Minimal clinically important difference in maxillofacial trauma patients: a prospective cohort study.

The present study estimated the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain on a visual analogue scale - numerical rating scale (VAS-NRS) and mean bite force (MBF) in patients treated for maxillofacial trauma (MFT). This cohort study included 120 MFT patients treated according to AO principles. Preoperative and four-week postoperative pain on the VAS-NRS, and MBF were measured to calculate MCIDs as indicators of functional rehabilitation. The patient's perspective of the treatment was assessed using a four-item anchor question. The MCID was determined by two anchor-based approaches, namely, the change difference (CD) method and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve method. According to the CD method, the MCID for pain was 2.4 and the MBF was 147.9 N. Based on the ROC curve, the MCID for pain was 2.5 (sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 47.2%) and MBF was 159.1 N (sensitivity 71.4%, specificity 61.1%). This study demonstrated a high sensitivity (>70%) for MCID, which implies that pain reduction of 2.4-2.5 points on the VAS-NRS and a gain in MBF of 147.9-159.1N are clinically relevant for patients treated for MFT.

Maxillofacial trauma and its management presenting at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore during Covid-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the patterns of maxillofacial injuries, aetiology and their management during the pandemic of Covid-19 in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. METHODS: This is a single center, prospective cross-sectional study. Patients from all age groups who presented at the Emergency room of Jinnah Hospital Lahore and managed by the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department during 1st December 2020 till 31st January 2021 were included. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows, Version 20.0. RESULTS: Total 202 patient were analyzed, 161 (79.7%) were male and 41 (20.3%) were females. Male to female ratio was 4:1. About fifty three percent of patients belonged to the age group 15-35 years. The most common cause was road traffic accidents (RTA), followed by fall. Eighty-three (41.1%) had only soft tissue injuries without any bony fracture and 119 (58.9%) had facial bones fractures. Zygomatic bone fracture was most common (53.8%) followed by mandible fracture (31.1%). Sixty-one out of 119 patients with fractures were treated with Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF). Three patients had complete loss of vision because of facial trauma. Only 56 (28%) patients were managed under General Anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: During the initial pandemic era, a large majority of patients presenting with maxillofacial injuries were young male adults. The most common cause of maxillofacial trauma was RTAs. Soft tissue injuries were predominant followed by facial bone fractures and zygomatic bone was more frequent among the fracture cases. Covid-19 pandemic increased the difficulties faced in the management of maxillofacial trauma patients.

Submental intubation in complex maxillofacial trauma: Pilot balloon protection.

AIMS: This study aims to describe our refined technique of submental intubation to avoid the recorded intraoperative complications related to tube passage and pilot balloon rupture. CASE SERIES: This is a retrospective case series of 21 patients with complex maxillofacial trauma who underwent submental intubation from January 2019 to January 2023. All the patients underwent to the same procedure with a new technique of pilot balloon protection: the pilot balloon was not deflated because, once the connector was removed, only the tube was curved and passed through the incision extraorally while the cuff remained inflated. The wire of the pilot balloon was passed behind the last tooth so as not to interfere with the maxillary-mandibular fixation, remaining extraorally under the anesthetist's view. DISCUSSION: Only 2 patients (9.5%) reported complications related to submental intubation: in particular a patient (4.8%) reported oral floor infection, and in another patient (4.8%) an unesthetic skin scar was observed. No patients reported intraoperative complications related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: The technique of pilot balloon protection that we have proposed seems to be effective in reducing the intraoperative complications related to the passage of the pilot balloon, such as rupture, damage or early extubation.

[Organization of maxillofacial and dental care for the wounded of the Voronezh front (July 1942 - July 1943)]. / Organizatsiya chelyustno-litsevoi i stomatologicheskoi pomoshchi ranenym Voronezhskogo fronta (iyul' 1942 g. ­ iyul' 1943 g.).

The article is devoted to the history of the formation of the system of assistance to maxillofacial wounded soldiers of the Voronezh Front during the battles for Voronezh in 1942-1943. The difficulties and achievements in the implementation of phased assistance to the wounded in the face, as well as the improvement of the organizational structure of surgical and dental care for soldiers and officers of the front are reflected.

