Arnaldo Benech

behavior. We believe that this aggressive behavior is probably more related to anatomic site than to any intrinsic biological properties. Lesions can grow and permeate relatively unrestricted through the paranasal sinuses, resulting in large lesions that are very difficult to surgically remove. Juvenile ossifying fibroma is distinguished from other fibro-osseous lesions by the age at onset and presence of osteoid trabeculae and cementum on microscopic examination. 2,4 No case of malignant transformation has been reported in the literature. But some authors have reported aggressive nature locally and a high recurrence rate when not excised completely. 1Y6 Both conservative and radical approaches have been described for treatment of such lesions. Sciubba and Younai 7 have reported that enu-cleation or curettage of the lesion is the initial treatment of choice for ossifying fibromas. On the other hand, many authors suggest radical en bloc resection rather than conservative surgery. 8,9 In the present case, intraoral sublabial approach was used to remove the mass completely without causing external scar or disfigurement. The success of this conservative approach is demonstrated by the absence of recurrence after 2 years of follow-up in the present case. A conservative surgical excision (enucleation or curettage) has been described by other authors as the treatment of choice for small lesions. 5,6,10Y13 Special consideration has to be given to any surgical approach especially in children as that may affect the growth of facial skeleton. The type of approach and surgery is usually decided by the extent of the tumor. Because JOF is considered a locally aggressive tumor, an open surgical technique is indicated many times for adequate visualization of the mass in an extensive tumor, so that it is removed completely. 14 Larger lesions with more extensive invasive growth might require a more aggressive approach, such as en bloc resection and/or craniofacial resection. 15 The sublabial approach gives a wide access to all the extensions of the mass in the midfacial region and is cosmetically more acceptable to the patient. In our case, the nasal septal transfixion incision described in the classic midfacial degloving approach was not required, as the tumor did not extend beyond the nasal septum to the opposite side. Postoperatively, the recovery was good, and no recurrence was observed on follow-up for 22 years. We also support the concept of tissue-sparing surgery initially, which is usually adequate and curative. REFERENCES

Treatment of mandibular condyle fractures is still controversial, with surgical treatment slowly becoming the preferred option. However, fractures of the condylar head (diacapitular fractures) are still treated conservatively at many institutions. Recently, more and more surgeons have begun to perform open treatment for diacapitular fractures because it allows to restore the anatomical position of the fragments and disc, it allows an immediate functional movement of the jaw, and avoid the ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint induced by the trauma. Several techniques have been proposed to reduce and fix fractures of the condylar head, such as standard bone screws, resorbable screws, resorbable pins, and cannulated lag screws. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review the literature about the surgical treatment of fractures of the condylar head to resume the current knowledge about open treatment of such fractures.

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological features of a consecutive series of orbital lymphomas in two Institutions in the North West of Italy. A prospective study was performed of all cases of diagnosed orbital lymphomas. Data on patient demographics, symptoms and clinical findings, histological type of lymphoma, site of lesion, imaging, and systemic involvement were recorded in each case. The mean age of the enrolled 20 patients was 63.65 years. Most orbital lymphomas were located in the superior-lateral quadrant. Superior rectus muscle was the most frequently involved orbital structure. Most patients were affected by extranodal marginal-zone lymphomas. The diagnosis of orbital lymphomas may be challenging, because these neoplasms present few specific features. Although not typically performed by the maxillofacial surgeon, an understanding of the staging process is crucial for multidisciplinary management of orbital lymphomas.

Retrobulbar hematoma is a rare condition but represents a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. It occurs in between 0.3% and 3.5% of facial traumas and can be caused by direct or indirect injury of the orbit; they can be classified into intraorbital and subperiosteal hematoma. We describe 4 different cases of posttraumatic retrobulbar hematoma treated at the Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Novara Major Hospital between January 2005 and December 2009, each different from the others for morphologic aspects, and we discuss its diagnosis and management. Surgery decompression of the orbit is recommended when visual deficit arises and when there is no response to pharmacologic therapy. Several techniques for orbital decompression have been proposed. The lateral canthotomy and/or the inferior cantholysis are the 2 techniques most practiced. Anterior-chamber paracentesis is effective, but it is rarely indicated for frequent complications such as cataract formation, herniation of the iris, infection, and trauma to the canal of Schlemm. Other procedures including transantral ethmoidectomy, transantral sphenoidectomy, and transfrontal craniotomy are described.

