Cleft lip and palate: maxillary distraction osteogenesis or orthognathic surgery for hypoplastic maxilla?

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This Cochrane review update of the effects and long-term results of maxillary distraction osteogenesis compared to orthognathic surgery for the treatment of hypoplastic maxilla in people with cleft lip and palate only includes 1 small RCT. The trial suggests that distraction osteogenesis may produce more satisfactory results however the trial is considered to be at very high risk of bias so the findings should be viewed cautiously.

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Third molar removal: conventional or piezoelectric device for osteotomy?

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Fifteen studies (5 RCTs) were included in this review of piezoelectric surgery for third molar removal. The findings suggest better outcomes with piezoelectric surgery however the limited quality of the available evidence means that the findings should be viewed with caution.

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Hypotensive anaesthesia: effective in reducing blood loss in orthognathic surgery

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The potential use of hypotensive anaesthesia for maxillofacial surgery was first noted in the 1950s. Since then a number of studies have been reported on the effects of hypotensive anaesthesia in relation to blood loss operating time and surgical field quality producing conflicting results. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of [read the full story…]

Inferior alveolar nerve injury following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy lacks standardised assessment procedures and reporting says review

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As this review looks as potential harms from bilateral sagittal split osteotomy a wide range of study designs were included. However, the majority relied on subjective assessment of Inferior alveolar nerve injury so a standardised assessment and reporting procedure is needed.

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Presence of mandibular third molars during sagittal split osteotomies did not increase complications

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The sagittal split osteotomy (SSO) is a common procedure  for the correction of mandibular deformities.  It  was first introduced Schuchardt in 1942  the current technique which has been refined an popularised in subsequent years.   Overall it is a safe procedure the  an important intra-operative complication being  an unfavourable fracture with incidences  varying between  0.7-20% being [read the full story…]