Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence, Etiology, Demographics, and Treatment of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence, etiology, demographics, and treatment of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma before, during, and after COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Eighty-three health care organizations across the United States. METHODS: The TriNetX Research Network identified 77,977,880 patients during 2017 to 2022. CMF fractures and soft tissue injuries during March to August of each year, aligning with the 2020 pandemic lockdown, were analyzed. RESULTS: In 2020, compared to immediately prepandemic in 2019, there were significant reductions of -17.5% in facial fractures and -19.0% in soft tissue injuries (P < .001). Conversely, in 2021, both injury types increased by +16.7% and +16.3%, respectively, compared to 2020 (P < .001). Changes in injury mechanisms in 2020 included significant decreases in athletic injuries (-57.6%), falls (-16.8%), assaults (-15.5%), motor vehicle collisions (-8.7%), and pedestrian accidents (-6.9%) (P < .01), while off-road vehicle (+48.4%), bicycle (+16.2%), and motorcycle (+8.9%) accidents increased (P < .01). The 10- to 14- and 5- to 9-year-old age groups experienced the most substantial reductions in facial fractures (-39.7% and -29.9%, respectively) and soft tissue injuries (-29.2% and -28.3%, respectively) in 2020 compared to 2019 (P < .001). Operative management of fractures and soft tissue injuries dropped by -20.3% and -12.4%, respectively, in 2020 versus 2019, and then rebounded with +15.8% and +14.6% increases in 2021 compared to 2020 (P < .001). In 2022, compared to prepandemic rates of 2019, there were fewer patients with facial fractures (-2.8%), soft tissue injuries (-4.5%), and operative repairs (-6.9% for fractures, -1.2% for soft tissue injuries) (P < .03). CONCLUSION: CMF trauma decreased in 2020, with subsequent years showing a rebound to levels slightly below those immediately prior to pandemic onset. Changes in etiology, demographics, and treatment highlight the complex dynamics of traumatic injuries during periods of societal disruption.

The State of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

Objective: This scoping review aims to contribute a descriptive analysis of the craniomaxillofacial trauma (CMF trauma) literature in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to identify knowledge gaps, direct future research, and inform policy. Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Review, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar from January 1, 2012 to December 10, 2023. Review Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guided reporting, and the PRISMA flowchart documented database searches. Specific, predefined search terms and inclusion criteria were used for screening, and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist was used for quality assessment. The search yielded 54 articles, with 13 meeting the inclusion criteria. Key findings were summarized and divided into 7 categories. Results: There were 10,420 patients (7739 [74.3%] male, 2681 [25.7%] female) with a male-to-female ratio of 2.9:1. The mean peak age of incidence of CMF trauma was 30.8 years, ranging from 20 to 40 years. Road traffic accidents were the leading cause (60.4%), followed by assault (27.2%) and falls (12.2%). The most common injuries were soft tissue injury (31.7%), isolated mandibular fracture (22.8%), and isolated middle-third of mandible fracture (18.1%). The most common treatments were closed reduction and immobilization (29.5%), conservative management (27.6%), and open reduction and internal fixation (19.6%). Most patients (77.8%) experienced a treatment delay due to a lack of fixation materials (54.8%) or surgeon unavailability (35.7%). Conclusion: CMF trauma remains a significant cause of global morbidity, yet there remains a lack of high-quality, CMF trauma-specific data in LMICs. Country-specific investigations are required to enhance knowledge and inform novel interventions. Implementing policy change must be community-specific and account for unique cultural barriers, attitudes, and behaviors to maximize patient care outcomes.

Wire Osteosynthesis in the Treatment of Mandible Fractures in Low Resource Settings: A Force Study.

Study Design: Cadaveric investigation. Objective: Rigid internal fixation (RIF) using plates and screws is often not feasible in low and middle-income countries due to limited resources. Interosseous wiring to achieve semi-rigid fixation is often used, but lacks biomechanical force data. Herein we aim to quantitatively compare interosseous wiring to RIF. Methods: Cadaveric mandibles were fractured at the parasymphysis and angle. Fixation was achieved using interosseous wiring in both single wire loop and figure-of-eight formations, as well as plate and screw fixation (n = 5 for each fixation type at each fracture site). A force gauge was used to measure the number of Newtons (N) required to achieve diastasis and complete failure at the fixation site. Results: For angle fractures, the mean force required for initial diastasis was 4.1, 5.9, and 10.9 N for single wire, figure-of-eight wiring, and plating respectively (P < .001). Complete failure was achieved with 152.9, 168.9, and 237.6 N of force for the three methods, respectively (P < .001). Complete failure was achieved for parasymphyseal fractures with 197.7, 263.0, and 262.8 N of force for single wire, figure-of-eight wiring, and plating respectively (P = .002). Forces to achieve initial diastasis for parasymphyseal fractures were not statistically significant among the three fixation methods (P = .29). Conclusions: Figure-of-eight interosseous wiring resists comparable forces across mandibular fractures compared to the gold standard of plating. In resource-limited settings when plates and screws are not available, this technique can be considered to achieve semi-rigid fixation of mandibular fractures.

Cost Burden of Rigid Internal Fixation in Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Fractures of the craniomaxillofacial (CMF) skeleton cause significant morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite this, quality CMF trauma care is lacking for the majority of the world's population. There is a paucity of literature describing the costs of standard-of-care open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for CMF fractures in LMICs. We consider the cost of a six-hole plate with six screws (SHPS), standard materials used in ORIF for CMF fractures, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita to ascertain the cost burden to patients. Hospital pricing catalog data at 14 LMIC institutions were queried. On average, the SHPS cost represented 10.2% of the GDP per capita in sampled LMICs. We highlight manufacturing costs, import taxes, and lack of subsidized health care as factors contributing to the significant cost burden of ORIF in these areas. Future work should characterize additional financial and socioeconomic barriers to optimal CMF care.

Methodology: workflow for virtual reposition of mandibular condyle fractures.

BACKGROUND: Even though mandibular condyle fractures have a high clinical relevance, their treatment remains somewhat challenging. Open reduction and internal fixation are difficult due to narrow surgical approaches, poor overview during reduction, and a possible risk of facial nerve damage. In times of technical endeavors in surgery, there is a trend towards the usage of stable CAD-CAM-implants from additive manufacturing or titanium laser sintering. Up until now, there have not been any reports of fracture treatment of the mandibular condyle using this technique. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We present a workflow for virtual repositioning of the fractured mandibular condyle, to manufacture patient-specific implants for osteosynthesis with the intention of use of resorbable metal alloys in the future.

La fístula carótido-cavernosa como complicación tardía del traumatismo maxilofacial y de base de cráneo / Carotid-cavernous fistula as a late complication of maxillofacial and skull base trauma

La fístula carótido-cavernosa (FCC) es una complicación rara de las fracturas craneofaciales. En la mayoría de los casos la FCC ocurre en las semanas posteriores al traumatismo1. Presentamos un caso clínico de FCC 4 meses tras reducción y osteosíntesis de fractura bilateral de tercio medio facial. Basándonos en nuestra experiencia y la bibliografía, recomendamos un periodo de 6 a 12 meses de seguimiento en pacientes con traumatismos de tercio medio de cráneo, así como la inclusión de signos de alarma de FCC en la hoja de recomendaciones de pacientes con traumatismos craneofaciales. Aunque la FCC no pone en peligro la vida del paciente, el retraso de su diagnóstico puede resultar en la pérdida de visión permanente del ojo afecto en días o semanas desde el comienzo de los síntomas, por lo que es de gran importancia su diagnóstico precoz. (AU)

Carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is a rare complication of craniofacial fractures. In most of the cases it occurs within a few weeks after the traumatism1. We present a late CCF clinical case 4 months after reduction and osteosynthesis of a mid-third facial bilateral fracture. Based on our experience and the literature, we recommend a follow up period of 6 to 12 months in mid third cranial fractures as well as the introduction of alarm symptoms in the patient’s information brochure. Although CCF isn´t life threatening, a late diagnosis can result in a permanent loss of vision of the affected eye within days or months since the beginning of the symptoms. This is why it is important to make an early diagnosis of this complication. (AU)

Acute orbital compartment syndrome due to traumatic hemorrhage: 4-year case series and relevant literature review with emphasis on its management.

PURPOSE: Blindness in craniomaxillofacial (CMF) injuries may occur due to acute orbital compartment syndrome (AOCS). Primarily, this article aimed to retrospectively review our 4-year experience in the management of patients diagnosed with AOCS secondary to an orbital hematoma (OH). Furthermore, this paper included up-to-date information regarding the prevalence, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of AOCS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively screened the medical records of patients who visited our hospital's emergency department (ED) and were examined by an oromaxillofacial surgeon for CMF injuries, between September 1, 2013, and September 31, 2017. The electronic hospital's database was searched to retrieve all cases of CMF trauma admitted or referred to our clinic during this period. RESULTS: Over a 49-month period, 3,514 patients were managed for CMF injuries in ED; 9 cases (0.26%) were attributed to OCS caused by an OH. This group comprised 5 males and 4 females aged between 32 and 91 years old (mean 65.7, median 70). Seven out of 9 patients were subjected to lateral canthotomy and inferior cantholysis (LCIC), whereas septolysis was applied in 6 of them. Sight was preserved in 3 out of 8 patients (37.5%), since a patient died from a serious intracranial injury. Seven out of 9 patients (77.7%) of the OCS group had a history of hypocoagulable state. CONCLUSIONS: LCIC, septolysis, and careful dissection within inferotemporal orbital quadrant constitute a reliable approach for emergent orbital decompression. CT scan offers differential diagnosis of acute traumatic proptosis, but it should preferably follow LCIC. In case of OHs without pupillary abnormalities and/or impairment of visual acuity, close monitoring allowing for timely interventions is highly recommended to patients with a history of hypocoagulative status, (uncontrolled or severe) hypertension, head trauma, and decreased level of consciousness or in elderly patients suffering from dementia or without rapid access to follow-up medical care. Clinicians dealing with ED services must maintain high skills in AOCS diagnosis and in LCIC execution.

Self-inflicted craniomaxillofacial gunshot wounds by handguns are more deadly than those by shotguns: an NIS study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to determine whether handguns discharged at the craniomaxillofacial region are associated with greater fatality in suicide attempts relative to shotguns. METHODS: The following retrospective cohort study was completed using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), a Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) database. The primary predictor variable was the type of firearm (handguns vs. shotguns). The primary outcome variable was prognosis (fatality vs. no fatality). A binary logistic regression was performed to determine the risk of mortality of all predictor variables. RESULTS: Our final sample consisted of 223 patients. Handguns (85.2%) were the most popular firearm. Relative to black patients, white patients were over three times more likely to die (p < 0.05). Compared to patients who were transferred in, patients not transferred in were eight times more likely to die (p = 0.000). Relative to patients who were admitted electively, patients who were not admitted electively were 16.7 times more likely to die (p < 0.01). Finally, relative to patients who used shotguns, patients who used handguns were 3.4 times more likely to die (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the maxillofacial region by handguns were more lethal than shotguns.

Patterns of craniomaxillofacial trauma among helmeted cyclists.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The head and face are prone to injury in bicycle accidents and helmets are proven to be helpful in decreasing injuries to some extent. The aim of this study was to determine whether certain craniomaxillofacial regions are at increased risk of injury (fracture) during bicycle accidents among helmeted cyclists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Data concerning craniomaxillofacial injuries as a result of cycling accidents between 2019 and 2020 were reviewed. The primary predictor variables were the craniomaxillofacial region and a craniofacial bone. The co-variates included patient characteristics (age, gender, race) and injury characteristics (location, season). The primary outcome variable was a fracture. Logistic regression was used to determine any independent risk factors for a fracture. RESULTS: Five hundred patients reported helmet use at the time of injury. Fractures of the face region were 75 times (p < .01) more likely than the head region. No particular craniofacial bone was at greater risk of fracture relative to the maxilla. Adults (OR 24.0, p < .01) and seniors (OR 38.6, p < .01) were each at greater risk for fracture relative to children. CONCLUSIONS: The facial region was at increased risk of fracture relative to the head during a bicycle accident. Adults and seniors were at increased risk of suffering craniofacial fractures relative to children.

Pandemics and facial plastics and reconstructive surgery.

The purpose of this article is to review the impact of COVID-19 on the specialty of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Initially, COVID-19 caused significant disruption to facial plastic surgeon practices and patient care with cancellation of surgery and clinical practice. As medical practices resumed, facial plastic surgeons were resilient and adaptive. Reliance on technology helped to meet the needs of patients. There was a surge of facial plastic surgery interest and procedures as the pandemic wore on with recovery of many physician practices. COVID-19 created numerous challenges for facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons but also many opportunities. The facial plastic surgery community and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery worked together to achieve best outcomes.