Short and Long Term Impact on Oral Health Related Quality of Life After Maxillofacial Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial fracture cases require detailed diagnosis, planning and timely restoration of the proper function and aesthetics of the traumatized tissues, as well as appropriate physical, psychological and social rehabilitation to achieve the best possible treatment outcome. Oral health related quality of life allows oral healthcare professionals to evaluate the efficacy of treatment protocols from patients' perspectives and allows clinician to address and measure the clinically meaningful changes. METHODS: The study was carried out in 86 patients with fracture of any one facial bone from September 2020 to March 2022 in Department of Dental Surgery, Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kohalpur, Nepal. The quality of life was assessed by using Nepali version of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire, modified to address maxillofacial injury/treatment. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients (male: Female ratio=40:3) were included in the study with mean age of 30.69±11.88 years. Patient with fracture of mandible and midface showed complete recovery on OHIP-14 Scale after 6 months whereas, in patient with panfacial fracture some residual effect in quality of life (0.13±0.50) was seen in two domains psychological discomfort (0.06±0.25) and social disability (0.06±0.25) even after 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Impact of maxillofacial fracture on quality of life is long lasting and huge on patients. Referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist might be beneficial in addition to open reduction and internal fixation of maxillofacial fractures as early as possible to achieve better quality of life in maxillofacial fracture cases.

Caring for the Patient with Otolaryngologic Trauma Is a Complex Matter.

In an Austrian study of 14,654 patients with 35,129 injuries treated at a single Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery over a 15-year period, the following was seen.1 Older people were more prone to soft tissue lesions with a rising risk of 2.1% per year older, equal in men and women. Younger patients were at higher risk of dentoalveolar trauma with an increase of 4.4% per year younger, and this was 19.6% higher for women. The risk of sustaining facial bone fractures increased each year by 4.6% and was 66.4% times higher in men. A total of 2550 patients (17.4%) suffered 3834 concomitant injuries of other body parts.

Surgical site infections in maxillofacial trauma surgery - Single-dose versus prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis.

Open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) for facial fractures has frequently been associated with the occurrence of surgical site infections (SSIs). Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is customarily recommended for ORIF. Thus, the comparison of two different antibiotic regimens (i.e., single-dose and prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis) concerning the rate and severity of SSIs in facial fracture patients undergoing ORIF was the main purpose of this study. This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent ORIF for facial fractures. They were distributed into two groups. The single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis group (SDAP) received single-dose perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, whereas the prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis group (PAP) were administered prophylactic antibiosis over a course of 5 days. 122 patients were included in the study. Nine patients in the SDAP group and 15 patients in the PAP group were affected by SSIs; no significant difference in the incidence of SSIs was found (p = 0.218). Moreover, the severity of SSIs did not significantly differ between the two groups (p = 0.982).

Applications of Preoperative and Intraoperative Technologies for Complex Primary and Secondary Facial Trauma Reconstruction.

This article provides a review of the current technologies available in the preoperative and intraoperative management of complex and secondary maxillofacial trauma reconstruction. These patients present a unique challenge for which the advancement of imaging technologies, patient-specific modeling and implants, and intraoperative imaging and navigation can play an important role to improve their post-treatment outcomes.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) as a Potential Material for the Repair of Maxillofacial Defect Compared with E-poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (e-PTFE) and Silicone.

Silicone and e-poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (e-PTFE) are the most commonly used artificial materials for repairing maxillofacial bone defects caused by facial trauma and tumors. However, their use is limited by poor histocompatibility, unsatisfactory support, and high infection rates. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility, but its application to the repair of maxillofacial bone defects lacks a theoretical basis. The microstructure and mechanical properties of e-PTFE, silicone, and PEEK were evaluated by electron microscopy, BOSE machine, and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Mouse fibroblast L929 cells were incubated on the surface of the three materials to assess cytotoxicity and adhesion. The three materials were implanted onto the left femoral surface of 90 male mice, and samples of the implants and surrounding soft tissues were evaluated histologically at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-surgery. PEEK had a much higher Young's modulus than either e-PTFE or silicone (p < 0.05 each), and maintained high stiffness without degradation long after implantation. Both PEEK and e-PTFE facilitated L929 cell adhesion, with PEEK having lower cytotoxicity than e-PTFE and silicone (p < 0.05 each). All three materials similarly hindered the motor function of mice 12 weeks after implantation (p > 0.05 each). Connective tissue ingrowth was observed in PEEK and e-PTFE, whereas a fibrotic peri-prosthetic capsule was observed on the surface of silicone. The postoperative infection rate was significantly lower for both PEEK and silicone than for e-PTFE (p < 0.05 each). PEEK shows excellent biocompatibility and mechanical stability, suggesting that it can be effective as a novel implant to repair maxillofacial bone defects.

