Ernst Waldhart

Trends in the incidence and cause of sport-related mandibular fractures: a retrospective analysis

PURPOSE This study assessed changes in the incidence and causes of mandibular fractures occurring in innsbruck, Austria between 1984 and 1993. PATIENTS AND METHODS Records from 712 patients sustaining 982 mandibular fractures were reviewed and analyzed according to age, sex, date of fracture, place of trauma, cause, anatomic site of fracture, and associated orofacial and craniocerebral injuries. RESULTS Sports were the most common cause of mandibular fractures, accounting for 31.5% of the entire sample, followed by road traffic accidents (27.2%) and falls (20.8%). The yearly distribution of sport-related mandibular fractures showed an increase from 28.6% in 1984 to 1988 to 34.5% in 1989 to 1993. The major causative factor in sports-related mandibular fractures was skiing (55.3%), whereas cycling and soccer accounted for 25.4% and 8.9%, respectively. Significant changes in the occurrence of cycling-related mandibular fractures were observed, with an increase of 19.3% from 1984 to 1988 to 1989 to 1993, whereas skiing-related mandibular fractures showed a decrease of similar magnitude (19.5%). Sex distribution showed a male-to-female ratio of 2.5:1, with the percentage of females involved increasing. In cases of cycling-related accidents, there was a considerable prevalence of associated injuries (133.3 injuries per 100 mandibular fractures), with significantly higher rates of facial lacerations (73.2), tooth fractures (39), tooth luxations (24.4), and orbital fractures (3.7) than in the case of skiing-related injuries, whereas in patients sustaining mandibular fractures caused by soccer, mucosal lacerations, tooth luxations, and cerebral concussions were the only associated injuries found. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate a considerable change in the cause of mandibular fractures, showing that sporting injuries are becoming increasingly common. The high incidence of associated maxillofacial injuries in patients involved in skiing and cycling accidents may suggest an increasing need for preventive and protective measures.

Mountainbiking--a dangerous sport: comparison with bicycling on oral and maxillofacial trauma

The popularity of bicycling is reflected in the number of cycling-related oral and maxillofacial injuries. Five hundred and sixty-two injured bicyclists (10.3% of all trauma patients) were registered at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Innsbruck, Austria, between 1991 and 1996, accounting for 31% of all sports-related accidents and 48.4% of all traffic accidents. A review of the patient records revealed more severe injury profiles in sixty mountainbikers, with 55% facial bone fractures, 22% dentoalveolar trauma and 23% soft tissue injuries, compared to 502 street cyclists showing 50.8% dentoalveolar trauma, 34.5% facial bone fractures and 14% soft tissue lesions. The dominant fracture site in bicyclists was the zygoma (30.8%), whereas mountainbikers sustained an impressive 15.2% LeFort I, II and III fractures. Condyle fractures were more common in bicyclists, with 18.8% compared to 10.8% in mountainbikers. Reduction of facial injuries due to cycling-related accidents needs appropriate design of helmets with faceguards and compulsory helmet use for all cyclists, and particularly mountainbikers.

Differential Profile of Facial Injuries among Mountainbikers Compared with Bicyclists

BACKGROUND Bicyclists and mountainbikers are prone to facial trauma. In the current study, we present a large series of cycling-related sports trauma to the face in an effort to identify the injury pattern among mountainbikers compared with bicyclists. METHODS The medical records of a single pediatric and adult Level I trauma center were evaluated from January 1, 1991, through October 31, 1996. All admissions with injuries caused by cycling-related sports were reviewed, analyzed, and compared according to age and sex distributions, causes of accidents, injury types, frequency, and localization of fractures and associated injuries. The injury types were divided into three categories: fractures, dentoalveolar trauma, and soft-tissue injuries. RESULTS Five hundred sixty-two injured bicyclists (10.3% of all trauma patients) were registered at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Innsbruck, Austria, during the study period, accounting for 31% of all sports-related or 48.4% of all traffic collisions, respectively. The review of the patient records revealed especially more severe injury profiles in 60 mountainbikers, with 55% facial bone fractures, 22% dentoalveolar trauma, and 23% soft-tissue injuries, compared with 502 street cyclists showing 50.8% dentoalveolar trauma, 34.5% facial bone fractures, and 14% soft-tissue lesions. The dominant fracture site in bicyclists was the zygoma (30.8%), whereas mountainbikers sustained an impressive 15.2% Le Fort I, II, and III fractures. Condyle fractures were more common in bicyclists, with 18.8% opposing 10.8% in mountainbikers. CONCLUSION Appropriate design of helmets with faceguards will reduce the incidence of facial injuries caused by cycling-related accidents and incentives are needed for making helmet use compulsory for all cyclists, particularly for mountainbikers.

