Apoorva Mowar

Some Modifications of the Furlow Palatoplasty in Wide Clefts—A Preliminary Report

Objectives Authors encounter a large percentage of wide cleft palates while operating in a Third World situation. They define the terms wide clefts and unrepairable clefts in terms of measurement. They describe their technique, which they developed to deal with wide clefts. They describe some previously unreported modifications. They also report the velar lengthening obtained. Methods A total of 77 cases of primary cleft palate repaired with this technique by a single author, during the period May 2006 to February 2009, were selected for the study. These were divided into two groups on the basis of measurements. Group B consisted of all clefts deemed wide or unrepairable. Group A consisted of all other cleft palates. Difference in fistula rate was studied. Velar lengthening was measured in all patients. Observations Two fistulae occurred in Group B. The overall fistula rate for the series was 2.6%. The series consisted of 44% wide clefts, which included one case of unrepairable cleft. Lengthening in the velum ranged from 20% to 155%. Statistically significant correlations were found between narrow clefts and age group 0 to 1 year (p = .0094) and Veau Group 4 with wide clefts (p = .0194). Conclusions The Furlow technique as originally described has shortcomings. The authors describe their technique of incorporating the Furlow repair, which enables them to use it as a primary palatoplasty, in a scenario consisting of a large percentage of wide clefts in an older age group, thereby minimizing the fistula rate while increasing palatal length.

Wooden Foreign Body Embedded in the Zygomatic Region for 2 Years

We report a case of retained wooden foreign body in the zygomatic region which posed a considerable diagnostic difficulty and was the source of persistent draining sinus and other distressing symptoms. The patient was not aware of the foreign body in the maxillofacial region. In such cases a thorough history of the patient is of utmost importance. The case has been described to highlight the problems associated in managing unlikely foreign bodies at unusual facial sites when there is a possibility that radiolucent material is embedded in the wound.

Postextraction bleeding following a fever: a case report

Postoperative hemorrhage is one of the few serious complications that can occur as a result of dental procedures. We report a case of an elderly patient with postextraction bleeding caused by dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Although a major sequel of DHF is bleeding secondary to thrombocytopenia, prolonged hemorrhage as a result of extraction of tooth has not been reported. In the current scenario of emerging and reemerging infections worldwide, dengue is gaining global prominence. This case documents the course and progression of this disease from a dental perspective and highlights the as yet unreported capacity of causing oral complications after dental treatment.

Ultrasonography for the volumetric analysis of the buccal fat pad as an interposition material for the management of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint in adolescent patients

The aim of this study was to analyse preoperatively with ultrasound the minimum volume of buccal fat that would be required for interposition of a pad after gap arthroplasty, and to emphasise the value of such a pad in the management of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) during a short term follow up. Nineteen patients with ankylosis of the TMJ (22 joints) were selected, whose mean (SD) mouth opening was 4.9 (3.7) mm. In 10 joints in which the mean (SD) volume of the buccal fat pad was 0.7 (0.2) ml, the harvested buccal fat was inadequate for interposition, so they were treated with other materials. The remaining 12 joints had a mean (SD) volume of 1.1 (0.3) ml, which gave enough fat for interposition after gap arthroplasty. Investigation with ultrasound at 15 days and 6 months postoperatively showed that the fat pad was viable and the volume had shrunk by 28%. The 6-month postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scan showed little or no heterotopic calcification. We conclude that a buccal fat pad with a preoperative mean (SD) volume of 1.1 (0.3) ml is easy to harvest as interposition material. At a mean follow up of the 12 joints after 31 (range 24-36) months there was progressive improvement in mouth opening with a mean (SD) of 32.5 (5.0) mm, which established that a pedicled buccal fat pad is a stable, efficient, viable soft tissue barrier in the management of ankylosis of the TMJ.

The post-auricular approach for gap arthroplasty - a clinical investigation.

Objective of this prospective study was to evaluate and compare posterior auricular approach for surgery of temporomandibular joint ankylosis with preauricular approach. These evaluations were done on the basis of certain parameters like incidences of facial nerve injury, time taken to expose ankylotic mass, haemorrhage and quality of exposure of joint and surrounding structures. This study was conducted among 15 patients of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. A total number of 30 joints were operated. These joints were divided in two groups i.e. Group A - preauricular group, Group B - postauricular group. Fifteen joints were operated in each group. Age of patients was in range of 4-65 years. All the patients were operated under general anesthesia. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative evaluations were done according to parameters. Patients were recalled up to 3 months for observations. Results have shown that in postauricular group incidences of facial nerve injury was significantly less, more time was taken to expose the ankylotic mass, incidences of haemorrhage was more and exposure of structures anterior to joint was difficult. Whereas preauricular approach is less time consuming, incidence of facial nerve damage is higher, exposure of structures anterior to joint is good and intraoperative incidences of haemorrhage is less.

Unusual causes of trismus: a report of two cases

Chronic inability to achieve normal mouth opening can be a symptom of several diseases. Mostly the causes of inability to open mouth are articular and sometimes the cause may be extra-articular. In the two cases which are being reported in this article the causes of limited mouth opening are extra-articular and that too from rare pathologies, of which one case is of OKC of the coronoid process and the other case is of myositis ossificans of the buccinator and medial pterygoid muscle. Both the cases had adequate mouth opening both intraoperatively and at long term follow up.

Coronoid process and residual ankylotic mass as an autograft in the management of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint in young adolescent patients: a retrospective clinical investigation.

The aim of this non-randomised investigation was to assess the feasibility of using autogenous grafts (such as coronoid process and the resected ankylotic mass) in reconstruction of the condyle after gap arthroplasty for ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Sixteen patients (23 joints) operated on between 2007 and 2009 were studied and postoperative measurements of maximum interincisal opening, bite force, range of movement, and infection were recorded. After a mean (SD) follow up of 55 (2.25) months mouth opening improved from 3 (3.84) mm to 33 (1.66) mm in patients treated with coronoid graft, while in patients treated with an ankylotic mass after a mean (SD) follow up of 58 (1.58) months it increased from 4 (2.64) mm to 26 (8.04) mm. Bite force six months postoperatively ranged from 18.25kg/cm(2) - 27.5kg/cm(2) after reconstruction with the coronoid process and 18.5kg/cm(2) - 23.25kg/cm(2) after reconstruction with the ankylotic mass. One patient developed reankylosis postoperatively and another developed infection, in both of which the ankylotic mass had been used. Both were managed successfully. Both the ankylotic mass and the coronoid process gave satisfactory results and seem to be options for reconstruction. However, the coronoid process graft was better than residual ankylotic mass in terms of masticatory efficiency, bite force, and range of movement.

Non-traumatic Occulomotor Nerve Palsy: A Rare Case Report and Discussion on Etiopathogenesis

The ghost of the past has emerged as the horror of today. The fear of weakness/loss of eyesight following extraction is a common thinking amongst the orthodox people of Indian subcontinent. Occulomotor nerve paralysis following dental extraction is a rare complication. Although these ophthalmic complications in routine practice are rare, some time they do occur and pose difficulty to explain. Occulomotor nerve palsy is amongst the rare reported cases of ocular complication. Here we report a case of spontaneous recovery of occulomotor nerve palsy in an elderly diabetic patient and brief discussion on its etiopathogenesis.