Search

Objectives: The aim of this study is to test the possible orthopedic effects of cervical headgear on the cranial base and maxilla., Study Design: a sample consisting of 79 subjects with skeletal class II malocclusion was divided into two groups. The experimental group was made up of 41 patients all treated with cervical headgear. The control group included a total of 38 non-treated patients. Each one of these groups was then subdivided according to age into one of three groups: prepubescent, pubescent or post-pubescent. Cephalometric parameters were compared in both groups in order to measure the cranial base angle and the vertical and sagittal position of the maxilla. Additionally, cephalometric superimpositions taken at the beginning and end of the study were compared., Results: results revealed significant differences in the cranial base angle and in the SNA angle (p<0.05). However, no differences were observed in the variables that measure the maxillomandibular relationship. While no changes were noted in the palatal plane slope, a flattening of the cranial base was found caused by the cervical headgear, in addition to a retrusion of point A that does not mean there was a reduction in the maxillomandibular relationship., Conclusions: cervical headgear treatment induces cephalometric flattening of the cranial base and a decrease of the SNA angle.

This study has been designed to evaluate the vertical and sagittal changes in the maxilla due to growth. A sample group was chosen of 38 individuals with normal occlusion, composed of 16 females and 22 males between the ages of 8 and 18. The total sample was divided into three groups: prepubescent (8-11 years), pubescent (12-14 years) and post-pubescent (15-18 years). A series of cephalometric angle parameters (SNA, maxillary height, slope of the palatal plane and maxillary depth) and lineal parameters (effective maxillary length, palatal plane length, middle third of the face height and convexity) were traced. Superimpositions of the initial and final cephalometries in the Ba-N plane and in the Nasion fixed point were carried out to measure growth. An analytic statistical analysis was applied using a Student t test for independent samples in order to evaluate the differences found according to sex. An analysis of variance followed by Duncan's multiple range test was done to study the evolution of each variable throughout the duration of the experiment. In light of the results obtained, we have come to the following conclusions: sagittal growth of the maxilla is constant from the age of 8 to 18 years with an average increase of 0.2 mm/year. Vertical growth, as well as general maxillary growth, is greater in the prepubescent group.

Purpose: To analyze the characteristics of retinal detachments (RD) in myopic patients who underwent different kinds of refractive surgery (RS). Modifications in patient eyes deriving from RS and how it hindered surgery for treating RD, was also studied., Material and Methods: 14 (6 female/8 male) patients with RD after having been treated with RS (laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), radial keratotomy (RK) and phakic anterior chamber lenses). RD was treated by scleral surgery and in two cases by vitrectomy after first RD surgery., Results: 12 RD cases showed slight modification over previous refraction. In 2 cases vitrectomy was necessary since proliferative vitreoretinopathy was evidenced. The appearance of RD cases did not increase after PRK, RK or LASIK. RS did not hinder RD surgery. RD appearance in patients with anterior chamber lenses was higher, with severe difficulty in peripheral exploration and in performing RD surgery., Conclusion: After PRK, RK and LASIK, RD surgery does not show more difficulty, while after anterior chamber intraocular lenses implantation there is an increased difficulty for RD surgery.

Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a mucocutaneous disorder characterized by the appearance of blisters and vesicles in response to minimum friction. The digestive mucosa is one of the most frequently affected regions--including the oral mucosa. Three types of EB have been established according to the histological level of the lesion. Thus, simple EB involves intraepidermal bullae that leave no scars, while junctional EB exhibit blisters between the lamina lucida and lamina densa of the basal membrane. These lesions heal leaving atrophy and involve important hypoplastic lesions in the dental enamel. In turn, dystrophic EB presents synechiae-forming subepidermal blisters--the recessive form being the variant involving the greatest oral lesions (microstomia, ankyloglossia, milium cysts and rampant caries). Three cases of EB are presented and their clinical-dental management difficulties are described. The oral manifestations are described, along with the dental treatments provided and the evolution of the periodontal indices over a two-year period following the application of hygiene-preventive and therapeutic measures.

Purpose: To evaluate the course of astigmatic evolution and complications after clear corneal incisions using an intrastromal corneal suture., Setting: Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, University of Alicante, Spain., Methods: Eighty eyes of 62 patients had endocapsular phacoemulsification. A foldable intraocular lens was implanted through a 4.0 mm clear corneal incision. A 10-0 nylon intrastromal corneal suture was used in all eyes. Change sin corneal astigmatism were calculated by vector analysis; follow-up was 6 months. Early and late suture-related complications were also evaluated., Results: Mean induced cylinder was 1.25 diopters (D) +/- 1.24 (SD) with the wound 1 day postoperatively and 0.19 +/- 0.81 D against the wound at 6 months. There were no incision- or suture-related complications postoperatively., Conclusion: Use of the intrastromal corneal suture led to astigmatically neutral closure of multiplanar corneal incisions.