The aging process is characterized by multiple signs affecting the upper, the middle, and the lower third of the face; coventionally, face-lift procedures and structural fat grafting are performed to create a younger face. During the life, craniofacial skeleton atrophies, leading to a reduction of the facial height and depth, while increasing the facial width. Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) by orthognathic surgery restores the lost space dimension, projecting the cheeks, the mouth, and the nose. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphologic change of the face after MMA in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, focusing on the previously mentioned stigmata of the middle and the lower third of the aging face. The records of 16 patients who underwent MMA for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome between January 2005 and December 2008 in the Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery at the Novara Major Hospital were included in this study. We explained to the patients the stigmata of a standard aging face, and we asked them to evaluate each sign affecting the middle and the lower third of their preoperative condition. One positive point was given for the presence of each sign reported by the patients. At 2 years after surgery, we asked the patients to evaluate the previously mentioned aging signs of their postoperative face. Again, 1 positive point was given for the presence of each sign reported by the patients. Although we did not perform statistical evaluation, 13 patients showed a degree of rejuvenation after MMA (the score of the postoperative face is less than the score of the preoperative face). Three patients reported no postoperative change; none reported a more aging face, with a successful “reverse face-lift” occurred in 81% of our cases. Simultaneous maxillary and mandibular advancements change the skeletal framework of the face, improving soft-tissue support and resulting in rejuvenation of the middle and the lower third of the face. This condition is demonstrated by the results of our study in that all patients appeared postoperatively more youthful from a self-evaluation.

Within the field of facial reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive procedures are used for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders, traumas, and salivary glands and base of skull tumors. The recent report of endoscopic approach for treating subcondylar fractures of the mandible is designed to provide a new method for the treatment of subcondylar fractures using an endoscope through a limited transoral incision. To the best of our knowledge, the advantages and the disadvantages of an endoscopically assisted approach to mandibular condylar fracture have not been verified in studies with a high level of evidence. The objective of this article was to present our experience regarding the endoscopically assisted reduction of subcondylar mandibular fractures with a special focus on complications. The records of 14 patients who underwent surgical repair of subcondylar fractures by transoral endoscopic-assisted technique from January 2005 to December 2008 at the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of Novara Major Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The measures for the surgical objectives included the following outcome variables: (1) operation time, (2) cosmetic outcome, (3) salivary fistulas, (4) infection, (5) delayed wound healing, (6) facial nerve damage, (7) hemorrhage, (8) repeat interventions, (9) bone consolidation, (10) occlusion changes, and (11) temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Our data show that we have had 4 complications (28%) experienced by 4 different patients: (1) arterial hemorrhage, (2) facial nerve injury, (3) nonunion, and (4) partial condylar reabsorption. Although we cannot draw statistically significant conclusions, we think that further randomized clinical trials should be necessary to analyze this method; we believe that there is not an ideal approach for a fracture, but each patient needs to be fully evaluated carefully preoperatively, and the more convenient approach needs to be selected for each case.

Purpose The first autologous adipose tissue grafting was performed by Neuber in 1893 with an open approach. In the early 1980s, Illouz and Fournier introduced closed liposuction. In the 1990s, Coleman published a new method of atraumatic fat transplantation. Recently, immunohistochemical studies of the extracellular matrix of the lipoaspirate showed the presence of adipose-derived stem cells. The purpose of this study is to describe the role of fat grafting in the management of posttraumatic facial deformities. Methods The study population was composed of all patients who underwent facial fat grafting between March 2008 and November 2010 as a secondary reconstructive procedure after an initial unsatisfactory treatment of the skeletal fractures. We analyzed the postoperative morphological changes by comparing the grafted side of the face to the contralateral side with the aid of a software package. Results Nineteen patients were surgically treated with fat transplantation for facial asymmetry due to a pathological postoperative healing of the soft tissue. Clinical examination and software analysis showed adequate postoperative facial balance without major complications. Conclusion Fat grafting is a very powerful tool to correct posttraumatic maxillofacial deformities and to ensure a long-term follow-up. Although we have achieved excellent clinical results in our reconstructive clinical cases, we are convinced that more complex prospective studies, enriched by long-term radiological controls, are needed to fully understand the biological behavior of the transplanted fat in the posttraumatic face.

