Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the viability of irradiated soft head and neck tissues in mice.

OBJECTIVES: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used clinically in irradiation-induced injury to healthy tissues, but the effectiveness and working mechanism remain unclear. This study examined the effects of HBOT on irradiated salivary glands and tongue in a mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were irradiated with a single dose (15 Gy) in the head and neck region and subjected to HBOT, either before or after irradiation. During the course of the treatments, salivary flow rates were measured and at different time points after radiation (2, 6, 10 and 24 weeks), salivary glands and tongue were harvested and (immuno) histochemically analysed. RESULTS: Proliferation and blood vessel density in salivary glands were enhanced by HBOT in the medium term (10 weeks after irradiation), while salivary flow rates were not influenced. In the long term, irradiation-induced proliferation in the muscle tissue of the tongue was decreased by HBOT. CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) appears to stimulate regeneration or protection of salivary gland tissue following radiation therapy. Possible implications of the effect of HBOT on muscle tissue of the tongue for the prevention of dysphagia and trismus are discussed. This study provides insights on the cellular changes after HBOT and encourages further research on this topic to achieve a better implementation of the therapy in humans.

The frequency of Le Fort I osteotomy in cleft patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to study the frequency of Le Fort I osteotomy (LFI) in cleft patients treated according to the protocol of the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. Patients : 508 cleft patients born between January 1, 1983, and December 31, 1992, were evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of LFI and correlations with type and extent of cleft, gender, number of previous surgical procedures, age during alveolar augmentation, and missing teeth, respectively. RESULTS: 251 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 28 of the 251 patients (11.2%) required LFI: none for cleft lip (0.0%); 2 of 43 (4.7%) for cleft lip and alveolus; 24 of 100 (24.0%) for cleft lip, alveolus, and palate; 2 of 50 (4.0%) for cleft palate; and none for submucous clefts or the miscellaneous group (0.0%). The frequency of LFI increased with the severity of the cleft type. The number of previous surgical interventions is significantly higher in cases with an indication for LFI (p < .001). The frequency of LFI is significantly higher in male cleft patients (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The overall frequency of LFI in the study group was 11.2%; this increased with the severity of the cleft type. A significant difference was noted in the number of previous surgical interventions between patients with and without an indication for an LFI. Delayed closure of the hard palate in the protocol might have influenced the low frequency of LFI.

Assessment of volumetric changes with a best-fit method in three-dimensional stereophotograms.

OBJECTIVE: Different three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry systems and analyzing methods exist that often use landmarks for comparison. Measurement errors in landmark or surface comparison are mostly within 1 mm, which seems clinically acceptable. The aim of this study was to validate a three-dimensional stereophotogrammetric best-fit method of assessing volumetric changes and to compare three devices. METHODS: The validation of the best-fit method was at first done on a life-size dummy head. Scans were made in the ideal position, as well as in four additional positions, and a scan was made in which a soft putty specimen was added to the dummy head. The comparison was executed with a best-fit method using triangulation. Student's t tests were used to detect statistically significant differences. Second, comparisons were made among scans of a white man in the ideal position and with volume changes added. RESULTS: The different positions tested for the dummy head showed no significant volume differences within each system or among systems. The differences found when adding a soft putty specimen fell into the same range as the differences between various positions. The differences within a live situation were 10 times greater compared with the dummy-head situation. CONCLUSIONS: In a dummy-head situation, the different systems gave similar results when tested with a best-fit method. However, in live situations the differences may become 10 times greater, possibly due to different facial expressions. These differences may become clinically relevant and, therefore, further research in volumetric changes is needed.

[Management for displacement of a tooth into the floor of the mouth]. / Handelen bij een wortelrest in de mondbodem.

Displacement of a (part of a) radix or in some cases a part of a tooth into the floor of the mouth can occur during the extraction of a tooth in the mandibula. Possible causes of this are a lingual perforation of the radices or an inappropriate surgical technique. Leaving a fragment in situ in the floor of the mouth can lead to pain, swelling and trismus as a result of infection and/or spontaneous displacement of the fragment. We advise that the tooth or radix be removed as soon as possible. When experience is lacking in the removal of a tooth or radix from the floor of the mouth it is sensible to refer the patient to an oral surgeon. We also advise prescribing antibiotics in order to prevent infection.

Advancement of the midface, from conventional Le Fort III osteotomy to Le Fort III distraction: review of the literature.