Approaches to the Maxillofacial Skeleton: Application of Standard and Minimally Invasive Techniques.

Management of maxillofacial trauma is complex and challenging and requires a clear understanding of facial anatomy and function. There are multiple approaches that can be used to access each anatomical region, each with specific indications and complication profiles. Open, "invasive" approaches are being replaced or augmented with minimally invasive and endoscopic approaches when possible. Thorough knowledge of indications, surgical techniques, and potential complications allows surgeons to make appropriate decisions for access and repair of fractures. This article is a comprehensive review of standard and minimally invasive approaches, with description of techniques and pros and cons for their use.

Virtual Surgical Planning of Superior Orbital Rim Fractures in Calvarial and Maxillofacial Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Superior orbital rim fractures are challenging fractures as they often concomitantly occur with additional calvaria fractures. Virtual surgical planning (VSP) has been underutilized in this area of craniomaxillofacial trauma for reconstruction. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to qualitatively describe the use of VSP and anatomically perfected stereolithic models in treatment of superior orbital rim fractures in combined neurosurgery/oral and maxillofacial surgery cases. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: This study is a retrospective case series of subjects who were treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital (July 2022 to November 2022). Inclusion criteria include subjects who had both calvaria and maxillofacial injuries requiring concurrent operative intervention on their superior orbital rim fractures and the use of VSP. PREDICTOR/EXPOSURE/INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: The outcome variable of interest is the difference in the planned position of the orbital rim repair compared to the actual position achieved. COVARIATES: None. ANALYSES: Heat map analysis was used to compare the difference in the planned position versus the actual position achieved. RESULTS: There were six orbits (five subjects, mean age 33.8 ± 21.49 years) that met the criteria. The mean difference in planned versus actual orbital volume achieved was 2.52 ± 2.48 cm3. The superimposition of the postoperative scan to the planned simulation revealed 84% ± 3.27% of the voxel surface was within +2 and -2 millimeters of its planned position. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: This study has demonstrated the use of VSP in combined neurosurgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures in the fixation of superior orbital rim fractures. This case series highlights that the postoperative position achieved in the six orbits was within 84% of the planned position.

A Prospective, Randomized Comparison of the Classical Altemir's Method With the Newer Seldinger's Technique of Submental Intubation.

BACKGROUND: Submental intubation performed using the classical Altemir's technique is a well-accepted, safe technique for providing optimal operating field to the maxillofacial surgeon, in cases where either nasotracheal or orotracheal intubation is impossible. We propose a new, percutaneous Seldinger's technique of submental intubation as an interesting alternative to the classical Altemir's technique, wherein a percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy kit is used to dilate the submental tract, instead of bluntly dissecting it. We hypothesized that Seldinger's technique would be associated with reduced procedure time and minimal scar formation in patients with maxillofacial fractures. METHODS: We enrolled 60 patients scheduled to undergo maxillofacial injury fixation under general anesthesia. After consent, the cohort was randomly allocated to undergo submental intubation by either the classical Altemir's technique or Seldinger's technique. As our primary objective, we noted the time taken to complete the procedure of submental intubation. Our secondary objectives were the components of primary outcome, such as disconnection/apnea time, bleeding, and technical difficulties during the procedure. We also observed for complications such as presence of salivary fistula/infection at hospital discharge and scar characteristics at 1- and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The median time for performing submental intubation in the Seldinger group was significantly lower than that in the Altemir group (170.5 [136.5-256.0] seconds vs 220.0 [205.5-289.0] seconds; P value, .040). The median disconnection time was also significantly lower in the Seldinger group (12.0 [10.8-20.0] seconds vs 19.0 [15.0-23.0] seconds; P value, .036). Furthermore, significant bleeding was absent in nearly 53.8% of the study participants in the Seldinger group as compared to 25.9% in the Altemir group. At follow-up, there was no evidence of differences in scar characteristics between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Seldinger's technique is associated with shorter procedure time and reduced apnea time due to easier and better tract formation, thus minimizing the effort required to exteriorize the endotracheal tube. Furthermore, as dilation reduces tissue damage, Seldinger's technique is associated with significantly less procedural bleeding. Thus, Seldinger's technique can be safe, easy, and faster to perform compared with the classical Altemir's technique of submental intubation in patients with maxillofacial trauma.

