Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
-
J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyFiberoptic assessment of laryngeal mask airway placement: blind insertion versus direct visual epiglottoscopy.
The study aims to compare the frequency of ideal anatomic placement of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) using the traditional blind insertion approach with one where placement was facilitated by the use of a laryngoscope (epiglottoscopy). ⋯ One hundred thirty-one of 132 patients had no airway difficulties after LMA placement with either blind (classic) or direct visual epiglottoscopy (laryngoscopy). A fiberoptic scope proved to be a valuable tool to assess the results. When ideal placement is either highly desirable or necessary, the direct visual technique is considered to be a better choice for placement than the blind, classic method.
-
J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Aug 2004
Facial computed tomography use in trauma patients who require a head computed tomogram.
Head-injured patients admitted to a trauma center may or may not have associated facial fractures. Most head-injured patients undergo head computed tomography (CT) scan early in their evaluation. The question of adding a facial CT at the time of the head CT can be unclear. The aims of our study are 1) to analyze how the facial CT is used in conjunction with the head CT in facial fracture trauma patients, 2) to recognize unique identifiers that would aid the surgeon's decision-making process to order a facial CT in continuity with a head CT, and 3) to examine what is characteristic of head trauma patients who receive a facial CT separately, at some point after the head CT. Materials and methods Data were retrospectively reviewed for a 5-year period at a level I trauma center in which all patients who present with craniomaxillofacial trauma are managed by the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) service. Included patients must have obtained a head CT during initial resuscitation and be diagnosed with a facial fracture during the same hospital stay. These patients were divided into 3 groups: those who had a 1) head CT only, 2) head CT and facial CT at the same time, and 3) head CT with the facial CT performed at a later time. ⋯ Six points were identified in our study that can augment the physical examination in patients who require head CT. The following points can help prompt the clinician to order a combination head and facial CT: 1) 12% of trauma patients who require a head CT will have a facial fracture, whereas half of these patients will have multiple facial fractures. 2) Orbital fractures are commonly missed in this group and often require a secondary scan such as coronal views for accurate diagnosis. 3) Facial lacerations correlate with ordering a combination head and facial CT. 4) The most common facial fracture identified among patients receiving a trauma head CT is the nasal fracture. 5) The use of the facial CT in more severely injured patients tended to be delayed and was related to increased hospital and intensive care unit days. 6) Only 16% of facial fracture patients who had received an initial trauma head CT did not require further facial CT scanning.
-
J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Jul 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAnalgesic safety and efficacy of diclofenac sodium softgels on postoperative third molar extraction pain.
The purpose of this single-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-arm parallel, randomized study was to compare the analgesic efficacy and tolerability of a single dose of 100 mg diclofenac potassium (Cataflam; Novartis, Stein, Switzerland), 100 mg diclofenac sodium softgel, and placebo in patients experiencing moderate to severe postoperative pain after third molar extraction. ⋯ More diclofenac anion was absorbed at a quicker rate using the formulation diclofenac sodium softgel 100 mg than Cataflam. The softgel provided a very rapid onset of analgesic activity, a prolonged analgesic duration, and an acceptable side-effect profile in the postoperative third molar surgery pain model. In an acute pain situation, the rapid absorption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from a formulation like the Softgel may positively affect the time of onset and duration of inflammatory pain compared with other commercially available nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug formulations.
-
J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Jun 2004
Comparative StudyFrequency of maxillofacial injuries in all-terrain vehicle collisions.
We sought to evaluate the frequency and distribution of maxillofacial injuries associated with all-terrain vehicle (ATV) collisions and to compare this with patients involved in motorcycle accidents over the same 5-year period at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Patients and methods The records of all patients involved in ATV collisions who were admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Trauma Center from January 1998 to January 2003 were reviewed. Age, gender, mechanism of injury, length of stay, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, maxillofacial injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and maxillofacial Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score were the factors considered for the study. These variables were also analyzed for patients involved in motorcycle collisions who sustained maxillofacial trauma. ⋯ Maxillofacial injuries are common findings in ATV collisions. ATV patients with maxillofacial fractures have more neurologic impairment at admission and longer hospitalizations than patients sustaining motorcycle injuries. There needs to be an increase in the public health effort to educate individuals about the dangers of ATVs and to provide proper safety guidelines before the purchase of a vehicle.