Since its introduction in about 1950, the Le Fort III (LF III) procedure has become a widely accepted treatment for correction of midface hypoplasia and related functional and esthetic problems. As long-term surgical experience grows and improvements are made in technique, equipment and peri-operative care, the number of LF III procedures performed worldwide is increasing. A number of fundamental questions concerning the technique remain unclear, and large, conclusive studies are lacking owing to the relative rarity of severe midface hypoplasia. This literature review aims to address problems, such as the indication field, timing of surgery, rate of relapse and the use of distraction osteogenesis. An overview of the history and technique of LF III osteotomy and distraction is provided, together with a comprehensive review of the available clinical data.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma in children; review of an unusual entity.

Most commonly, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity presents during the fifth and sixth decades of life. Less than 4% of these cancers occur in patients younger than 40 years of age. Only a small sample of this subgroup exists of pediatric patients (< or =20 years), making oral SCC in children an extremely rare entity. An 11-year-old boy is presented who developed a SCC of the gingiva. The relevant literature of oral SCC in pediatric patients will be reviewed as well.

[Medication-induced mandibular luxation in a seven-year-old patient]. / Een 7-jarige patiënt met recidiverende kaakluxaties veroorzaakt door medicatie.

A seven-year-old boy presented with a right-side mandibular luxation resulting from an acute unilateral dystonia of the masticatory muscles. Repositioning took place under a general anaesthetic. The luxation recurred the same day. Once again the jaw was repositioned under a general anaesthetic. In view of the rarity of jaw dislocation in someone so young it was assumed that it could have been caused by a dystonia possibly resulting from the patient's medication. The patient was known to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). To treat the condition, the patient's psychiatrist had prescribed 1 mg risperidone daily for one year and 10 mg methylphenidate daily for two years. Following the discussion with the psychiatrist, the patient was taken off both of these drugs and instead was prescribed oxazepam. So far the luxation has not recurred.

[Distraction osteogenesis in patients with craniofacial anomalies]. / Distractieosteogenese bij patiënten met craniofaciale anomalieën.

A cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital anomaly in the craniofacial region. There are many other congenital craniofacial anomalies. These anomalies may be part of a syndrome with a wide variety of expression. Some of these syndromes are characterized by hypoplasia of the mandible or by hypoplasia of the maxilla and the orbits, often in combination with premature closure of the skull sutures. In addition, posttraumatic and tumour resection defects are also classified as craniofacial anomalies. The care for patients with craniofacial anomalies is highly complex and, therefore, organised in multidisciplinary craniofacial teams. Some craniofacial anomalies treated by distraction osteogenesis are mandibular hypoplasia due to hemifacial microsomia or temporomandibular joint ankylosis, and mid facial hypoplasia due to craniosynostosis.

Complications and relapse in alveolar distraction osteogenesis in partially dentulous patients.

Vertical distraction of the alveolar process is an efficient method for augmentation prior to inserting dental implants. In this study, complications of this procedure and relapse of the transport segment were evaluated in partially dentulous patients. Twenty patients underwent distraction by means of extraosseous distractors. The location of the defects was the anterior mandible (4), posterior mandible (4), anterior maxilla (10) and posterior maxilla (2). Bone height was measured on panoramic radiographs preoperatively, after distraction and after implant placement at the mesial and distal point of the implant(s). Mean alveolar distraction was 6.5mm at the mesial point (P<0.001) and 6.1mm at the distal point (P<0.001). The mean relapse at the mesial point was 20% and at the distal point 17% (P<0.05). The intraoperative and postoperative problems encountered were fracture (1) and lingual (4) and palatal (6) displacement of the transport segment. Overall complication rate was 55%. Of all implants placed (n=63) one was lost. Implant success rate was 98%. Distraction seems to be a suitable treatment for vertically deficient alveolar bone, but a relatively high although manageable complication rate must be confronted, including considerable relapse.

Recommendations for optimal distraction protocols for various animal models on the basis of a systematic review of the literature.

The principles of orthopaedic distraction osteogenesis (DO) have been successfully applied to the craniofacial skeleton, but the latency time, rate and rhythm of distraction, and length of the consolidation period that are optimal for long-bone distraction may be suboptimal for craniofacial DO. The aim of this study was to provide recommendations for optimal distraction parameters in animal experimental research on craniofacial DO. The data used were from studies, added to the PubMed database between 1 January 1973 and 1 January 2007, on the outcome of DO resulting from variations in a single distraction parameter while standardizing the other distraction parameters. Although experimental animal group sizes were rather small, especially in those studies that used large animals, and both skeletally mature and immature animals were used, the (in most cases quantitative) data provided useful information on the optimal parameters in craniofacial DO. A latency period may not be necessary at all. Distraction should be performed at a rate of 1mm/day (this may be halved when small animals such as rats are used) preferably with a continuous rhythm, followed by a consolidation period of 6-8 weeks. These recommendations can be used as basic guidelines for further animal experimental studies on craniofacial DO.