Atrophy of the mandible leads to a decrease in the bone mass, making it more vulnerable to fractures. A direct relationship has been demonstrated between the height of the bone in the area of the fracture and the incidence of postoperative complications of bone healing. Basic principles of fracture management in both edentulous and non edentulous patients are open reduction and internal fixation with osteosynthesis of the fracture to achieve restoration in terms of aesthetics and functionality. Several authors have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the transoral and extraoral approaches. Between January 2007 and June 2011, 13 patients affected by bilateral fractures of atrophic mandibles were treated by extra-mucosal intraoral stabilization with satisfactory results. This approach reduces the risks of damage of the marginalis mandibulae nerve with low operation time, while avoiding unsightly scars.

To propose an algorithm for the preoperative management of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and review the surgical outcomes in such patients. This prospective cohort study involved 71 patients with OSAS who underwent presurgical upper airway endoscopy and cephalometry before being assigned to treatment categories based on the site(s) of obstruction, the pattern of collapse, the characteristics of the soft tissue, the air space between the base of the tongue and the posterior wall of the pharynx, and the severity of OSAS. Six months after surgery, they were followed up using polysomnography and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The pre- and postsurgical data were compared using a paired Student t test. The mean preoperative apnea/hypopnea index of the 71 patients (61 male and 10 female) was 40.98 events/hour (range, 14.7 to 87.6 events/hr), and the mean postoperative apnea/hypopnea index was 13.96 events/hour (range, 0 to 20 events/hr). The difference was statistically significant (P < .001). This algorithm was developed on the principle that every patient with OSAS should be considered individually. In the authors' opinion, taking into account the number, site(s), pattern, and degree of the collapse/obstruction is a reasonable means of ensuring the correct diagnosis and treatment.

There is a multitude of reported surgical approaches and technical variants with some unresolved technical problems to gain direct access to mandibular condylar head fractures; they can be divided into 2 groups: intraoral and extraoral. In 2005, Neff et al (Mund Kiefer Gesichtschir 2005;9:80), supported by a previous experimental work, reported a successful clinical study of condylar head fractures treated by a retroauricular approach; this article is in German, and the later English-language literature does not mention about this approach to open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular condylar fractures. The retroauricular transmeatal access, selected and performed by the senior author to treat 14 patients affected by highly located condylar head fracture, is illustrated in details. We collected data of 14 consecutive adult patients who, after the discussion about all options, had consented to have 16 mandibular condylar head fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation by miniplates and screws via a retroauricular transmeatal approach. We exposed the temporomandibular joint area easily and better by dissecting via a retroauricular route with identification, ligation, and transection of the retromandibular vein; because of the posterior access, the frontal branch of the facial nerve and the auriculotemporal nerve are located and protected within the substance of the anteriorly retracted flap, superficial to the retromandibular vein. The follow-up clinical examination showed temporary weakness of the frontal branch of the facial nerve in 1 case with a recovery to normal function of 1.6 months; no patients had permanent weakness of the facial nerve or injury of the auriculotemporal nerve. There was absence of any salivary fistula, sialocele, and Frey syndrome; hearing was preserved in all cases, without any auditory stenosis or aesthetic deformity, and there was absence of any infections, hematoma, or scarring. Retroauricular approach provides good exposure of the temporomandibular joint and satisfactory protection from nerve injuries and vascular lesions, allowing an adequate osteosynthesis. The scar is hidden behind the ear, and the morbidity is low in terms of auditory stenosis, aesthetic deformity, and salivary fistulas.

