Accidental finding of COVID-associated mucormycosis (CAM) in a patient presenting as toothache: A case report and review of literature.

Mucormycosis is an angio-invasive rapidly progressing fungal infection, usually reported in immunocompromised individuals. We present a case of COVID-associated mucormycosis in a patient with a presenting symptom of toothache in the maxilla with a possible mild case of COVID-19. Abstract: Coronavirus-associated mucormycosis (CAM) had reached epidemic status, especially during the second wave of COVID-19. It was especially prevalent in India with a large mortality rate. Mucormycosis, particularly the rhinocerebral type is seen to be greatly associated with COVID-19, especially in patients with altered immunity. Uncontrolled diabetes, chronic kidney disease, immunocompromised patients, malignant hematological diseases, etc. are the major risk factors of CAM, precipitated by the injudicious use of corticosteroids for the treatment of COVID-19. CAM may often present in the maxillofacial region which warrants that dental clinicians be aware of the clinical presentation, diagnostic guidelines, and appropriate management measures for the disease. This report is one such case of CAM involving the posterior maxilla in a middle-aged individual with mild COVID-19 symptoms.

Incidence and patterns of maxillofacial trauma-a retrospective analysis of 3611 patients-an update.

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial fractures occur in a significant proportion worldwide and can occur as an isolated injury or in combination with other severe injuries including cranial, spinal, and upper and lower body injuries requiring prompt diagnosis with possible emergency interventions. The epidemiology of facial fractures varies with regard to injury type, severity, and cause and depends on the population studied. Hence, understanding of these factors can aid in establishing clinical and research priorities for effective treatment and prevention of these injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this present retrospective study, we provide a comprehensive overview regarding cranio-maxillofacial trauma on 3611 patients to assist the clinician in assessment and management of this unique highly specialized area of traumatology. A preformed pro forma was used to analyze the medical records of patients treated for facial trauma in The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Chennai. The distribution according to age, gender, etiology, type of injury, time interval between accident and treatment, loss of consciousness, facial bones involved, pattern of fracture lines, treatment offered, and postoperative complications were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: We inferred male patients sustained more injuries mostly in the third decade of age. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury. Mandible was the most commonly fractured bone in the facial skeleton. Soft tissue injuries occurred more in road traffic accidents and upper lip was the commonest site of injury. CONCLUSION: Our study provides insights into the epidemiology of facial injuries and associated factors and can be useful not only in developing prevention strategies but also for grading the existing legal regulations and also for framing a more effective treatment protocol.

Mandibular fracture scoring system: for prediction of complications.

INTRODUCTION: Mandibular fractures are one of the most commonly encountered injuries in trauma clinics. Although several widely accepted classification systems exist, these are mostly region specific, differ in the classification criteria used, and are sometimes only correlated with specific treatment modalities, thereby making it impossible to uniformly and comprehensively document facial fracture patterns. In this study, we developed a modified scoring system for mandibular fractures and analyzed the relationship between scoring of fractures that were treated and the incidence of complications after surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the suitability of the proposed scoring system, a prospective study on a series of 116 patients was performed. All the fractures were classified using the proposed scoring system. The scoring was based on clinical and radiological evaluation of each fracture. Patients were followed up postoperatively for presence of complications. RESULTS: A good correlation between the proposed scoring system and the incidence of complications was detected. DISCUSSION: This scoring system for mandibular fractures facilitates an objective and standardized assessment of the degree of severity of a fracture, thereby allowing for systematic evaluation of facial fracture outcomes, including assessment of complications. However, it is our understanding that a multicenter study should be performed before the effectiveness of the proposed classification can be clearly stated.

Gold weight implantation as a treatment measure for correction of paralytic lagophthalmos.

Ocular complications from facial nerve paralysis can be quite devastating. Facial nerve paralysis results in cosmetic as well as functional problems. Paralysis of the upper eyelids leads to lagophthalmos, which results in incomplete closure of the lid over the cornea, leading to potential complication of corneal ulceration. The management of the affected eye in patients with facial palsy has been improved. Previously, ointment, eye drops, taping, partial or complete tarsorrhaphy was the primary treatment for inability to close the eyelid. Other mechanical techniques for reanimating lid closure are palpebral springs, encircling the upper and lower eyelids with silicone or fascia lata and temporalis muscle transfer. The most popular and widely used static procedure in facial nerve palsy is the upper eyelid gold weight implant. Gold eyelid implants are designed for the gravity assisted treatment of the functional defect of lagophthalmos resulting from facial paralysis. We report a case of a patient with facial paralysis who underwent gold weight implantation of the upper eyelid for correction of paralytic lagophthalmos.