[Diagnostic image (314). A man with a headache and haemorrhagic nasal discharge]. / Diagnose in beeld (314). Een man met hoofdpijn en bloederig neussecreet. Oronasale fistel door cocaïnegebruik.

A 56-year-old man presented with an oronasal fistula in the palatum durum due to cocaine sniffing.

Follow up of surgically-assisted rapid maxillary expansion after 6.5 years: skeletal and dental effects.

Surgically-assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) is a technique used to widen the maxilla, and we present the results of our long-term follow up (6.5 years). Seventeen patients who had been treated with SARME and prospectively followed were invited for long-term follow up using dental casts and posteroanterior cephalograms. The following measurements were made on the dental casts: transverse distances at canine, premolar, and molar level, length of the arch, and width and depth of the palate at premolar and molar level. The distance between the left and right nasal bases and the widening of the inferior maxilla were measured on the posteroanterior cephalograms. Boneborne and toothborne distractors were used in 8 and 9 patients, respectively. In the study of dental casts, there was a significant increase in transverse width in the canine (P<0.001), premolar (P<0.001) and molar (P=0,001) and these remained stable in the long term. The arch length did not increase significantly, but the palatal width increased significantly in the premolar (P<0.001) and molar (P=0.001) regions. No effect was seen in palatal depth. On the posteroanterior cephalograms the width of the inferior part of the maxilla was increased, but not significantly so. There were no significant changes at the nasal base. We conclude that SARME is a predictable technique to widen the maxilla in the long term.

The Rotterdam Palatal Distractor: introduction of the new bone-borne device and report of the pilot study.

Transverse maxillary hypoplasia, in adolescents and adults, is frequently seen as an acquired deformity and in congenital deformities patients and can be corrected by means of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. Traditionally, the distractors for expansion are tooth-borne devices, i.e. hyrax appliances, which may have some serious disadvantages such as tooth tipping, cortical fenestration, skeletal relapse and loss of anchorage. In contrast, with bone-borne distractors most of the maxillary expansion is orthopedic and at a more mechanically desired level with less dental side effects. A new bone-borne palatal distractor has been developed. By activation the nails of the abutments plates automatically stabilizes the device and no screw fixation is necessary anymore. This new distractor is presented and the data of five acquired deformity and eight congenital deformity patients that were treated with this distractor are reported.

Complications in maxillary distraction using the RED II device: a retrospective analysis of 21 patients.

Rigid external distraction osteogenesis (DO) in the treatment of midface hypoplasia has been shown to be effective and safe, but there have been several case reports on complications. Here is presented an overview of the complications in a series of 21 patients with various craniofacial anomalies. All patients were treated using the rigid external distraction II (RED II) device after Le Fort I or III osteotomy. Distraction started 1 week postoperatively and continued until Class I occlusion was achieved; it was then continued to include a 15% overcorrection. All data were collected and categorized retrospectively from the patients' files. After a mean period of distraction of 34 days, 42 complications were reported in six different categories. Pin loosening (42.9%) and frame migrations (28.6%) were the most common complications. Of the frame migrations 25% were traumatic. Intracranial penetration of one fixation pin occurred during removal of the RED II device in one patient. From these results it can be deduced that application of the RED II device is associated with a substantial number of specific complications that mainly concern the pins of the halo-frame. The stability of the device is discussed as the distraction distance achieved was less than expected.

[Distraction osteogenesis in the head and neck region]. / Distractieosteogenese in het hoofd-halsgebied.

Distraction osteogenesis is used in oral and maxillofacial surgery for the purpose of lengthening or widening an upper or lower jaw or to reposition the jaw to such an extent as cannot be achieved with normal osteotomy. This technique moves the parts of an osteomised bone slowly apart. Subsequently, new trabecular bone growth occurs between the separate bone parts that is then turned into bone with a normal mineralised architecture. Extraoral distractors can be fitted, activated, positioned and removed fairly easily. Distractors for intraoral placement do not cause any extraoral scars and are less burdensome in their daily use. Some distractors can impede access to the larynx and the trachea. For elective surgical procedures, the accessibility of the larynx can be judged with a laryngoscope for the induction and ending of anaesthesia. Should the intraoral or extraoral distractors form any obstruction in this process, then they should be removed. The alternatives are fibroscopic intubation and emergency tracheotomy.

Long-term (6.5 years) follow-up of mandibular midline distraction.