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular tumor first described by Stout and Murray in 1942 and characterized by a proliferation of Zimmermann's pericytes, smooth muscle cells arranged around blood vessels. This tumor presents as a slowly enlarging painless mass. Diagnosis with certainty is often a difficult one because of the close likeness with other spindle cell tumors; it requires the help of immunohistochemical techniques and sometimes ultrastructural techniques. Only 15% of hemangiopericytomas are localized in the cervicofacial region; in particular, occurrence in the infratemporal fossa is an exceptional occurrence. In this article, we report an unusual case of recidivate hemangiopericytoma of the infratemporal fossa that has progressively assumed features of malignancy over 30 years. The hemangiopericytoma relapse potentiality is elevated, even when the histologic characteristics of the tumor indicate a low aggressivity, and therefore every hemangiopericytoma must be considered to have malignant potential. In conclusion, the unpredictable behavior of hemangiopericytoma requires a radical primary treatment to avoid the risk of relapses that always are frequent and aggressive.

Since 1977, osseointegrated implants have played a strong role in oral rehabilitation. Despite the large success of this technique for the edentulous maxilla and mandible with sufficient bone height, patients with atrophic jaws continue to be the challenging cases for an adequate reconstruction of aesthetics and functionality. Orthognathic surgical procedures have been developed to reposition the jaws and have been traditionally used in the dentate patient to correct a skeletal malocclusion; these procedures can be used on the edentulous patient to correct the discrepancies between the jaws followed by the placement of implants to rehabilitate the oral cavity. Recently, surgeons can use a computer-assisted software package that enables them to insert implants after a digital analysis of the residual alveolar and basal bone that makes for greater implant osseointegration. We describe a one-step oral rehabilitation with Le Fort I osteotomy and computer-guided implant placement to correct a posttraumatic deformity. The first step of the definitive treatment, the implant placement, was planned with the aid of a computer-assisted surgery software package (NobelGuide; Nobel Biocare AB, Goteborg, Sweden). Ten computer-planned implants (Nobel Biocare AB) were inserted (6 on the maxillary arch and 2 on each posterior area of the mandible). Simultaneously, the patient underwent a Le Fort I osteotomy to correct the maxillary deficiency without any bone grafts. The use of Le Fort I osteotomy as a preprosthetic procedure for the atrophic edentulous maxilla has been well accepted. This is a technically demanding procedure, and there are some described complications such as unfavorable fractures of the maxilla, oroantral fistulas, bone exposure, and low implant survival rates. However, in selected cases, this reconstructive method has the advantages over the other commonly used preprosthetic techniques of simultaneously allowing the placement of osseointegrated implants while correcting an unfavorable intermaxillary relationship and improving facial aesthetics. Computer-assisted surgery offers to the surgeons the possibility to visualize anatomic structures, evaluate implant position and inclination, insert accurately implants, prefabricate prosthesis, and avoid the morbidity of bone grafting procedures. One-step oral rehabilitation by Le Fort I and computer-guided implant placement can be used in selected patients. Despite the difficulty of this procedure, this approach enabled the authors to solve simultaneously a double problem: the malocclusion and the partially atrophic and edentulous jaws. According to the literature, this is the first case of a simultaneous Le Fort I osteotomy and computer-guided implant placement. The patient introduced had a posttraumatic deformity, but we think that this procedure could be extended in the future to manage other situations.

Gardner syndrome, a variant of familial adenomatous polyposis, is an autosomal dominant genetic disease characterized by the combined presence of multiple intestinal polyps and extraintestinal manifestations. The extraintestinal manifestations include multiple osteomas, connective tissue tumors, thyroid carcinomas, and hypertrophy of the pigmented epithelium of the retina. Osteoma is a benign neoplasm of bone tissue characterized by slow continuous growth that usually affects the long bones and cranial bones and is a major symptom for Gardner syndrome. The authors report the extraintestinal lesions affecting the maxillofacial regions in 2 male patients (father and son) with Gardner syndrome. The presurgical planning and surgical management of these lesions are described.

