The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Dec 2007
Advantages of not using the intensive care unit after operations for oropharyngeal cancer: an audit at Worcester Royal Hospital.
We reviewed 68 cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer that were managed without the routine use of intensive care units (ICU), to establish success rates for flaps, complications including nosocomial infections, cancellations, and length of stay. More than 98% of flaps survived and over half the patients had no complications. Low rates of perioperative infection were recorded with a median length of stay of 12 days (range 2-63), and there were no cancellations. We conclude that the routine use of a specialist head and neck ward is more appropriate than ICU for selected cases; it fulfils current guidelines for cancer services, and is an effective use of resources.
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Oct 2007
Review Historical ArticleInjuries in combat from 1982-2005 with particular reference to those to the head and neck: A review.
The aim of this review was to examine the range of combat injuries with particular reference to those of the head and neck. We evaluated 10 retrospective studies selected from the period 1982-2005 that covered war injuries from Vietnam, Lebanon, Slovenia, Croatia, Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan. We found differences in the causes of injuries. ⋯ However, the mortality of wounded soldiers in all conflicts was consistently between 10% and 14%. There was a high incidence of injuries to the head and neck (up to 40%) though they affected only 12% of the body surface area. Though the data from the different military conflicts are not totally comparable, there are trends in the type of injuries and mortality, which may lead to changes in existing systems of medical care.
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Oct 2007
Case ReportsBotulinum toxin A for treating muscular contractures in cephalic tetanus.
This study reports the use of botulinum toxin for treatment of muscle contractures in a patient with cephalic tetanus. ⋯ Local infiltration with botulinum toxin A appears to be an effective treatment for persistent muscle contracture in cephalic tetanus.
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Jul 2007
Case ReportsRemoval of a migrated dental implant from a maxillary sinus by transnasal endoscopy.
A 54-year-old woman presented with maxillary sinusitis as a result of the migration of an implant into the sinus. We removed it endoscopically through the nose.
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Jul 2007
Fixation of dicapitular fractures of the mandibular condyle with a headless bone screw.
The fixation of diacapitular fractures of the mandibular condyle utilising a headless cannulated bone screw (Martin HBS((R))) is described. An open approach was used with primary fixation of the fracture with a K-wire, over which the cannulated screw was inserted. The method and results are described.