To assess the long-term stability and biomechanical effects of mandibular midline distraction (MMD), a prospective observational study was conducted with a retrospective cohort. Included were 17 MMD patients, of whom 9 completed the long-term follow-up with a mean of 6.5 years. In all patients, a bone-borne distractor was used. Dental casts and postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms were taken at fixed time points: pre-operative (T1), directly post-distraction (T2), 1-year post-operative (T3) and long-term follow-up (T4). Inter canine (ICD), inter first premolar (IPMD), inter first molar (IMD) distances and arch length (AL) were measured on dental casts. From the PA cephalograms intercondyle distance (ID) and the ramal angle (RA) were obtained. A significant and sustained widening was observed in most measurements. The greatest overall transverse expansion (T1-T4) occurred in the IPMD (4.1 ± 0.76 mm, P < 0.05), the ICD, IMD and AL increased, respectively: 2.0 ± 0.72 mm, 3.8 ± 0.82 mm and 3.5 ± 0.82 mm. The ID did not change significant (P > 0.05) during all phases of the study. An increase of RA was observed initially; however, no difference was noted in the long-term. This study showed that MMD is a stable method to expand the mandible, with no skeletal effect on the temporomandibular joint.

Pure orbital blowout fractures reconstructed with autogenous bone grafts: functional and aesthetic outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ophthalmic clinical findings following surgical reconstruction with autogenous bone grafts of pure blowout fractures. A retrospective review of 211 patients who underwent surgical repair of an orbital fracture between October 1996 and December 2013 was performed. Following data analysis, 60 patients who were followed up over a period of 1 year were included. A solitary floor fracture was present in 38 patients and a floor and a medial wall fracture in 22 patients. Comparing preoperative findings between these two groups, preoperative diplopia and enophthalmos were almost twice as frequent in the group with additional medial wall fractures: diplopia 8% and 14% and enophthalmos 18% and 55%, respectively. One year following surgery there was no diplopia present in either group. In the solitary floor fracture group, 3% still had enophthalmos. It can be concluded that at 1 year following the repair of pure orbital floor fractures using autogenous bone, good functional and aesthetic results can be obtained. In the group with both floor and medial wall fractures, no enophthalmos was found when both walls were reconstructed. When the medial wall was left unoperated, 29% of patients still suffered from enophthalmos after 1 year.

Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME): a review of the literature.

Transverse maxillary hypoplasia, in adolescents and adults, is frequently seen in non-syndromal and syndromal patients including cleft patients. In skeletally matured patients, the uni- or bilateral transverse hypoplasia can be corrected by means of a surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. The treatment is a combination of orthodontics and surgical procedures and provides dental arch space for alignment of teeth. The procedure also causes a substantial enlargement of the maxillary apical base and of the palatal vault, providing space for the tongue for correct swallowing and thus preventing relapse. In addition, a distinct subjective improvement in nasal breathing associated with enlargement of the nasal valve towards normal values is seen with an increase of nasal volume in all compartments. In this article we give a review on surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. We conclude that there is no consensus in the searched literature regarding either the surgical technique, the type of distractor used (tooth-borne or bone-borne), the existence, cause and amount of relapse and whether or not overcorrection is necessary. A proposal for a prospective randomized patient study in order to find answers to the lacunas in knowledge regarding this treatment is done.

[Dissertations 25 years after the date 7. Temporomandibular joint ankylosis]. / Proefschriften 25 jaar na dato 7. Ankylose van het kaakgewricht.

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint and the possibly associated deformation of maxillofacial bones are functionally and aesthetically serious problems. Despite the developments in oral and maxillofacial surgery, treatment of patients with ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint still remains challenging. This article presents a review of the developments in this treatment, 25 years after the publication of the thesis 'Temporomandibular joint ankylosis'. Nowadays, computer-tomography is the standard for imaging assessment, possibly combined with stereolithography. Resection of the ankylotic mass is the surgery method of choice. The gap is filled by interpositional tissue transfer of temporalis muscle or a fascia flap. Early mobilisation and intensive physiotherapy are needed. In case of maxillofacial asymmetry, distraction osteogenesis has proved to be successful.

[Multiple intra-oral fistulae]. / Multipele intraorale fistels.

A 20-year-old man presented with multiple intra-oral fistulae in the anterior part of the mandible. The patient was diagnosed with secondary osteomyelitis. Microbiologic survey revealed positive cultures for Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus para-influenzae and alpha-haemolytic streptococci. After sequestrectomy and decortication, the mobile teeth were splinted. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics, followed by long-term oral antibiotics. Complete healing was achieved.