Avascular osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) may occur as a consequence of several conditions, even including chemotherapy treatment in patients affected by tumors or osteoporosis. We report our clinical experience in treating bisphosphonate-induced ONJ with a therapeutic methodology that includes ozone therapy as a new and original approach for the clinical management of maxillary necrotic lesions. Of 58 patients with ONJ observed at our department, 33 gave their informed consent to be part of the research and were treated according to a therapeutic approach, which included noninvasive surgery associated with pre- and postsurgical cycles of ozone therapy consisting of eight sessions lasting 3 minutes each besides antibiotic and antifungal therapies. Outcomes showed how ozone therapy increases the benefits of surgical and pharmacologic treatments, increasing the complete healing of the lesions with the disappearance of symptoms and brings cases of lesion progression down to zero. In conclusion, ozone therapy is a reliable presidium in treatment of ONJ; its benefits are remarkable and improve significantly the outcomes of the surgical approach.

The LeFort III osteotomy is the surgical treatment performed in patients with mid-facial retrusions in craniofacial dysostoses such as Crouzon, Apert, Pfeiffer syndromes, etc. The first authors to report the accomplishment of this osteotomy were Gillies and Harrison in 1951, this technique was then resumed and improved by Tessier in 1967, who made five different variants mainly regarding the typology of the osteotomy concerning the lateral wall of the orbit. Recently, distraction techniques have been applied to the upper mid-face which foresees a gradual advancement of the mid-face through the osteogenetic distraction procedure. The purpose of this retrospective clinical outcome study is to evaluate and compare the two different surgical techniques through the experience acquired during the treatment of 15 cases of craniofacial dysostoses from 1990-2005, and through international literature. The standard surgery technique was performed in 5 of these patients, whereas the osteogenetic distraction technique was performed in the remaining 10. All patients were studied preoperatively through the acquisition of photographic images, cephalometric analysis of the skull, and the study on plaster models of the occlusion of the dental arches. The instrumental exams required before surgery are the following: telecranium X-rays in two projections, orthopanoramic X-rays, CT. The results of this study indicate that the osteodistraction technique represents the choice treatment in severe retrusions of the mid-face while the traditional surgical technique remains indicated in adult patients that are in need of moderate advancements.

Sphenoid isolated lesions are rare; they occur in 2% to 3% out of all paranasal sinus lesions. Diagnosis is based on the endoscopic examination and computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging of the maxillofacial area. In this study, we present patients with sphenoid mucocele in the Maxillo-facial Surgery Department, University of Rome La Sapienza, treated with the endoscopic technique. Moreover, a literature review is performed, dealing with the evolution of approaches to the sphenoid sinus. From January 2001 to January 2007, we treated 75 patients affected by paranasal sinus mucocele. Out of this number, 8 patients (11%) presented an isolated localization in the sphenoid sinus. These patients were divided as follows: 5 involved the right sphenoid sinus and 3 involved the left sphenoid sinus. Isolated sphenoid sinus disease is a rare entity that can result in serious sequelae if diagnosis and treatment are inappropriately delayed. In our study, we highlighted how the endoscopic approach allows the removal of even large mucocele with the use of 45-degree angle optic and if it is possible to control and remove lateral walls of the sphenoid sinus. In our experience, we shifted from a traditional approach to the endoscopic approach. At the present time, the endoscopic approach represents the gold standard for sphenoid sinus mucocele treatment because it allows the best view of the sphenoid sinus and grants a better restoring of respiratory function and a higher compliance from the patient.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a relatively rare disease, affecting the synovial-lined joints. PVNS was first fully described by Jaffè in 1941, who considered it to be a benign inflammatory state of the synovium of an uncertain etiology. Reports of this disease in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are extremely rare. The authors report a case of a 38-year-old woman affected by pigmented villonodular synovitis of the TMJ. Clinical examination revealed the presence of a preauricular mass in the left side; a computed tomography scan showed a 3.0 x 2.0 cm preauricular mass in close continuity to the TMJ capsule. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinicopathological features of a case involving the TMJ. The previously reported cases in the literature are also reviewed.

BackgroundDuring the last 2 decades, many studies on the treatment of mandibular condyle fracture have been published. The incidence of mandibular condyle fractures is variable, ranging from 17.5% to 52% of all mandibular fractures. This retrospective study evaluated the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes after surgical treatment of 25 patients with a total of 26 extracapsular condyle fractures.MethodsWe used 2 types of surgical approaches, the retromandibular retroparotid or preauricular approach. Three kinds of rigid internal fixation plates were used—single plate, double plate, and trapezoidal plate. The following post-operative clinical parameters were evaluated: dental occlusion, facial nerve functionality, skin scarring, and temporomandibular joint functionality. All patients underwent post-operative orthopanoramic radiography and computed tomography. The patients were also monitored for complications such as Frey’s syndrome, infection, salivary fistula, plate fracture, and permanent paralysis of the facial nerve; the patient’s satisfaction was also recorded.ResultsOf the 25 patients, 80% showed occlusion recovery, 88% had no facial nerve injury, and 88% presented good surgical skin scarring. The patients showed early complete recovery of temporomandibular joint functionality and 72% of them were found to be asymptomatic. The postoperative radiographs of all patients indicated good recovery of the anatomical condylar region, and 80% of them had no postoperative complications. The average degree of patient satisfaction was 8.32 out of 10. Our results confirm that the technique of open reduction and internal fixation in association with postoperative functional rehabilitation therapy should be considered for treating patients with extracapsular condylar fractures.ConclusionThe topic of condylar injury has generated more discussion and controversy than any other topic in the field of maxillofacial trauma. We confirm that open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice for patients with neck and sub-condylar mandibular fractures.