In 1997, Morykwas et al introduced negative pressure dressings to manage complicated wounds; since its introduction, the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system has been successfully used in the fields of general surgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, and gynecology. Recently, some authors described this technique to manage complex wounds in the craniomaxillofacial region; we introduce the case of exposed peroneal bone and mandibular reconstruction plate after a fibula osteomyocutaneous free flap managed with this method. A 41-year-old man presented an advanced mandibular osteoradionecrosis with an extensive composite three-dimensional defect of the lower jaw involving the oral mucosa, the mandibular bone, the external skin, and the soft tissue, with a clear communication between the oral cavity and the exterior. A subtotal mandibulectomy and a fibula osteomyocutaneous free flap to reconstruct the defect was performed; 1 month after surgery, the patient presented an exposition of a segment of the fibula and reconstruction plate. The patient was put on VAC for 20 days before a pedicle pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap was performed as definitive reconstruction. The advantages of the VAC device in the management of complicated craniofacial wounds have been discussed by a multitude of experimental and clinical studies. This method removes fluids and infectious materials and helps draw together wound edges, increasing blood flow and promoting wound healing. Of the 2 proposed mechanisms (fluid-based and mechanical), it seems that the latter is of greater importance in the production of new tissue. Up-to-date adequate surgical debridement, wet-to-dry dressing changes, and appropriate antibiotic treatment remain the mainstay in treating complex craniofacial wounds; however, in selected cases, the VAC system can be used to achieve a primary closure or to provide a transitory coverage preparing the wound bed until a definitive reconstruction is planned and/or performed. This therapy is a safe, innovative, and useful tool and can be of great assistance especially in complex craniofacial wounds, but it poses some problems such as intricate contours and orifices of the head and neck region, painful dressing changes, and remarkable costs.

An orbital blow-in fracture is defined as a displaced fracture of the orbital rim or wall when the fractured bone fragment is pulled into the orbit, resulting in a decreased orbital volume. Orbital blow-in fractures is generally localized at the orbital roof. Surgical treatment is required and should be early to avoid any damage to the visual. We report a peculiar case of indirect blow-in orbital roof fracture associated with fracture of the parietal bone.

Despite the recent advances of sophisticated reconstructive surgical techniques, management of maxillectomy defects continues to be challenging. For a selected group of patients, who cannot sustain a sophisticated microsurgical reconstructive procedure, a prosthetic obturator is indicated to separate the oral cavity from the sinonasal cavities. After the development of the osseointegration concept, dental implants have proven to be indicated for the rehabilitation of patients who underwent maxillectomy. Recently, surgeons can use a computer-assisted software package, which enables them to insert implants after a detailed analysis of the residual bone. For some patients with limited amount of residual maxillary bone, unusual surgical sites such as the zygomatic complex have been tested. We introduce a successful 2-step surgical procedure using a pedicled temporalis muscle flap and zygomatic implant placement to reconstruct a maxillary defect after oncological resection.

Osteomas are the most common benign tumors of the paranasal sinuses. They are usually localized in the frontal sinus and less often in the other paranasal sinuses. In this article, we report the surgical treatment of an unknown frontal sinus osteoma discovered after an acute exophthalmos. We have chosen an external approach to obtain a radical excision of the tumor, but we prefer a direct frontal incision following a horizontal wrinkle to the classic bicoronal flap to avoid an unsightly scar because of patient's hair loss. We discuss the surgical approach, the reconstruction of the roof of the orbit involved, and patient's satisfaction.

Schwannomas are benign encapsulated tumors, originating from Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves. Schwannomas accounts for approximately 1% of all orbital tumors. Most schwannomas originate from branches of the oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal, and abducens nerves and from sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers. The progressive growth may cause compression of the optic nerve with papilledema or optic atrophy. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are necessary to avoid important ocular consequences. We report a successful surgical treatment of orbital schwannoma in a 75-year-old woman.

Neoplasms of the salivary gland account for 3% of all head and neck tumors; most of these occur in the parotid gland and are benign; 80% of them are pleomorphic adenomas. Benign neoplasms of the salivary gland are rare in children compared with adults. Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) is considered the second most frequent neoplasm of all odontogenic tumors after the ameloblastoma. In the present report, we introduce the unusual presentation of a child with a simultaneous pleomorphic adenoma of the right hard palate and a KCOT of the left mandibular angle. The case is significant for 2 reasons; according to the literature, there are few reports of pleomorphic adenoma arising from a minor salivary gland of the palate in a patient younger than 18 years. This is to our knowledge the first recorded instance of simultaneous palatal pleomorphic adenoma and mandibular KCOT occurring in a child.

