Efficacy and safety comparison of two amoxicillin administration schedules after third molar removal. A randomized, double-blind and controlled clinical trial

Objective: The aim of this comparative double-blind, prospective, randomized, clinical trial was to evaluate two amoxicillin administration patterns. The first was a short prophylactic therapy and the second a long postoperative regimen. Study Design: The study population consisted of 160 patients who underwent mandibular third molar extraction. Patients were randomized into two equal groups. In group 1, 2 grams of amoxicillin were administered 1 hour before the procedure and 1 gram 6 hours after surgery. In group 2, patients received 1 gram of amoxicillin 6 hours after surgery followed by 1 gram every 8 hour for 4 days. All patients received the same number of tablets thanks to the use of placebo pills. A total of 25 variables were evaluated, such as alveolitis, surgical infection, number of analgesic needed, subjective pain scale, post-surgical inflammation, consistency of the diet, axillary temperature and millimetres of mouth opening loss after the surgery. Results: No statistically significant post-operative differences were found within the recorded parameters between the groups. Conclusions: Postoperative 4-days amoxicillin therapy is not justified

Is PRP useful in alveolar cleft reconstruction? Platelet-rich plasma in secondary alveoloplasty

Objective: Cleft lip and palate is a congenital facial malformation with an established treatment protocol. Mixed dentition period is the best moment for correct maxillary bone defect with an alveoloplasty. The aim of this surgical procedure is to facilitate dental eruption, re-establish maxillary arch, close any oro-nasal communication, give support to nasal ala, and in some cases allow dental rehabilitation with osteointegrated implants. Study design: Twenty cleft patients who underwent secondary alveoloplasty were included. In 10 of them autogenous bone graft were used and in other 10 autogenous bone and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) obtained from autogenous blood. Bone formation was compared by digital orthopantomography made on immediate post-operatory and 3 and 6 months after the surgery. Results: No significant differences were found between both therapeutic groups on bone regeneration. Conclusion: We do not find justified the use of PRP for alveoloplasty in cleft patients? treatment protocol

A comparative study of platelet-rich plasma, hydroxyapatite, demineralized bone matrix and autologous bone to promote bone regeneration after mandibular impacted third molar extraction.

Objectives: 1) to compare mandibular bone regeneration by applying autologous bone, platelet-rich plasma and two biomaterials (synthetic calcium hydroxyapatite, and demineralized bone matrix), and thus establish the potential benefits of these biomaterials in the regeneration of postextraction alveolar bone, 2) to identify wich of them accelerates more bone regeneration and 3) to determine whether there are differences in the postoperative period (pain, swelling, trismus, infection) depending on the material used. Study Design: It consists in a prospective, controlled (with a split- mouth design) and double blinded study. We use as a model an easily reproducible non-critical bone defect: the defect that remains after extraction of mandibular impacted third molar. The study design is based on the extraction of two mandibular impacted third molars in a patient during the same surgical procedure by the same surgeon. We assessed postoperative clinical data, and short, medium and long term neoformation of alveolar bone after extraction. We compared the two sockets (right and left), which had been grafted in a different way with the various elements mentioned above. In addition, we compared the postoperative inflammatory symptoms between groups. Results: The highest acceleration in bone formation was observed in groups in which we used autologous bone and demineralized bone matrix. There were no statistically significant differences between groups regarding pain, swelling, trismus and infection throughout the postoperative period. Conclusions: According to the results of our study, autologous bone persists as the gold standard material for bone regeneration. Among the assessed biomaterials, demineralized bone matrix has yielded the best results obtained. No significant differences in the postoperative (pain, swelling, trismus and infectious events) were observed, depending on the type of material used as a graft

Voice and swallowing after total laryngectomy

Background: Voice and swallowing problems are often seen in patients with advanced larynx cancer, after total laryngectomy (TL) and chemo/radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of voice and swallowing problems in patients who have been laryngectomised and investigate if these symptoms were related to age, time after TL, radiotherapy and TNM-classification. In addition, we studied how often the patients changed their voice prostheses and the need of therapeutic interventions after TL. Methods: Forty-five patients were included in the study and completed the Swedish version of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire and the Voice Handicap Index-T. Results: Swallowing problems were reported by 89% of the patients and moderate-to-severe voice handicap was reported by 66%. Most of the subjects who had dysphagia also presented voice problems (rs = 0.67 p ≤ .01). Additional therapeutic interventions to manage problems with voice and/or swallowing after TL were required in 62% of the patients. Conclusions: Swallowing and voice problems after TL are common. Thus, the preoperative information and assessment of these functions, as well as the treatment and the post-operative rehabilitation should be evaluated and optimised to provide better functional results after treatment of advanced larynx cancer

The Pharyngoesophageal Segment after Total Laryngectomy

Objective: The aim of the present study was to characterize the pharyngoesophageal segment in laryngectomees who rated themselves as functional tracheoesophageal speakers. Methods: Voice perceptual assessment, high-resolution videomanometry of swallowing and phonation, and high-speed camera recording during phonation provided information about the anatomy and function of the pharyngoesophageal segment. Results: Fourteen patients were included in the study. The voice assessments presented high intra/inter-listener reliability. We found a significant correlation between roughness and poor voice quality, hyperfunction and poor intelligibility, and poor voice quality, long time since the operation, and old age. High-resolution videomanometry during phonation revealed decreasing mean pressures from the distal esophagus to the pharynx and confirmed low resting pressures at the pharyngoesophageal segment and low esophageal peristaltic contraction pressures after laryngectomy in comparison to normal subjects. The neoglottis shape was mainly circular and presented a strong mucosal wave in most of the patients on the high-speed camera recording. Conclusions: Perceptual voice assessment and high-speed camera recordings provided baseline information about voice characteristics and vibration regularity of the neoglottis. Additionally, the quantitative measures obtained with high-resolution videomanometry may have clinical applicability as reference data in voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy