The Effects of Motorcycle Helmet Legislation on Craniomaxillofacial Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Motorcycle helmet legislation has been a contentious topic for over a half-century. Benefits of helmet use in motorcycle trauma patients are well documented. In 2012, Michigan repealed its universal motorcycle helmet law in favor of a partial helmet law. The authors describe the early clinical effects on facial injuries throughout Michigan. METHODS: Retrospective data from the Michigan Trauma Quality Improvement Program trauma database were evaluated. Included were 4643 motorcycle trauma patients presenting to 29 Level I and II trauma centers throughout Michigan 3 years before and after the law repeal (2009 to 2014). Demographics, external cause of injury codes, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes, and injury details were gathered. RESULTS: The proportion of unhelmeted trauma patients increased from 20 percent to 44 percent. Compared with helmeted trauma patients, unhelmeted patients were nearly twice as likely to sustain craniomaxillofacial injuries (relative risk, 1.90), including fractures (relative risk, 2.02) and soft-tissue injuries (relative risk, 1.94). Unhelmeted patients had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale score and higher Injury Severity Scores. Patients presenting after helmet law repeal were more likely to sustain craniomaxillofacial injuries (relative risk, 1.46), including fractures (relative risk, 1.28) and soft-tissue injuries (relative risk, 1.56). No significant differences were observed for age, sex, Injury Severity Score, or Glasgow Coma Scale score (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant negative impact of relaxed motorcycle helmet laws leading to an increase in craniomaxillofacial injuries. The authors urge state and national legislators to reestablish universal motorcycle helmet laws.

Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores de fraturas de face / Epidemiological profile of patients with facial fractures

Fraturas faciais foram provocadas principalmente por acidentes de trânsito (37,3%), e por agressões físicas (33%), vitimando predominantemente pacientes do gênero masculino (83,7%).Ocorreram mais frequentemente na faixa etária entre 21 e 30 anos (38,2%). A frequência de homens e mulheres vitimados entre a primeira e a terceira décadas de vida foi bastante similar.As fraturas mandibulares isoladas foram significativamente predominantes (48%), seguidas pelas zigomáticas (19,7%) e pelas nasais (19,7%). As agressões físicas foram mais frequente mente responsáveis pelas fraturas mandibulares, zigomáticas, nasais, maxilares e frontais, enquanto as fraturas pan faciais e Le Fort resultaram mais frequentemente de acidentes de trânsito.

Facial fractures were mainly caused by traffic accidents (37.3%) and physical abuse (33%), victimizing mostly male patients (83.7%). Occurred more frequently in the age group between21 and 30 years (38.2%). The frequency of men and women victimized between the first and third decades of life was very similar. Isolated mandibular fractures were significantly predominant(48%), followed by zygomatic (19.7%) and the nose (19.7%). The assaults were mostoften responsible for mandibular fractures, zygomatic, nasal, maxillary and frontal, while the panfaciais fractures and Le Fort resulted more often aciteeth transit.

The drainage system of the paranasal sinuses: a review with possible implications for balloon catheter dilation.

BACKGROUND: Intersinus connections and accessory ostia of the maxillary sinus are well known to rhinologic surgeons but are less known for the remaining paranasal sinuses. Probing and dilatation of the natural ostia of diseased sinuses is being popularized currently by the clinical value of balloon catheter dilation (BCD). Although short-term high success rates with treatment of the dilated ostia/duct have been reported with this technique, the potential impact of fractures of adjacent bony septae on accessory sinus ostia, on mucosally lined surfaces, and on intersinus drainage pathways still has not been considered. The aim of this study was to review the literature on accessory sinus ostia, intersinus connections, and mucociliary drainage pathways for the entire sinus system that are relevant to BCD. METHODS: A literature review was performed. RESULTS: Accessory sinus ostia exist for each paranasal sinus. Many sinuses drain not only directly into the nasal cavity but also indirectly through adjacent sinuses. Of note, one major drainage pathway of the frontal sinus is over the ethmoid sinuses and via the ethmoids into the maxillary sinus and subsequently into the nose. Drainage of the sphenoid sinus exists both through posterior ethmoidal cells and directly into the nasopharynx. CONCLUSION: Accessory ostia are not only common for the maxillary sinus but also for the entire paranasal sinus system. BCD may potentially inadvertently impair mucociliary clearance of the sinuses through effects on secondary drainage pathways.

Soccer-related facial fractures: postoperative management with facial protective shields.

Facial fractures are one of the most common orofacial injury sustained during participation in sporting events.The frequency of maxillofacial lesions varies according to the popularity that each sport has in a particular country. Soccer is the most popular sport in Italy, and it is responsible for a large number of facial traumas.Traumas and fractures in soccer mainly involve the zygomatic and nasal regions and are especially caused by direct contact that takes place mainly when the ball is played with the forehead. In particular, elbow-head and head-head impacts are the most frequent dangerous contacts.Soccer is not a violent sport, and the use of protective helmets is not allowed because it could be dangerous especially when players play the ball with the head. The use of protective facial shields are exclusively permitted to preserve players who underwent surgery for facial fractures.The use of a facial protection mask after a facial fracture treatment has already been reported. This article describes a clinical experience of management of 4 soccer-related facial fractures by means of fabrication of individual facial protective shields.

Management of the fractured maxillary tuberosity: an alternative method.

The maxillary tuberosity can fracture during extraction of a molar tooth. If a small bony fragment is affected, the extraction of the tooth and tuberosity continues; however, a conservative approach is advised if the bony fragment is large. In a modified blind surgical technique, the tooth is removed without the fractured bone.

Altering the angulation of a curved osteotome--does it have effects on the type of pterygomaxillary disjunction in Le Fort I osteotomy? An experimental study.

A standard Le Fort I osteotomy was performed on 12 cadavers to determine whether the incidence of pterygoid plate fractures could be reduced by increasing the angle of the curved osteotome relative to the sagittal plane. In the group where an osteotome with the usual angulation was employed, fractures occurred on 9 of 12 sides. In the increased angulation group, 5 of 12 pterygoid plates were fractured. All fractures were restricted to the level of the horizontal osteotomy cut. It is concluded that increased angulation of a curved osteotome can decrease the incidence of fractures of the pterygoid plates. This procedure, however, is not recommended because it can cause fracture of the palatine bone or displacement of the fractured pterygoid plate fragment posteriorly.

[Modifications of Lefort I osteotomy. Pterygomaxillary disjunction by an inferior rotation of the maxilla]. / Modifications de l'ostéotomie de Lefort I. Disjonction ptérygo-maxillaire par bascule inférieure du maxillaire supérieur.

This article reviews some of the complications associated with the use of a chisel to achieve separation of the pterygomaxillary region during the Lefort I osteotomy. A modification of this surgical procedure is proposed whereby no chisel is used to complete the maxillary disjunction. A series of more than 200 consecutive Lefort I osteotomies using this technique confirms the value of this modification.