In 1727, Heister (Compendium anatomicum. Altdorf, Guill, Koleshii: editio tertia 1727: 134, table VIII and figs. 36-37) described the buccal fat pad (BFP) as an independent anatomic structure of the face; in 1801, Bichat (Anatomie generale appliquee a la physiologie et a la medecine. Paris, France: Brosson, Gabon et Cie Libraires, 1801:60) reported his fatty histologic finding. According to the literature, several pathologic tumorous conditions can arise from BFP, such as lipoma, lipoblastomatosis, liposarcoma, hemangioma, arteriovenous malformation, and nodular fasciitis; all of which are rare. After a revision of the English literature performed through PubMed between 1948 and 2008, we found 10 cases of lipomas arising from the BFP (7 cases are simple subtype, 2 are spindle cell lipoma, and 1 is fibrolipoma). The aims of this study were to introduce our clinical report of this rare pathologic entity, describe the surgical technique of the transoral approach, and discuss the potential pitfalls regarding the preoperative diagnosis and the close interrelation among the BFP, the facial buccal branches (FBBs), and the parotid duct (PD). A 43-year-old man was referred to the Maxillofacial Unit of the Novara Major Hospital with a 6-month history of a painless swelling in the right cheek. Clinical examination revealed a clearly visible, tender, slightly fluctuant mass, situated anterior to the masseter muscle and extended to the submandibular region. The patient underwent an ultrasound, a computed tomography, and a magnetic resonance imaging. Under general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation, the patient underwent intraoral resection of BFP lipoma. The 2 major areas of discussion are the potential pitfall regarding the preoperative diagnosis and the close anatomic interrelation among the BFP, the FBB, and the PD. First, the spindle cell lipoma, one of the most common BFP lipoma variant, can be histologically and clinically similar to a well-differentiated liposarcoma, which can be recurrent and metastatic. This issue warrants that a careful workup of the tumorous mass of the buccal space and a BFP origin must be considered in every situation. Finally, according to the recent literature, the anatomic variations of the interrelation between the FBB and the BFP are classified into 2 groups: (1) FBB passing lateral to the BFP and (2) branches crossing inside the BFP. The anatomic variations of the interrelation between the PD and the BFP are classified into 3 groups: (1) PD passing lateral to the BFP, (2) PD crossing deep to the BFP, and (3) PD running along the superior border of the BFP.

The nose is the most common site for facial skin cancer; nonmelanoma skin cancers are the most common tumors of this region. Median and paramedian forehead flaps have been proposed for nasal defects greater than 2.5-3 cm in diameter. The aim of this study was to describe a peculiar case of a recurrence of a squamous cell carcinoma in a forehead flap of a post-rhinectomy site managed by a fabrication of a total nasal prosthesis as salvage procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the scientific literature of a recurrence of a squamous cell carcinoma in a forehead flap of a post-rhinectomy site; this peculiar clinical report adds knowledge in the complex field of nasal reconstruction.

Penetrating foreign bodies occurring after maxillofacial injuries are a diagnostic challenge for the trauma surgeon. Different materials and various sites of penetration in the maxillofacial region are described in the literature. We present the peculiar course of a patient with an endoral retained foreign body after a penetrating facial injury. The diagnostic pitfall in this type of trauma is highlighted owing to the hyperdensity of the foreign body that, at the computed tomographic (CT) axial scan, simulated a vestibular cortical fracture of the mandibular body and deceived both the radiologist and the surgeon. We introduce the case of a boy who fell from his bicycle. Computed tomography was performed to detect any bone injuries. The radiologic report stated that a left condylar fracture was presented, associated to a vestibular cortical fracture of the mandibular body. Anamnestic questions revealed that the boy fell from his bicycle in a dug-up street. Clinical examination revealed 2 extraoral open wounds in the subnasal and periorbital areas and an endoral linear wound in the inferior fornix at the mandibular symphyseal region. Consequently, the left condylar fracture was surgically treated, and the mandibular body was explored by the endoral wound revealing an intact cortex: the road metal was removed from the soft tissue of the chin. The initial diagnostic pitfall was clarified: the radiodense foreign bodies penetrated the endoral wound in the soft tissue of the chin during the fall. They simulated a vestibular cortical fracture of the mandibular body at the CT scan deceiving both the radiologist and the surgeon. According to the literature, soft tissue foreign bodies can be detected by ultrasonography, plain radiography, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging. Superficially retained foreign bodies are easily detected with ultrasonography if they are not covered by overlying bone or gas. If this easily available technique had been applied initially in this case, the correct diagnosis might have been established at the initial admittance. Deeply located foreign bodies are best visualized by CT. The foreign body in the case introduced was made by radiopaque substance it presented the same radiodensity as the bone.

