HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN TREATMENT OF CHRONIC OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE JAWS

A review of the literature on treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws shows that hyperbaric oxygen is often recommended as an adjunct in treatment of this disease. Definite criteria to indicate this treatment and to evaluate the results have not been reported. The results of hyperbaric oxygen treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws in 16 patients are presented. In contrast to the good results reported in the literature, only 7 of our patients could be considered as cured. The reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Our results, as well as the data from the literature, indicate that a combined antibiotic and surgical approach is the treatment of choice in chronic suppurative osteomyelitis. However, in chronic diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis and in patients in whom decortication and antibiotic therapy have failed, hyperbaric oxygen treatment in combination with antibiotics and surgery seems to be indicate

EFFECT OF GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT ON CRANIOFACIAL GROWTH IN TURNERS SYNDROME

A cephalometric study was performed in 19 patients with Turner's syndrome, aged 8.7-16.5 years. A lateral roentgencephalogram was taken before and after two years of treatment with biosynthetic growth hormone in a dose of 24 IU/m2/week. During two years of growth hormone treatment, the mandibular length increased mainly due to vertical growth. The initially posteriorly rotated mandible showed an anterior rotation, although the normal position was not reached. The other linear measurements and angles did not change during treatment. No indications were found for an increase in the disproportionate growth or for excessive chin growth as a sign of acromegaly during growth hormone treatment. In conclusion, growth hormone treatment in patients with Turner's syndrome resulted in an increase in mandibular length, mainly due to vertical growth of the ramus and in the anterior rotation of the mandible