Neopterin as a prognostic parameter in patients with squamous-cell carcinomas of the oral cavity

Concentrations of neopterin, which is produced by human monocytes/macrophages upon stimulation by interferon‐γ, were measured in urine specimens in 23 patients with squamous‐cell carcinoma of the oral cavity at diagnosis and in 12 treated patients with the same disease when recurrence of the tumor was recognized. Tumor histology and routine laboratory parameters were concomitantly determined. Urinary neopterin values showed no statistically significant correlation with tumor differentiation, tumor size or patient age, but they were significantly higher in patients with a recurrent tumor. Patients were followed for up to 4 years, and the ability of all variables to predict fatal outcome was assessed. In univariate analysis, only neopterin (p = 0.01) and the variable recurrent vs. first‐diagnosed tumor were significant predictors of survival. In multivariate analysis, a combination of neopterin (p < 0.01) and the variable recurrent vs. first‐diagnosed tumor (p = 0.06) was found to jointly predict survival. Thus, urinary neopterin concentrations provide valuable prognostic information in patients with squamous‐cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.)79:476–480, 1998.© 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

TNM-classification of carcinomas of the oral cavity — efficacy of clinically available data (TN)

Using adequate number of cases, the influence of the spread of primary tumour and the degree of regional metastasis on prognosis were investigated. Assuming a practicable classification as a prerequisite for clinico-therapeutic cancer research, experience has shown that the assessment of the spread of primary tumour alone does not suffice for the establishment of comparable homogenous data. The investigation on the importance of the degree of regional metastasis has shown, above all, that the percentage of N3-metastasis within the T-groups contributes essentially to the fact that these show a marked difference in their prognosis. It would therefore appear necessary also to examine the importance of other clinically accessible data in the assessment of prognosis. Only then could we be in a position to judge whether, and to what extent a clinically practicable classification and integration into special groups is possible on the basis of clinically available data. The inclusion of more clinics in the joint investigation is encouraged.

Carcinoma of the oral cavity: on the prognostic significance of the primary tumour site (by levels and areas).

The prognostic significance of primary tumour site in carcinomas of the oral cavity was investigated in a series of 585 cases. For the subsamples (levels and areas of oral cavity) studied, the numerical distribution of TNM categories, life tables and life table comparisons were computed. This produced the following results: Given an identical extension and analogous metastazising rate, there is no computationally demonstrable difference in prognosis between primary tumours sited at different levels and areas of the oral cavity. The exception are the T1Nx categories, for which a difference exists between precanine and retromolar sites. These results should be re-examined on the basis of a larger series.