Oral lichen planus is a chronic autoinflammatory mucositis. Oral lesions are predominantly white; they tend to be bilateral while involving the buccal mucosa especially cheek, tongue, gums, lips, and palate. Many topical and systemic agents are currently used with unpredictable results. Fat grafting is characterized by the placement of multiple parcels of purified fat with blunt cannulas; at the beginning, it was introduced to improve facial aesthetics. Recently, it has been translated to other surgical cases such as posttraumatic deformities and craniofacial anomalies and as ancillary reconstructive procedure after tumor resections. The successful results of this procedure encouraged us to use this approach to a clinical case of oral lichen planus refractory to conventional therapy.

We describe a rare case of traumatic subperiosteal orbital hematoma in a child, with intracranial hemorrhagic complication. Subperiosteal hematoma are the more infrequent occurrences among intraorbital hemorrhagic lesions and can be also associated with intracranial extradural hematoma in patients with orbital roof fracture. Here, we describe a case without roof fracture but with a never-before described intracranial subdural hematoma. The patient underwent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, in an acute state, and later, a radiologic diagnosis of percutaneous drainage of the hematoma was mad. MRI was more sensitive and specific in the evaluation of the intracranial and intraorbital complication.

Takotsubo syndrome, also known as ampulla cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome, idiopathic apical ballooning syndrome, and stress-induced myocardial stunning, has been first described by Japanese authors in 1996 and subsequently specified in 2001; it derives from the resemblance between the ancient round-bottomed, narrow-necked Japanese fishing pots used to trap octopus in Asia and the end-systolic appearance of the left ventricle on ventriculography. We introduce the case of a woman who was involved in a traffic car crash and, subsequently, was admitted to the Maxillo-Facial Unit of the Novara Major Hospital with a diagnosis of nasal fracture. She underwent general anesthesia for the reduction of the fracture; after surgery, she developed acute chest pain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, ischemic electrocardiogram changes, and transient akinesis of the left ventricle without significant epicardial coronary artery disease. A diagnosis of takotsubo syndrome was made. This syndrome, which presents the same clinical features of a ventricular failure, is probably underdiagnosed, but after the introduction of sophisticated cardiac imaging and coronary intervention, more cases are identified and an unnecessary thrombolytic therapy can be spared. This reversible condition, which is, to our knowledge, never mentioned after a craniomaxillofacial surgical procedure, should be considered in the diagnostic algorithm for all patients presenting with acute onset of chest pain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and ischemic changes on the electrocardiogram after a general anesthesia.

Eyelids emphysema is a rare condition due to air trapping in subcutaneous tissue of the orbit. It has been clinically and radiologically documented, but histologic evaluation has not been noted. We report a case of a middle-aged woman with periorbital swelling due to self-induced Valsalva maneuver, persisting after decompressive therapy. A fine-needle biopsy was performed and showed a mixed population of osteoclastic-like giant cells and mononuclear epithelioid cells, which were suspected of pathological proliferative disease. Specimens from blepharoplasty indicated pseudocystic empty spaces surrounded by epithelioid cells and giant cell granulomas. Immunohistochemical stains favored diagnosis of benign granulomatous disease, such as subcutis cystic pneumatosis. Histologic examination represented an important tool for differential diagnosis with soft tissue neoplasms of the orbit in subcutis emphysema with unusual clinical presentation and abnormal course.