Treatment of late-onset temporomandibular joint prosthesis infection by prosthesis revision: a case report

Late-onset infection of an inserted temporomandibular joint prosthesis is a difficult complication to treat. Most treatment protocols for late prosthetic infections include device replacement. A 40-year-old female patient with an infected and exposed temporomandibular joint prosthesis presented 3 years after implant placement. The patient was treated with prosthesis revision including fistula coverage with a temporalis muscle flap and prolonged antibiotic therapy for 10 weeks. Since completion of treatment, the patient has been infection-free.

Treatment of extracapsular fractures of the mandibular condylar process: A retrospective evaluation of 377 cases

BACKGROUND/AIM

Mandibular condylar fractures represent 25%-35% of all mandibular fractures. Despite profound research, there is still a controverse debate about treating these fractures conservatively or by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The aim of this study is to analyse the outcome after open and closed treatment of extracapsular mandibular condyle fractures regarding general characteristics, post-treatment malocclusion, facial nerve palsy (FNP), maximum mouth opening (MMO) and parotid complications.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of 377 fractures (350 open, 27 closed treatment) was reviewed by reference to clinical and radiological pre- and postoperative documentation. Follow-up period was 12 months. Pearsons' chi-square-test, correlations, Kruskal-Wallis test and t-test were carried out for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The dominant type of fracture was type II in Spiessl and Schroll classification (50.1%). In the open treated fractures, the most common approach was retromandibular transparotid (91.7%). Post-treatment malocclusion occurred in 18.0% and was significantly increased in bilateral fractures (p = .039), in luxation fractures (p = .016) and in patients with full dentition (p = .004). After open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), temporary FNP was documented in 7.1% whereas a permanent paresis occurred in 1.7%. FNP was significantly associated with high fractures (p = .001), comminution (p = .028) and increased duration of surgery (p = .040). Parotid complications were significantly associated with revision surgery (p = .009). Post-treatment reduction of MMO mainly occurred in female patients (p < .001) as well as in patients with bilateral fractures (p < .001), high fractures (p = .030) and concomitant mandibular (p = .001) and midfacial fractures (p = .009).

CONCLUSION

Malocclusion seems to be the most frequent long-term complication after open reduction and osteosynthesis of extracapsular mandibular condyle fractures. We suggest ORIF by a transparotid approach to be an appropriate treatment with a low complication rate regarding especially FNP for extracapsular fractures of the mandibular condyle.

Efficacy of a Mouthwash Containing CHX and CPC in SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Soon after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, preprocedural mouthwashes were recommended for temporarily reducing intraoral viral load and infectivity of individuals potentially infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in order to protect medical personnel. Particularly, the antiseptic cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) has shown virucidal effects against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Therefore, the aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy of a commercially available mouthwash containing CPC and chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) at 0.05% each in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients as compared to a placebo mouthwash. Sixty-one patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 with onset of symptoms within the last 72 h were included in this study. Oropharyngeal specimens were taken at baseline, whereupon patients had to gargle mouth and throat with 20 mL test or placebo (0.9% NaCl) mouthwash for 60 s. After 30 min, further oropharyngeal specimens were collected. Viral load was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and infectivity of oropharyngeal specimens was analyzed by virus rescue in cell culture and quantified via determination of tissue culture infectious doses 50% (TCID₅₀). Data were analyzed nonparametrically (α = 0.05). Viral load slightly but significantly decreased upon gargling in the test group (P = 0.0435) but not in the placebo group. Viral infectivity as measured by TCID₅₀ also significantly decreased in the test group (P = 0.0313), whereas there was no significant effect but a trend in the placebo group. Furthermore, it was found that the specimens from patients with a vaccine booster exhibited significantly lower infectivity at baseline as compared to those without vaccine booster (P = 0.0231). This study indicates that a preprocedural mouthwash containing CPC and CHX could slightly but significantly reduce the viral load and infectivity in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Further studies are needed to corroborate these results and investigate whether the observed reductions in viral load and infectivity could translate into clinically useful effects in reducing COVID-19 transmission (German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00027812).

CAD/CAM and conventional reconstruction of the mandibular condyle by fibula free flap: a clinical and radiological evaluation

The aim of this study was to analyse the radiological and clinical outcomes of condylar reconstruction by fibula free flap (FFF), comparing conventional freehand and CAD/CAM techniques. Fifteen patients (nine CAD/CAM, six freehand) who underwent condylar reconstruction with a FFF were reviewed retrospectively regarding pre- and postoperative computed tomography/cone beam computed tomography scans and clinical function. After surgery, all patients were free of temporomandibular joint pain. Mean postoperative mouth opening was 30.80 mm, with no significant difference between the freehand and CAD/CAM groups. In all patients, laterotrusion was decreased to the contralateral side (P = 0.002), with no difference between freehand and CAD/CAM, while the axis of mouth opening deviated to the side of surgery (P < 0.001). All patients showed significant radiological deviation of the fibular neocondyle in the laterocaudal direction (lateral: P = 0.015; caudal: P = 0.001), independent of the technique. In conclusion, reconstruction of the mandibular condyle by FFF provided favourable functional results in terms of mouth opening, reduction of pain, and mandibular excursions. Radiological deviation of the neocondyle and deviation of laterotrusion and mouth opening did not impair clinical function. CAD/CAM planning facilitated surgery, decreased the surgery time, and improved the fit of the neocondyle in the fossa.