Background The maxillofacial skeleton is commonly fractured due to its prominent position. The pattern of maxillofacial fractures varies from one country to another. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the patterns of maxillofacial injuries in the state of Goa and compare the results with similar studies in India and rest of the world. Patients and Methods The data were collected from the records of the patients who reported to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Goa Dental College and Hospital between 2005 and 2010. The site of fracture, age of patient, etiology of trauma, daily and monthly variation of the fractures was analysed. Results Records of 2,731 patients sustaining maxillofacial injury were examined. The most commonly fractured facial bone was the mandible followed by zygomaticomaxillary complex. Most fractures occurred in the third and fourth decade of life with male and female ratio of 6:1. Main etiology was road traffic accidents. Conclusion Despite strict traffic legislation, road traffic accidents are the main cause of maxillofacial injuries.

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Context: Trigeminal neuralgia is as a chronic, debilitating condition, which can have a major impact on quality of life. There are few reports of trigeminal neuralgia in oriental populations. Objectives: To evaluate the retrospective data of the patients diagnosed with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and to understanding the disorder in the Indian populace. Methods: The retrospective data of 72 patients with typical idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia regarding age of onset, gender, site of involvement, clinical presentations and treatment received during three years of the follow up was collected and analyzed. Results: In the present retrospective study, the mean age was 54.9 years; female to male ratio was 2.13:1; rural to urban ratio 1.76:1 with 62.5% suffered trigeminal neuralgic pain on the right side. Carbamazepine was found to be highly effective in 60.8% of the cases on long-term basis with maintenance doses. Other treatment modalities were employed in more refractory cases including add-on of gabapentin, which relieved the symptoms for an additional duration of 13±3months. The neurolytic alcohol bloc was given in 30% of patients who stopped responding to combination of carbamazepine and gabapentin and relieved pain for a mean duration of 17.25±2.95 months. Twenty three percent of the patients (23%) required peripheral neurectomy. Conclusions: Carbamazepine was found to be highly effective in trigeminal neuralgia. Other treatment modality includes add-on of gabapentin, neurolytic alcohol blocs and peripheral surgical intervention in more refractory cases. Only limited cases needed further neurological consideration. Key words:Trigeminal neuralgia, carbamazepine, gabapentin, alcohol bloc, peripheral neurectomy.

ObjectivesWe evaluated and recorded post-traumatic and postoperative neurosensory deficits of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in mandibular fracture in order to identify associated risk factors.Materials and MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study composed of 60 patients treated for mandibular fracture. The primary study variable was the change between the post-traumatic IAN neurosensory examination score and the score after fracture reduction. Risk factors were categorized as demographic, anatomic, fracture displacement, and treatment. Appropriate descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed.ResultsSixty patients with unilateral mandibular fracture reported within 24 hours of injury were evaluated over a one-year period. A post-traumatic neurosensory deficit was observed in 52 patients (86.7%), the percentage of which was reduced to 23.3% over the follow-up period. Abnormal postoperative neurosensory scores were significantly higher in angle fracture cases (33.3%) compared to body fracture cases (11.1%). When recovered and non-recovered neurosensory scores were compared by fracture location, 88.9% of body fracture cases showed significant recovery compared to 66.7% of mandibular angle fracture cases. Cases with less than 5 mm fracture displacement showed statistically significantly higher neurosensory recovery scores (90.6%) compared to those with more than 5 mm fracture displacement (60.7%).ConclusionUse of a miniplate with mono-cortical screws does not play a role in increasing IAN post-traumatic neurosensory deficit. Early management can reduce the chances of permanent neurosensory deficit. Mandibular fracture displacement of 5 mm or more and fracture location were found to be associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic IAN neurosensory score worsening.

Aneurysms of the facial vasculature due to various accidental, violent, and surgical injuries have been reported since mid-17th century. Approximately 386 pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery (STA) have been reported in the literature since 1644. Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the STA is a rare lesion. It manifests as a painless pulsatile mass in the temporal region following trauma. The unusual incidence and confusing presentation require the clinicians to have a thorough knowledge of its presentation and diagnosis. We present a case of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the STA, which developed a few weeks later, after sustaining blunt trauma to the head. We have also reviewed the anatomical challenges and pathophysiology that promotes the formation of pseudoaneurysm and the optimal approach to diagnose and manage the lesion. Pulsatile lesions or lesions that are continuous with the STA should be regarded with extreme caution. The sole treatment modality is surgical resection of the pseudoaneurysm. This will avoid any future complications such as hemorrhage or compression of adjacent nerves and vessels.