Etiology, Prevalence, and Management of Oral and Maxillofacial Soft Tissue Injuries in Children at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi-Ghana

Background: Maxillofacial injury may vary from simple soft tissue lacerations to complex fractures of the orofacial region. Soft tissue injuries, whether isolated or in combination with other injuries, form part of the frequent traumatic craniofacial injuries seen at the emergency department. The force of impact and the injury type is directly related to the severity of the injury sustained. This study aimed to analyze the etiological factors, prevalence, and management of oral and maxillofacial soft tissue injuries at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective study that involved children presenting with oral and maxillofacial injuries at the Accident and Emergency Department and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi between the period of April to October 2020 (6 months). Patient selection was by convenience sampling targeting all children with injuries who met the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were children below the age of 18 years whose parents or caregivers consent to participation. Children with maxillofacial injuries as a result of burns were excluded from the study. Results: During the study period a total of 134 children were reviewed with oral and maxillofacial injuries at KATH. Of these, 107 (78.9%) were recorded cases of orofacial soft tissue injuries. There were 63 (58.9%) males and 44 (41.1%) females and the male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. The age range of patients studied was 8 months – 17 years, with mean age ± SD being 9.5 ± 5.3 years. Road Traffic Crash (50.5%) was the most common etiology of which Motor cycle crash constituted 24.3% and Pedestrian knockdown was 19.6%. Falls (42.1%) were the next most common etiology. The lips (19.8%) and the forehead (18.5%) were the most frequently injured sites on the face whiles the tongue (3.3%) had the most injuries intraorally. Laceration (45.7%) was the most frequent injury reviewed, followed by abrasions (35.8%). Most of the soft tissue injuries underwent primary closure (56.3%). A complication rate of 21.2% was recorded in this study and hypertrophic scarring (11.3%) was the most observed.

Terrorist attacks in the largest metropolitan city of Pakistan: Profile of soft tissue and skeletal injuries from a single trauma center

BACKGROUND: Pakistan has been hugely struck with massive bomb explosions(car and suicide bombs) resulting in multiple casualties in the past few years. The aim of this study is to present the patterns of skeletal and soft tissue injuries and to review the outcome of the victims who presented to our hospital.METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review from January 2008 to December 2012. The medical record numbers of patients were obtained from the hospital Health Information and Management Sciences(HIMS) as per the ICD-9 coding.RESULTS: During the study period, more than 100 suicide and implanted bomb blast attacks took place in the public proceedings, government offices, residential areas and other places of the city. Altogether 262 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 31±14 years. The shrapnel inflicted wounds were present on to the upper limb in 24 patients and the lower limb in 50.CONCLUSION: Long bone fractures were the most common skeletal injuries. The fractures were complicated by penetrating fragments and nails which result in post operative infections and prolonged hospital stay.

Minimizing treatment complexity of combat-related soft tissue injuries using a dedicated tension relief system and negative pressure therapy augmented by high-dose in situ antibiotic therapy and oxygen delivery: a retrospective study

Background:Following combat-related,extensive soft tissue injury from gunshot wounds or blasts,prolonged duration from injury to full wound closure is associated with infection,increased morbidity and mortality,failure to mobilize,poor functional outcome and increased cost.The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel treatment enabling early primary closure of combat wounds.Methods:This was a retrospective study of 10 soldiers and civilians with extensive combat-related soft tissue limb injuries(5 gunshot wounds,5 blasts)treated using the TopClosure^(■)Tension Relief System(TRS)with simultaneous administration of regulated oxygen-enriched and irrigation negative pressure-assisted wound therapy(ROINPT)via the Vcareα^(■)device.Results:Nine patients were treated during the acute phase of injury and one was treated following removal of a flap due to deep infection 20 years after injury and flap reconstruction.Two patients had upper limb injury and the rest lower limb injury.With the aid of the TRS and/or ROINPT,immediate primary closure during reconstruction was achieved in 6 patients and delayed primary closure in three.Only one patient required a skin graft to close a small area of the wound after most of the wound had been closed by delayed primary closure.Wound closure was achieved within 0–37 days(median:12.5 days,interquartile range:2.75–19.75)from injury.Conclusions:The TRS is a novel device for effective,early skin stretching and secure wound closure through the application of stress relaxation and mechanical creep,achieving primary closure of large defects using a simplified surgical technique and reducing the need for closure using skin grafts and flaps and the use of tissue expanders.Delivering supplemental oxygen to the wound by ROINPT reverses the reduced oxygen levels inherent in conventional negative pressure-assisted wound therapy,mitigating anaerobic contamination and reducing infection.Irrigation may accelerate the evacuation of infectious material from the wound and provide a novel method for antibiotic administration.The combination of TRS and ROINPT devices allow for early primary closure with improved functionality of combat-related limb injuries.

Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?

Cold therapy has been used regularly as an immediate treatment to induce analgesia following acute soft-tissue injuries,however,a prolonged ice application has proved to delay the start of the healing and lengthen the recovery process.Hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy,also known as neurocryostimulation,has shown the ability to overcome most of the limitations of traditional cold therapy,and meanwhile promotes the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects well,but the current existing studies have shown conflicting results on its effects.Traditional cold therapy still has beneficial effect especially when injuries are severe and swelling is the limiting factor for recovery after soft-tissue injuries,and therefore no need to be entirely put out to pasture in the rehabilitation practice.Strong randomized controlled trials with good methodological quality are still needed in the future to evaluate the effects of different cryotherapy modalities.

Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Jipei Dilong Ointment on Acute Soft Tissue Injury in Rats

[Objectives]This study was conducted to observe the therapeutic effect of Jipei Dilong Ointment on rats with acute soft tissue injury caused by heavy objects and to explore its action mechanism.[Methods]Thirty six rats were randomly divided into six groups(control group,model group,high-dose Jipei Dilong Ointment group(JP-H),medium-dose Jipei Dilong Ointment group(JP-M),low-dose Jipei Dilong Ointment group(JP-L)and diclofenac group).Except for the Control group,other groups were subjected to modeling of acute soft tissue injury by the weight impact method.All administration was performed once a day for nine consecutive days.The local appearance score and activity disorder score were determined after soft tissue injury in rats.HE staining was used to detect the pathological changes of injured soft tissues in rats.RT-PCR was used to detect the relative mRNA expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in injured soft tissues of rats.Western Blot was used to detect the protein expressions of MMP-9,TIMP-1,TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in injured soft tissues of rats.Results were statistically analyzed.[Results]Compared with the model group,Jipei Dilong Ointment could significantly improve the appearance symptoms such as swelling and ecchymosis in the injured area and the movement function of the affected limb(P<0.05).It could also improve the infiltration of inflammatory cells and widening of the intermuscular space caused by injury.Among them,the JP-H group and the diclofenac group had more significant curative effects.After 9 d of administration,each administration group could significantly up-regulate the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax mRNA expression level(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 mRNA expression level showed a downward trend(P>0.05).The expression level of NF-κB p65 protein in each administration group was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The protein expression levels of TLR4 and MyD88 and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 protein expression level in each administration group decreased to varying degrees.Among them,the JP-H group and diclofenac group significantly decreased(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Jipei Dilong Ointment has the functions of relieving pain,swelling and inflammation.It could improve the local appearance,functional activity and tissue morphology of affected limbs in rats,and has a therapeutic effect on acute soft tissue injury in rats.Its mechanism of action might be related to the inhibition of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway and the regulation of Bcl-2/Bax and MMP-9/TIMP-1 balance.

Soft tissue compartment bleed-the iceberg phenomenon:a case report

Introduction:Hemorrhage control is the essence of trauma care.Conventional teaching is 1 on the floor(ie,external bleeding)and 4 more(thoracic cavity,abdomen,retroperitoneum,and long bones).In this case report,we present a unique case with concealed bleeding into the soft tissue compartment leading to shock.This case triggered to consider the soft tissue compartment as the sixth potential bleeding site in trauma patients in hemorrhagic shock.Case presentation:We present the case with concealed bleeding into the soft tissue compartment posing a challenge in management.On presentation,he had a pulse rate of 117 beats/min,a blood pressure of 90/60mmHg,and a Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)score of 9.During resuscitation,the patient's blood pressure dropped to 70/46 mmHg with a GCS of 7 of 15.He was then intubated and reevaluated.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the torso revealed a right scapular fracture with a large soft tissue hematoma along the right side of the neck and chest wall,extending up to the right lumbar region.Conclusion:We suggest that the soft tissue compartment is the sixth potential site of internal bleeding in trauma patients,which should not be overlooked after having ruled out the other 5 sites.

