Intra-Operative Airway Management in Patients with Maxillofacial Trauma having Reduction and Immobilization of Facial Fractures

Can Fracture Reduction be Attempted Through a 3D-Printed Guide Template Without Maxillomandibular Fixation?

BACKGROUND

Computer-aided design and manufacturing is widely used in clinical practice. This technology may change existing methods for mandibular fracture management.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in-vitro study was to determine if the reduction for mandibular symphysis fracture is performed without maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) using 3-dimensional (3D)-printed template.

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, AND SAMPLE

This was an in-vitro study and had the character of a proof-of-concept study. The study was planned using the existing 20 pairs of intraoral scan and computed tomography data. The mandibular model STL file was created by merging the STL file obtained for the bimaxillary dentitions with the computed tomography DICOM file, and this was set as the original model. In the original model, STL file of fracture model of mandibular symphysis was created using computer-aided design. A template similar to a wafer or an implant guide was manufactured from restoring the own occlusion, and the mandibular fracture model was reduced and fixed using the 3D-printed template and wire, and this was set as the experimental group. The 3D coordinate system error was measured at 6 landmarks and statistically compared using scan data between models of the groups.

PREDICTOR/EXPOSURE/INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

Reduction techniques with MMF or without MMF using guide template for mandibular fracture model.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE(S)

The 3D coordinate system error (mm).

COVARIATES

The position of landmarks.

ANALYSES

The Mann-Whitney U test, student's t-test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyze the coordinate errors between the landmarks. A P value of < .05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The 3D error value of the control and experimental group were 1.06 ± 0.63 mm (range: 0.11 to 2.92 mm) and 0.96 ± 0.48 mm (range: 0.2 to 2.95 mm), respectively. There was no statistical difference between the control and experimental group. There was a statistically significant difference in the lower 2 and lower 3 landmarks compared to the upper 1 (P = .001 and .000, respectively) before and after the reduction in the experimental group.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

This study demonstrates that the reduction using a 3D-printed guide template for the mandibular symphysis fracture could be possible even without the MMF.

Predicting Difficult Airway Intubation Based on Maxillofacial Trauma: A Retrospective Study

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine which types of facial injuries in traumatic patients' wounds cause difficult intubation for anesthesiology team. By anticipating potential complications with airway management, the surgeons can be better prepared for emergent cricothyrotomy if needed. This could include prior to the planned procedure in the operating room (OR) as well as in emergent conditions in trauma bay.

Methods

Trauma patients with facial injuries in a level II trauma center from January 2007 to September 2017 that required intubation were evaluated for types of facial injury. Anesthesiology intubation documents were reviewed to determine which types of facial injuries were associated with difficult intubation per anesthesiology documentation.

Results

A total of 232 subjects were selected and it was found that patients with LeFort II facial fracture, bilateral mandibular fracture, and facial fracture associated with basilar skull fracture were noted to have difficult intubation by the anesthesiology team.

Conclusion

On the basis of CT imaging findings, our study demonstrates that certain types of facial fractures could pose difficult intubation. Surgeons should be aware of these injuries and be ready to intervene with emergent cricothyrotomy if necessary.