Maxillofacial traumas

Dental Implant in the Canalis Sinuosus: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The canalis sinuosus is a neurovascular canal, a branch of nerve of infraorbital canal, through which the anterior superior alveolar nerve passes and then leans medially in course between the nasal cavity and the maxillary sinus, reaching the premaxilla in the canine and incisor region. The purpose of this article is to report a case with the presence of canalis sinuosus, in order to alert and guide professionals and discuss the morphology of this anatomical variation avoiding trans- and postsurgical disorders in dental implants. A 51-year-old female was attended to in a radiology clinic, reporting paresthesia in the right upper lip region and painful symptomatology after the installation of an implant in the corresponding region. The case revealed the presence of canalis sinuosus in imaging exams. The knowledge of this anatomical variation is essential for professionals, because attention to this region prevents irreversible damage. Therefore, the use of imaging examinations is recommended during the planning stages and treatment and after surgery in patients undergoing surgery in this area.

Transnasal endoscopic ultrasound-guided reduction of maxillary sinus wall fracture

Surgical morbidity from open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of maxillary sinus wall fracture often surpasses the benefits of ORIF. Hence, the authors devised transnasal endoscopic-assisted reduction of maxillary sinus wall fracture (TERM) without internal fixation as a minimally invasive surgery for maxillary sinus wall fracture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of TERM in cadavers and patients. Six cadavers were dissected to evaluate the feasibility of TERM. In addition, 20 patients with maxillary sinus wall fractures who underwent TERM in a tertiary hospital from August of 2013 to December of 2015 were enrolled in this study. Demographic factors, type of anesthesia, computed tomography (CT) scans, clinical characteristics of patients, and patient satisfaction with surgery were analyzed. Cadaveric study showed that endoscopic inferior meatus antrostomy is a feasible method of approaching the maxillary sinus wall in cadavers. In addition, counterforce could be applied to the maxillary sinus wall by pushing packed Vaseline-soaked gauze or using a zygomatic process approach via a Gillies incision. Clinical experience revealed that patients experienced good facial contour restoration postoperatively. The extent of fractured bony segments was reduced on postoperative CT without complications. Patient satisfaction with TERM was greater than that with ORIF (p = 0.031). TERM showed its feasibility in both cadaveric study and clinical study. TERM can be a good alternative to ORIF, especially in patients who are reluctant to undergo a facial incision.

Surgical Reconstruction of Lower Face Degloving

One of the most impressive soft tissue injuries is the facial degloving, normally associated with industrial machines and traffic accidents. This injury is characterized by the separation of the skin and cartilage from the bones, compromising the soft tissues correlated in the trauma area, nerves, and blood vessels. A 28-year-old patient, male, was referred to Araçatuba's Santa Casa Hospital, after a motorcycle accident, hitting his face on the sidewalk. The patient was conscious, oriented, denying fainting and unconsciousness during the accident, and complaining of pain in the nasal region of the face. The suture of wounds was performed using 5-0 absorbable sutures for muscle planes, and reconstruction of the septum and nasal cartilages. The skin was sutured with interrupted stitches using 6-0 nylon. After reducing the edema, a slight increase in alar base was observed. Subsequently, the alar base cinch suture was performed aiming to bring the alar bases to a measure of 34.0 mm in diameter. As a conclusion, the knowledge of the anatomy of the region involved, the healing of tissues, and suture techniques for the facial region process were critical to the successful treatment. The evaluation of the alar base in degloving cases can involve aesthetic features.

Removal of orbital-maxillary sinus-pterygopalatine fossa foreign body with external and endoscopic combined approach

Craniofacial trauma involving the pterygopalatine fossa region is reported to be rare. We present a case of a foreign body involving the orbit, maxillary sinus, and pterygopalatine fossa in a 4-year-old boy. The object was a reed shaft. Three-dimensional computed tomographic scans and magnetic resonance imaging were done to make a correct diagnosis and to apply the best surgical treatment. The Caldwell-Luc approach combined with endoscopic approach was applied to remove all the fragments of the foreign body, which had been decayed in the human body. One month later, the patient showed satisfactory aesthetic and functional results.

Medial orbital wall reconstruction with flexible Ethisorb patches

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term result after reconstruction of the medial orbital wall with a flexible, biodegradable material (Ethisorb).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During a period of almost 8 years, 31 patients with a medial orbital wall fracture were analysed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were patients with a maximum size fracture of the orbital medial wall measuring 1.5-2 cm(2). Exophthalmos, enophthalmos, bulbus motility, diplopia and skin sensation were investigated over a period of 6 months. In all patients, the medial orbital wall was reconstructed with Ethisorb patches.

RESULTS

No significant intraoperative complications were detected. No postoperative infection, abscess or seroma was found in any of the patients receiving an Ethisorb patch.

CONCLUSIONS

The advantage of the semiflexibility of the Ethisorb patch is that it supplies an anatomically correct fit to the orbital medial wall but does not require fixation by screws or the use of sutures.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The low rate of reported bulbus motility disturbance, diplopia, exophthalmos and enophthalmos demonstrates acceptable results after medial orbital wall reconstruction using the Ethisorb patch.