Imaging of Maxillofacial Trauma.

Maxillofacial trauma is common. Computed tomography is the primary imaging tool for diagnosis. Study interpretation is aided by understanding regional anatomy and clinically relevant features of each subunit. Common injury patterns and the most important factors related to surgical management are discussed.

Evidence-Based Medicine for Ballistic Maxillofacial Trauma.

Ballistic trauma is a serious health issue with significant costs to physical, psychosocial, economic, and societal well-being. It may be caused from firearms, explosive devices, or any other projectile forces, and is characterized by severe tissue loss and evolving tissue devitalization. This review covers mechanism, diagnosis, and management of ballistic maxillofacial trauma, specifically. Initial evaluation includes stabilization of airway, bleeding, and circulation, followed by assessment of other injuries. The overall degree of tissue damage is determined by intrinsic patient factors and extrinsic projectile factors. Management of ballistic injuries has shifted toward advocation for early operative repair with the advent of antibiotics and advanced techniques in maxillofacial reconstruction. Appropriate timing and method of reconstruction should be carefully selected on a case-by-case basis. While ballistic trauma research is limited to studies biased by institutional practices, areas for further study identified from current literature include guidelines directing timing of reconstructive surgery; thresholds for free tissue transfer; handling of retained projectiles; incidence of surgical complications; and clinical outcomes for computer-aided surgical repair of these highly destructive injuries.

Oral and Maxillofacial Injuries Associated With E-Cigarette Explosions: A Systematic Review and Management Guidelines Proposal.

PURPOSE: E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular devices used to consume nicotine in recent years. There is a growing body of evidence regarding the risk of spontaneous explosion of these devices causing burn and projectile injuries. The primary purpose of this review was to summarize all injuries to the oral and maxillofacial region secondary to explosion of e-cigarettes. The secondary purpose was to propose an initial management algorithm for such injuries based on the findings in the literature. This review also aims to test the hypothesis that e-cigarette explosive injuries to the oral region were associated with an increased risk of intubation and surgery and examine whether any other injury pattern was associated with an increased risk of intubation or surgery. METHODS: A cohort study based on identifying cases in the literature was conducted to summarize injuries to the oral and maxillofacial region and examine the associations between injury types and location and management. A literature search of the major biomedical databases was conducted in September 2022 using terms such as e-cigarette, explosion, blast, trauma, and burn, among others, which yielded 922 studies. Nonclinical studies, review articles, and studies without injuries to the facial region were excluded. Study subjects were recorded for demographics, device characteristics, injury mechanism, injury location, management, and complications. Chi-squared analysis was used to determine if the predictor variables of type of injury (burn or projectile) and its associated location (ocular, facial, or intraoral for burns and facial thirds for projectile) were associated with the outcomes of intubation and surgical management. The collected data were then used as a guide to propose an initial management algorithm for these injuries. RESULTS: Twenty eight studies, including 20 case reports and 8 case series met the inclusion criteria. A total of 32 explosions of e-cigarettes to 32 patients caused 105 recorded injuries to the facial region. Projectile injuries made up 73.3% (n = 77) of all facial injuries, while burn injuries made up of 26.7% (n = 28). There were 14 (43.8%) patients who suffered both projectile and burn injuries. Burn injuries mostly involved the face (64.3%, n = 18), oral cavity (25%, n = 7), and eye (10.7%, n = 7). The majority (81.8%, n = 63) of projectile injuries occurred in the lower facial third. There were 20 (62.5%) patients who suffered a bone or tooth fracture. Management of injuries involved surgery in 62.5% (n = 20) of patients, which included open reduction and internal fixation of fractures, dental extraction, bone and skin grafts, and ocular surgery. A complication rate of 44.4% (n = 8) was observed across studies that reported on follow-up. There was no statistically significant association between explosive injury to the oral region and intubation or surgical management. There was also no other statistically significant association between any other injury type and location with intubation or surgical management. CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarettes are at risk for spontaneous combustion that can cause serious oral and maxillofacial injuries, particularly to the lower facial third and commonly requiring surgical management. Safety of these devices should be improved through increased user education and regulation.

