Transoral vertical ramus osteotomy fixed with Kirschner pins

Transoral vertical ramus osteotomy (VRO) has been condemned because the condyle has the potential to sag, and because it needs lengthy maxillomandibular fixation. We have therefore introduced a simple method of fixation, and examined its effectiveness and complications. After the osteotomy, the proximal and distal segments are trimmed to adapt to each other. Four Kirschner (K) pins 0.9 mm in diameter are inserted percutaneously from the proximal to the distal segment while the condyle is positioned in the glenoid fossa. This is followed by a brief period of maxillomandibular fixation. We have reviewed the records of 95 patients who had unilateral or bilateral vertical ramus osteotomy fixed with K pins, after which the mean (SD) period of fixation was 19 (11) days. Fixation failed in two patients because excursion of the jaw was either too heavy or too early. The fixations were redone. All other fixations remained stable, including the 20 dual-jaw procedures in which VRO preceded maxillary osteotomy. The mean (SD) maximal mouth opening at final follow-up was 44 (7) mm, and in only one patient was it less than 30 mm. Numbness of the lip or chin developed in seven patients, five of whom had other anterior mandibular procedures. Four patients had discomfort on palpation of the site of the pins, and one required removal. The new method was effective, and resulted in few complications within its limitations.     

钛板坚固内固定术治疗颌骨骨折的疗效研究

目的：探讨钛板坚固内固定术治疗颌骨骨折的临床效果。方法选择2009年1月至2012年6月广东医学院附属医院收治的46例颌骨骨折患者为研究对象，将其分为对照组和观察组各23例，对照组采用上、下牙弓夹板固定治疗，观察组采用钛板坚固内固定术治疗。比较两组患者的治疗有效率、延迟愈合率、口腔功能恢复情况、抑郁状态量表（SDS）和焦虑自评量表（SAS）评分的差异。结果观察组患者治疗有效率为95．7％，明显高于对照组的65．2％，差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）；观察组延迟愈合率明显低于对照组；口腔功能恢复情况、SDS和SAS评分均优于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。结论钛板坚固内固定术治疗颌骨骨折疗效显著，有助于患者口腔功能的恢复，减轻负性心理，值得临床推广使用。     

Decline in fertility induced by economic recession in Spain

ObjectiveTo describe trends in fertility in Spain before (pre-recession; 1998-2008) and during (recession period; 2009-2013) the economic crisis of 2008, taking into account women's age and regional unemployment in 2010.MethodThe study consisted of a panel design including cross-sectional ecological data for the 17 regions of Spain. We describe fertility trends in Spain in two time periods, pre-recession (1998-2008) and recession (2009-2013). We used a cross-sectional, ecological study of Spanish-born women to calculate changes in fertility rates for each period using a linear regression model adjusted for year, period, and interaction between them.ResultsWe found that compared to the pre-recession period, the fertility rate in Spain generally decreased during the economic recession. However, in some regions, such as the Canary Islands, this decrease began before the onset of the recession, while in other regions, such as the Basque country, the fertility rate continued to grow until 2011. The effects of the recession on the fertility rate are clearly observed in women aged 30-34 years.ConclusionsThe current economic recession has disrupted the positive trend in fertility that began at the start of this century. Since Spain already had very low fertility rates, the further decline caused by the economic recession could jeopardize the sustainability of welfare-state systems.     

Clinical comparison between arthrocentesis and conventional conservative treatment with maxillomandibular fixation for unilateral high condylar fractures

This study aimed to compare the effects of arthrocentesis and conventional closed reduction for unilateral mandibular condyle fractures. A total of 30 patients with unilateral condylar fractures were evaluated. Patients with a high condylar fracture and magnetic resonance evidence of joint effusion (JE) were divided into two groups: those treated with intra‐articular irrigation and betamethasone injection (group I) and those given conservative treatment and rigid maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) (group II). All patients were assessed for mandibular range of motion (ROM), protrusive movements, lateral excursion movements on the fractured and non‐fractured sides, pain in the temporomandibular joint and malocclusion, both before and after treatment. There were no significant differences in regard to protrusion, lateral excursion movement and incidence of malocclusion at 12 months after treatment between the groups (P > 0·05). In group I, ROM and joint pain showed good improvement from the early stages of treatment, and those patients had better outcomes as compared to group II for those parameters at 1 and 3 months after injury. The present findings indicate that arthrocentesis may be more effective and provide faster healing than conventional closed reduction.     

Effects of Currently Available Surgical and Restorative Interventions on Reducing Midfacial Mucosal Recession of Immediately Placed Single‐Tooth Implants: A Systematic Review

Background: Procedures to improve peri‐implant soft‐tissue outcomes of single, immediately placed implants are a topic of interest. This systematic review investigates the effect of various surgical and restorative interventions on implant mid‐buccal mucosal level. Methods: An electronic search of five databases (January 1990 to December 2012) and a manual search of peer‐reviewed journals for relevant articles were performed. Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs), prospective cohort studies, and case series with at least nine participants were included, with data on midfacial mucosal recession (MR) of immediately placed implants following various surgical and restorative interventions with a follow‐up period of at least 6 months. Results: Thirty‐six studies, eight RCTs, one cohort study, and 27 case series were eligible. Six interventions were identified and reviewed: 1) palatal/lingual implant position; 2) platform‐switched abutments; 3) flapless approach; 4) bone grafts to fill the gap between buccal plate and fixture; 5) connective tissue grafts; and 6) immediate provisionalization. Three studies consistently showed that palatally/lingually positioned implants had significantly less MR when using tissue‐level implants. Mixed results were reported for interventions 2, 3, 5, and 6. One study was available for intervention 4 and did not show a benefit. Conclusions: Some interventions might be adopted to reduce the amount of MR on implants with the immediate placement approach, as suggested by the included studies, with various levels of evidence. The conflicting results among studies might be a result of differences in patient and site characteristics, e.g., tissue biotype and buccal plate thickness. Therefore, the use of these interventions might be reserved for patients with moderate to high risk of esthetic complications.     

Fetal maxillary and mandibular length in normal pregnancies from 11 weeks' to 13+6 weeks' gestation: A Taiwanese study

ObjectivesThis study aims to establish the normal range of maxillary and mandibular lengths within the Taiwanese population at 11⁺⁰ weeks to 13⁺⁶ weeks of gestation in normal singleton pregnancy as a reference value for prenatal ultrasonographic examinations.Materials and methodsWe examined nuchal translucency in 269 normal singleton pregnancies, with the gestational age ranging from 11 weeks to 13⁺⁶ weeks in this study. Fetal biometric measurements, with an emphasis on maxillary and mandibular lengths, were obtained from the patients during consecutive routine prenatal ultrasonographic examinations.ResultsMaxillary and mandibular lengths were recorded successfully in 191 patients and 179 patients, respectively. The mean maternal age was 31 years (range 19–45 years), with a corresponding gestational age of 12 + 4 weeks (range, 11⁺⁰–13⁺⁶ weeks). A first-degree correlation was found to exist between the gestational age and maxillary length (r = 0.596; p < 0.0001; y = 1.491 × GA − 10.523) as well as mandibular length (r = 0.465; p < 0.0001; y = 1.050 × GA − 6.50).ConclusionNormative data for ultrasonographic measurements of maxillary and mandibular lengths within the Taiwanese population were presented. Our data can serve as a reference value in congenital anomaly screening during prenatal examination.