Craniocerebral injury resulting from pencil penetration

Penetrating craniofacial trauma in pediatric age group is quite rare. A case is reported that presented with a pencil penetration injury entering from the anterior maxillary sinus through the orbital medial wall, and ethmoidal cells and septum, reaching the contralateral gyrus rectus of the frontal lobe. All the vital structures were preserved. The patient was first treated with manual extraction of the pencil, without any immediate complications; however, rhinorrhea followed the procedure 4 h later. Early endoscopic surgical intervention was performed and the rhinorrhea was successfully treated in this case. This report discusses radiological and surgical characteristics of this unusual penetrating craniofacial trauma.

Sequential surgical treatment for panfacial fractures and significance of biological osteosynthesis

The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of panfacial fracture repair and to review guidelines for treatment based on AO/Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer Osteosynthesefragen Association for Study of Internal Fixation theories of biological osteosynthesis. Sixty-eight patients with panfacial fractures were subjected to preoperative X-ray cephalometric analysis and model surgery, followed by open surgical reduction, rigid internal fixation and at least 8 weeks of clinical follow up. A variety of surgical approaches were used, with the 68 patients undergoing a total of 93 surgical procedures. In all but eight patients, the treatment produced satisfactory correction of maxillofacial deformities and restoration of normal function. Among the eight patients whose treatment was not deemed successful, there were two whose facial deformities were not corrected by treatment. In addition, there were five patients with enophthalmos or motor disturbance of the eye that failed to show improvement during the study, and four patients who exhibited signs of limited mouth opening and malocclusion. The systematic and sequential choices of surgical methods were key factors in determining panfacial fracture treatment outcomes. We propose that treatment of bone fractures must take into account the biological characteristics of the damaged bone to facilitate selection of appropriate plate and screw systems and repositioning methods.

Medial orbital wall reconstruction with swine bone cortex

Fractures of the medial orbital wall can be isolated or associated with other orbital defects arising from maxillofacial fractures. However, a medial orbital wall defect results in a relative increase of the orbital volume. The decision regarding surgical intervention in the management of medial orbital wall fractures is influenced by a variety of factors, including the presence and severity of restricted ocular motility, the degree of enophthalmos, the estimated fracture size, and the clinical judgment of the surgeon; however, untreated medial orbital wall fractures can result in secondary enophthalmos. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with deantigenated swine bone cortex for the reconstruction of the fractured medial orbital wall.

The importance of the primary reconstruction of the traumatized anterior maxillary sinus wall

This study evaluates the importance of specific posttraumatic reconstruction of the fractured anterior sinus wall. Several methods of different complexity of reconstruction are being compared by means of radiologic, rhinoscopic, and clinical data. Four groups of a total of 207 patients (age, 18-73 years; follow-up average, 4.2 years) with midfacial fractures, divided by operation technique and year, were evaluated. Control groups 1 to 3 received standard procedures without special regard on the reconstruction of the anterior sinus wall; the study group received specific reconstruction. The study group 4 showed a lower complication rate in nearly all measured parameters in comparison to groups 1 and 2. Study group 4 had the smallest incidences of posttraumatic sequelae in radiologic examinations; the clinical outcome was even to group 3. During open reduction and fixation procedures of midfacial fractures, attention should be given to the reconstruction of the anterior sinus wall to avoid postoperative discomfort.

Unknown Posttraumatic Foreign Body in Facial Region

This study emphasizes the importance of scrupulous diagnostic first aid procedures to avoid the consequences of trauma due to a foreign body. Two patients were examined, both with facial trauma showing nonspecific symptoms. Through objective internal and external oral examination complete with clinical and radiographic examinations Three dimensional computed tomography (TC3D), foreign bodies unknown at the time of the trauma were identified. When the foreign bodies had been removed, the ache symptoms disappeared, restoring functionality and the patient's facial appearance. This study shows the need for detailed early diagnosis to achieve correct monitoring and therefore proper treatment for these patients.

Evaluation of maxillary sinus after treatment of midfacial fractures

PURPOSE

Maxillary sinuses are the most frequently injured anatomic region of the facial skeleton in midfacial fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patients with maxillary sinus wall fractures using clinical examinations, maxillofacial computed tomography (CT), and cranial bone single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) and to interpret the results of these examinations to evaluate the indications of surgical intervention or drainage for maxillary sinus after maxillary sinus wall fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The results of examinations of 15 patients with maxillary sinus fractures who were treated for midfacial fractures were evaluated. Follow-up examinations were performed in the range of 3 to 47 months after surgery (average, 19.8 months). The patients ranged in age from 10 to 45 years, with an average age of 31.6 years. There were 11 male and 4 female patients. Seven patients had Le Fort II fractures, 6 patients had tripod zygomatic fractures, 1 patient had infraorbital fracture, and 1 patient had zygomatic arch fracture. Operative procedure was performed in all cases. To evaluate maxillary sinus after surgery, maxillofacial computed tomography (CT), cranial bone SPECT, and maxillary sinusitis evaluation form were used in all patients.

RESULTS

Maxillofacial CT scans were related to sinusitis in 9 patients who had positive complaints for sinusitis. The cranial bone SPECT showed positive uptake at the fractured sites in 8 patients, minimal uptake in 2 patients, and normal uptake in 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical examination, maxillofacial CT, and cranial bone SPECT are the most reliable methods available today for the diagnosis and follow-up of complications of maxillary sinus fractures.