aditi rawat

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of buccal fat pad (BFP) in the reconstruction of surgical defects following sequestrectomy in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). A total of ten patients with MRONJ underwent sequestrectomy and reconstruction using BFP. There were 3 males and 7 females. The age range was 20–70 years. Two patients were diagnosed with stage 2, and eight patients were diagnosed with stage 3 disease. Eight defects were present in the maxilla and two in the posterior mandible. Oro-antral communication was present in 8 cases. All patients have undergone sequestrectomy, debridement and reconstruction using BFP under local anaesthesia. Postoperatively, the patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and evaluated for complete epithelisation of defect, infection, pain and recurrence of the lesion. Complete epithelisation with closure of the defect was achieved in all the cases. None of the patients had residual pain or inflammation at the surgical site. There was no case of postoperative infection. Reconstruction using buccal fat pad is an effective treatment modality to provide symptomatic relief and to prevent further progression of disease in MRONJ patients.

ABSTRACT Facial nerve palsy is an exceedingly debilitating condition, incapacitating functional and aesthetic facets of the face. Orthodromic transfer of temporalis muscle is an easy and predictable technique which offers early animation of oral commissure and lower face. A retrospective chart review of 6 patients of facial palsy treated with orthodromic temporalis tendon transfer for facial reanimation is presented. The technique consisted of intra-oral coronoidectomy followed by attachment of fascia lata grafts from the coronoid to the commissure, the upper and lower lips via small cutaneous incisions. Contraction of the temporalis, pulls the fascia lata extensions thereby reanimating the lower face. 4 male and 2 female patients with an age range of 25 to 49 years were treated. Simultaneous fat grafting (2 patients), depressor labi inferioris muscle resection (2 patients) and wedge excision of nasolabial fold (2 patients) was done as ancillary procedures. Post-operative smile evaluation was carried out using the Terzis and Noah facial grading system. Patients were asked to smile with and without biting, and photographs and video were taken. The results were graded from 1 to 5 based on a 5-point scale (ie, poor, fair, moderate, good, and excellent) by an independent observer. The results were excellent in 1 patient (Terzis grading 5/5) and good in the remaining 5 patients (Terzis grading 4/5). Excursion of the oral commissure ranged from 6 to 10 mm. Our experience indicates that temporalis tendon transfer for facial reanimation has a short learning curve and provides early predictable outcome without significant complications. This single-stage, day-care procedure can be easily incorporated by maxillofacial surgeons to expand their surgical spectrum.

Pterygoid hamular bursitis is a rare craniofacial pain syndrome used to describe palatal and pharyngeal pain due to an enlarged pterygoid hamulus. The pterygoid hamulus is a hook-shaped bony process located bilaterally on each medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone, posterior and medial to each maxillary tuberosity. These processes project downward and anterolaterally; serve as attachment for ligaments and a network of muscles. It can be palpated in patients with a finger palpating the posteromedial to maxillary tuberosity. The pathogenesis is elusive and varies from bursitis of tensor veli palatine, elongated pterygoid hamulus, persistent trauma to the mucosa overlying the pterygoid hamulus. The clinical features include strange chronic sensation, burning, swelling, and erythema of the pterygoid hamulus region. The pain often radiates to pharynx, ipsilateral face and sometimes radiating to temporal region making it difficult to diagnose from headache, temporomandibular disorders, and dental infections like pericoronitis. The anatomical neighboring structures in relation to oropharyngeal region may give a misleading diagnosis to dentist in case of Pterygoid Hamulus Bursitis. The understanding of pterygoid hamulus anatomy and its relation to surrounding structures is necessary to get the correct diagnosis of the inflammatory or traumatic pain in oropharyngeal region.

Insertion tendinosis of stylomandibular ligament (SML) or Ernest syndrome is a very rare and under reported head and neck pain disorder. The pain originates from the insertion of stylomandibular region and radiates to the temple, lateral side of the neck and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The diagnosis is confirmed by palpation of SML and local anesthetic block at the insertion of SML. The authors report 4 patients who presented with chronic pain which radiated to the TMJ and temple and did not respond to conservative management. All patients after diagnosed with Local anesthetic block were given methylprednisolone injection at the insertion of SML. Complete remission of pain was seen at 12 months of follow up without any recurrence. Craniofacial surgeons involved in the treatment of various head and neck pain should include this less documented syndrome in their differential diagnosis when treating TMJ disorders.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sublingual gland flap in the reconstruction of surgical defect following sequestrectomy in medication induced osteonecrosis of jaws (MRONJ), osteomyelitis (OML), and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of mandible. A total of 6 patients with MRONJ (n = 4) osteomyelitis (n = 1) and ORN (n = 1) underwent sequestrectomy and reconstruction with sublingual gland flap. There were 03 males and 03 females. The age range was 45-71-70 years. All defects were present in the posterior mandible. All patients' undergone sequestrectomy, debridement, and reconstruction with sublingual gland flap under local anesthesia. Postoperatively patients were followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months. Patients were monitored for complete epithelization of defect, infection, pain, and recurrence of the lesion. Complete epithelization with closure of the defect was achieved in all cases. None of the patients had residual pain or inflammation at the surgical site. None of our patients experienced any donor site morbidities. There was no case of postoperative infection. Reconstruction of intraoral defects using sublingual gland flap is an effective treatment modality to reconstruct small to medium sized defect of oral cavity.

Improvised explosive device blast injuries frequently report at our center and showed the maximum amount of contamination and damage, both in the facial soft tissues and the skeletal tissues with impregnation of splinters with size ranging from 2 mm to 10 mm. Should splinters be always explored is questionable and varies with every case. The reconstruction in such cases was done with titanium mini-plates along with extensive use of local vascular flaps for soft tissue repair in majority of the cases. Soldier who sustained splinter injuries wrt orbital floor were managed with splinter exploration using C-arm and orbital floor reconstruction using titanium mesh.

Context: Maxillary posterior region is a problem area for the placement of implants. The advanced resorption of alveolar bone is combined with an increase in pneumatization of maxillary sinus because of higher intra-antral pressure, giving rise to severely atrophied alveolar ridges with reduced bone height. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 implants were placed in 21 patients using indirect sinus lift with simultaneous implant placement without using bone grafts. Intra-oral periapical radiographs were taken to determine residual bone height, endosinus bone (ESB), and crestal bone level. Results: All the implants were clinically and radiographically stable at the end of 6 months follow-up. All the implants showed ESB gain, with mean being 1.97 mm and 1.99 mm on mesial and distal sides, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that successful osseointegration is predictable using osteotome sinus floor elevation without bone graft. Spontaneous new bone formation seemed to be expected with implants placed using indirect sinus lift.