Prosthetic challenges in rehabilitating maxillomandibular trauma case: a multidisciplinary approach.

Although maxillofacial trauma is relatively common, it still presents a challenging management. Its management includes treatment of facial bone fractures, dentoalveolar trauma and soft tissue injuries as well as associated injuries. Plastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons and prosthodontists have an interest in the subject of maxillofacial injuries, particularly in the area of functional as well as aesthetical stomatognathic rehabilitation. Present case was a clinical scenario with maxillofacial trauma due to entanglement in agricultural equipment leading to fracture of palatal bone and fracture of mandible in symphysis region. The patient's mastication, phonetics, aesthetics and social life were affected. Initial management was performed by the plastic surgeons. Rehabilitation of maxillary defect was performed using fixed removable bridge with palatal extension to cover the cleft part, and cortical implant-supported fixed prosthesis was planned as the prosthetic treatment for mandibular arch. On follow-up, there was improvement in speech and mastication, and patient felt more confident in social interaction after prosthetic rehabilitation.

Facial Fractures in Indigenous and Non-indigenous Populations of South Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Maxillofacial trauma in indigenous populations is complex with sociocultural factors, access to health care, and poorer general health issues that impact outcomes. Assaults and road traffic accidents are disproportionately experienced by indigenous persons compared with non-indigenous. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted from January 2012 to January 2017 at the Women and Children's Hospital and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide. All maxillofacial fractures that attended or were referred to the unit were included in this study. The primary objective was to analyze epidemiological trends of facial fractures and clinical outcomes in the South Australian indigenous and non-indigenous populations. RESULTS: Maxillofacial fractures in indigenous persons were less than in non-indigenous (31.2 versus 38.2 y, P < 0.001) with 3.8 odds of a facial fracture. Assault was 2.9 times more likely to result in a facial fracture, falls 40.9% less likely, and sports 29.4% less likely compared with non-indigenous ( P < 0.001). Alcohol-related facial fractures had significantly higher rates [odds ratio (OR = 3.8)] compared with non-indigenous. Indigenous from most disadvantaged areas and very remote areas also had significantly higher odds of a facial fracture. Indigenous persons had higher operative rates (OR = 2.8), postoperative complications (OR = 3.1), and a 3.7-day mean difference for the length of stay (6.6 versus 2.9 d, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous people are more likely to experience facial fractures from assault resulting in mandibular fractures, whereas non-indigenous people are likely to have sport or fall-related midface fractures. Young indigenous women from outer regional and very remote areas have greater odds of facial fractures caused by assault and alcohol with higher operative rates, postoperative complications, and extended length of stay.

Is Maxillofacial Gunshot Wound Location Associated With Operative Intervention?

PURPOSE: Gunshot wound (GSW) injuries are an important public health concern in the United States. The study purpose was to measure the association between GSW location and need for operative treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Sample consisted of all patients treated for maxillofacial gunshot wound injuries at Cook County Health from 2008 to 2018. The sample data were collected through a retrospective charts review and review of computed tomography imaging. The predictor variable was the region of the face involved with the GSW and it was divided into 3 levels, upper face (UF), middle face (MF), and lower face (LF). The outcome variable was whether operative intervention was rendered or not (operative vs no intervention). Other variables of interest collected included patient demographics, the type of surgical intervention, disposition (home vs rehab/morgue), rate of intracranial injury, and need for blood transfusion. Data analysis was performed using Chi-square for proportions and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were identified to have sustained GSW injuries to the face during abovementioned time frame. Of those, 120 patients had isolated GSW injuries with no other organs involvement. The median age was 25 years. Majority of the patients were males (94%). The involved facial region appeared to influence the need for operative management and this reached statistical significance (Chi-square 22.703, P < .001). GSW injuries to LF were 2.94 times more likely to require operative intervention than injuries to the MF (RR = 2.94, 95% CI = 1.625-5.327). Injuries of the UF were 2 times more likely to require operative intervention than injuries of the MF (RR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.023-4.008). Injuries to the UF were more likely to be associated with intracranial injuries (Chi-square = 20.522, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with facial GSW injuries, there is an association between injury location and the need for operative intervention. Injuries to the LF were most likely to require surgical intervention followed by the UF and MF, respectively.