The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Jul 2020
Aerosol-generating procedures in head and neck surgery - can we improve practice after COVID-19?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on international medicine practice. The propensity for head and neck surgery to generate aerosols needs special consideration over and above simply adopting personal protective equipment. This study sought to interrogate the literature and evaluate whether which additional measures might provide benefit if routinely adopted in minimising viral transmission.
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Jun 2020
ReviewBotulinum toxin in the management of temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review.
The aim of this review was to critically investigate and assess the evidence relating to the use and efficacy of botulinum toxin (BTX) in the management of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) and masticatory myofascial pain. A comprehensive search was conducted of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL, to find relevant studies from the last 30 years up to the end of July 2018. Seven were identified. ⋯ A meta-analysis was not possible because of the considerable variation in the studies' designs, the heterogeneity between the groups, and the different assessment tools used. Despite showing benefits, consensus on the therapeutic benefit of BTX in the management of myofascial TMD is lacking. Further randomised controlled trials with larger sample sizes, minimal bias, and longer follow-up periods are now needed.
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Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg · Jun 2020
Operating during the COVID-19 pandemic: How to reduce medical error.
Our professional and private lives changed on March 11 2020 when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO. By March 16, surgical training was suspended, MRCS and FRCS examinations cancelled and all courses postponed. ⋯ While we adapt to our new ways of working, we remind ourselves that surgeons are flexible, resilient and, ultimately, we are doctors in the first instance. We present a short article on operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.