Prophylactic surgical extraction of impacted third molars is a common practice throughout the world justified on the presumption that the risk of surgical morbidity increases with increasing age, among other reasons. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare surgical morbidity associated with third-molar extractions in young and aging populations. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A review of records for all patients who underwent the surgical extraction of impacted third molars between April 2001 and June 2006 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 506 patients had surgical extractions of impacted third molars under local anaesthesia during the period of the study. Of these, 470 (92.9 percent) patients were below the age of 40 years (Group A) and 36 (7.1 percent) patients were 40 years of age and older (Group B). No incidences of severe intraoperative complications (excessive bleeding or mandibular fractures) were recorded in either group, but other postoperative complications were reported in 70 (13.8 percent) patients. Of these 70 patients, 65 (92.9 percent) were from Group A and 5 (7.1 percent) were from Group B, and their complications included infected socket, dry socket, paraesthesia, and buccal space abscess. CONCLUSION: No significant difference in post-operative complications following surgical removal of mandibular third molars was found between patients 40 years old and greater and those below age 40. Prophylactic surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars, based on the assumption that surgical morbidity increases with age, may not be justifiable. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Age does not predispose patients who had surgical extraction of mandibular third molars above 40 years of age to any additional surgical complications when compared to patients below the age of 40 years receiving comparable treatment.

Cleft deformities in adults and children aged over six years in Nigeria: Reasons for late presentation and management challenges.

In developing countries, untreated cleft lips and palates are found with increasing frequency and patients often present to the surgeon far past the optimal time for closure of the cleft deformities. A prospective study was conducted between March 2007 and September 2009, to identify the reasons and treatment challenges of delayed presentation of cleft lip and palate deformities at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Out of a total of 150 patients with cleft defects during the period, 43 (28.7%) were adults and children aged over six years. The mean age of these patients at the time of presentation was 17.3 years. The most common reasons for late presentation were lack of money (56.7%), lack of health care services nearby (18.4%), and lack of awareness of treatment availability (13.3%). Common challenges in these patients included surgical, orthodontic, speech, anesthetic, and psychological. Although adult clefts were significantly enlarged in three dimensions the anatomic landmarks were easier to discern than in an infant. However, extensive soft tissue dissection in adult cleft lip repair resulted in significant postoperative edema. Closure of wide palatal cleft often required the use of adjunct intraoral flaps. Despite late presentation, surgical outcome of these patients was satisfactory and comparable to cleft repair in infants.

Management of mandibular fractures in a developing country: a review of 314 cases from two urban centers in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to establish the current demographic and treatment patterns of mandibular fractures in two urban centers (Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, and National Hospital, Abuja) in Nigeria. METHODS: All cases of mandibular fractures diagnosed and treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos (1998-2007) and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria (2001-2007) were reviewed. Data collected included age, sex, etiology of fracture, anatomic site of fracture, associated maxillofacial fracture, types of treatment, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The highest incidence of mandibular fractures (49.3%) occurred in the age group 21-30 years and the lowest in the age group 0-10 years, with male preponderance in nearly all age groups. Road traffic crashes (RTC) were the leading cause (67.5%), followed by assault (18.8%), and gunshot. Of the RTC cases, 85 (40%) were sustained from motorcycle-related crashes. The commonest site of fracture was the body of the mandible (n = 137), followed by the angle (n = 114). The majority (83.1%) were treated by closed reduction using intermaxillary fixation, 13.1% by open reduction and internal fixation, and 3.8% had conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular fractures are commonest during the third decade of life and in men, with almost half of the cases due to of road traffic crashes. RTC was the leading cause of mandibular fractures in all age groups. Motorcycle-related mandibular fractures seem to be increasing in Nigeria. There is a need to enforce legislation designed to prevent RTC to reduce maxillofacial fractures in Nigeria.

Odontogenic tumors in Nigerian children and adolescents- a retrospective study of 92 cases.

BACKGROUND: Tumours arising from odontogenic tissues are rare and constitute a heterogenous group of interesting lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of odontogenic tumors (OT) among Nigerian children and adolescents 19 years or younger. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The histopathology records were retrospectively reviewed for all the tumors and tumor-like lesions of the oral cavity and the jaws seen in children and adolescents