Nervus cutaneus femoris posterior pedicle flap for repairing large soft tissue defects at the heel or inferior segment of the shank

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of the nervus cutaneus femoris posterior pedicle flap on repairing large soft tissue defects at the heel or inferior segment of the shank.Methods: Totally 14 cases were followed up for 8-22 months (mean 15.5 months) to observe the clinical effects of nervus cutaneus femoris posterior pedicle flap on repairing large soft tissue defects of the heel or inferior segment of the shank. Among them, there were 3 patients afflicted with infection and cutaneous defects in the middle and inferior segment of the shank after internal fixation of open fracture, 4 patients with soft tissue defects of the ankle and uncovered tendo calcaneus, and 7 patients with soft tissue defects of the heel and exposed calcaneus.Results: The flaps survived well in 13 cases and partial necrosis occurred in 1 case that was thereafter cured with changing dressing. Various extents of pain and stiffness of the knee joints were present in all cases and disappeared through 1-8 weeks' (mean 3.2 weeks) functional exercises. The last follow-up showed that all the flaps kept good texture and satisfactory appearance.Conclusions: The nervus cutaneus femoris posterior pedicle flap, having the advantages of simple surgical procedures, anastomosing the nerves and restoring the sensation of recipient site, can be used for recovering large soft tissue defects of the shank and ankle.

Minimally invasive treatment of forearm double fracture in adult using Acumed forearm intramedullary nail: A case report

BACKGROUND Currently,open reduction internal fixation is the conventional surgical method for treatment of double ulna and radius fracture.However,open reduction is associated with a high risk of complications.This case of forearm double fracture involved a patient treated using an Acumed intramedullary nail.The patient experienced good follow-up outcomes.The Acumed forearm intramedullary nail enables early functional exercise and hastens healing of the fracture.Few studies have reported on the use of this approach for the treatment of fractures.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital after 5 h of pain,swelling,and limited activity of left forearm caused by a careless fall.Physical examination showed stable basic vital signs,swelling of the left forearm,and severe pain when pressing on the injured part of the forearm.Further,friction was felt at the broken end of the bone;the skin was not punctured.Movement of the left hand was normal,and the left radial artery pulse was normal.Three-dimensional computed tomography examination showed an ulna fracture of the left forearm and comminuted fracture of the radius.The fracture was located in the upper third of the radius,with significant displacement on the fracture side.Clinical diagnosis further confirmed the left radius comminuted fracture and ulna fracture.After analyzing the fracture pattern,age,and other patient characteristics,we chose an Acumed nail for treatment and achieved good follow-up outcomes.CONCLUSION Acumed forearm intramedullary nail for fixation of ulna and radius fracture reduced complication risk and resulted in good follow-up outcomes.

Dual split and dislocation——a variant of Schatzker type-I tibial plateau fracture: A case report

Schatzkter type-I tibial plateau fracture is a split fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in sagittal plane,consequent to valgus impaction caused by low velocity of trauma.However,a deep understanding of the different columns of the tibial plateau and patho-mechanisms of the injury led to the unmasking of atypical fractures around the tibial plateau.We have encountered 2 cases with unusual fracture pattern of the lateral tibial condyle caused by road traffic accidents.The fracture pattern and severity of injury deviate from the original description of Schatzker type 1;in view of dual plane split,there is rotation of the posterolateral column fragment along its sagittal plane plus grade-III medial collateral ligament injury.The patients were initially treated with knee spanning external fixator and after a latency of 5 days,definitive fracture specific fixation was done,combined with repair of grade-III medial collateral ligament injury.At the 6 months follow-up both the patients achieved satisfactory knee functions(knee society score case 1:100 and case 2:92)and returned to their jobs.The severity of fracture pattern and displacement as described should prompt for examination of associated ligament injury.Because of timely diagnosis,early and appropriate care promised an excellent function outcome even in such a severe nature of knee injury.To prompt the description of injury pattern we coined the name"dual split and dislocation"of lateral tibial plateau,as a complex injury variant of split fracture of lateral tibial plateau fracture.