Versorgung von Mittelgesichtsfrakturen

In the past, treatment of maxillofacial fractures was characterized by low incidences of midface fractures, while severe cases were associated with a high death rate. Over the last decades the application of new techniques has provided a successful outcome in the management of these more frequently observed injuries. With the introduction of antibiotics and the principles of modern anesthesiology, conservative methods of fracture treatment such as intermaxillary fixation and the application of extension devices were increasingly replaced by surgical techniques. The development of different osteosynthesis plate and screw systems in the early 1970s has made three-dimensional reconstruction a standard of care in the surgical treatment of midface fractures. With the recent introduction of commercially available bioresorbable systems, removal of osteosynthesis material has become an unnecessary procedure. Further research in innovative techniques of maxillofacial surgery and imaging, such as image-guided surgery by computer navigation, may be warranted to minimize surgical approaches and decrease incidences of perioperative morbidity.Mittelgesichtsfrakturen waren früher relativ seltene Ereignisse, und die Überlebenschancen bei ausgedehnten Verletzungen waren gering. In der Behandlung von Mittelgesichtsfrakturen hat in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten ein großer Wandel stattgefunden, sodass diese Verletzungen, die zudem stark zugenommen haben, heute erfolgreich behandelt werden können. Die primär konservative Schienungs- und Extensionsbehandlung wurde von der offenen Reposition abgelöst. Voraussetzungen dafür waren neben modernen Anästhesieverfahren und Antibiotika die Entwicklung von Platten- und Schraubenosteosynthesen für das Mittelgesicht, die die Drahtnähte ersetzt haben. Damit wurde erstmals eine exakte dreidimensionale Rekonstruktion möglich. Die Einführung bioresorbierbarer Osteosynthesematerialien erspart den Zweiteingriff zu ihrer Entnahme. Moderne bildgebende Verfahren sowie computerassistierte intraoperative Navigationshilfen dürften dazu führen, dass diese Frakturen in Zukunft von noch kleineren operativen Zugängen reponiert werden können. In the past, treatment of maxillofacial fractures was characterized by low incidences of midface fractures, while severe cases were associated with a high death rate. Over the last decades the application of new techniques has provided a successful outcome in the management of these more frequently observed injuries. With the introduction of antibiotics and the principles of modern anesthesiology, conservative methods of fracture treatment such as intermaxillary fixation and the application of extension devices were increasingly replaced by surgical techniques. The development of different osteosynthesis plate and screw systems in the early 1970s has made three-dimensional reconstruction a standard of care in the surgical treatment of midface fractures. With the recent introduction of commercially available bioresorbable systems, removal of osteosynthesis material has become an unnecessary procedure. Further research in innovative techniques of maxillofacial surgery and imaging, such as image-guided surgery by computer navigation, may be warranted to minimize surgical approaches and decrease incidences of perioperative morbidity.

Urinary neopterin excretion in patients with squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity

Urinary neopterin concentrations were studied in 30 patients with squamous carcinoma or adenoid cystic carcinoma of the oral cavity. Compared to healthy controls 19 patients (63%) had increased neopterin concentrations. There was a statistically significant correlation between neopterin levels and tumor differentiation but no correlation of neopterin values with tumor size. Longitudinal studies will be necessary to evaluate a potential usefulness of neopterin concentrations to predict prognosis in squamous carcinomas of the oral cavity.

Complete remission of a squamous cell cancer of the mandible by chemotherapy. A case report.

This is a report of complete remission with intra-arterial Methotrexate chemotherapy in a patient with a large fungating squamous cell carcinoma of the left mandible.

Desmoplastic fibroma of the mandible in a child — case report

AbstractBackground: Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare bone tumor especially located in the jaw. This report describes the case of a three and a half-year old boy affected with a large desmoplastic fibroma on the left side of his mandible. Methods: The mandible was partially removed and simultaneously reconstructed with a bone graft from the iliac crest. A graft from the suralis nerve substituted the mandibular nerve. Results: There occurred no complications post operation, and the achieved jaw function, occlusion and facial symmetry were normal. The patient did not suffer any recurrence. Conclusions: Partial resection and simultaneous reconstruction of the mandible, using autogenous transplants of bone and suralis nerve, are a suitable therapy, and yield acceptable, functional and aesthetic results.ZusammenfassungGrundlagen: Das desmoplastische Fibrom ist ein seltener, den Knochen — insbesondere den Kieferknochen — befallender Tumor. Dieser Bericht handelt über einen dreieinhalbjährigen Knaben mit einem ausgedehnten desmoplastischen Fibrom der Mandibula links. Methodik: Es wurde eine Unterkieferteilresektion mit gleichzeitiger Rekonstruktion mit einem Beckenkammtransplantat durchgeführt. Der N. mandibularis wurde durch ein Suralis-Nerventransplantat ersetzt. Ergebnisse: Der postoperative Verlauf war komplikationsfrei; in bezug auf Funktion und Ästhetik wurde ein durchaus zufriedenstellendes Ergebnis erzielt. Der Patient ist seither rezidivfrei. Schlußfolgerungen: Die Unterkieferteilresektion und die einzeitige Rekonstruktion mit autogenem Knochentransplantat sowie N.-suralis-Transplantat erwies sich als geeignete Therapie mit einem akzeptablen funktionellen und ästhetischen Ergebnis.