Low Level Laser Therapy as an Adjunctive Technique In the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of low level laser therapy on subjects with intra-articular temporomandibular disorders (IA-TMD), and to quantify and compare severity of signs and symptoms before, during, and after the laser applications. The sample consisted of 45 subjects randomly divided into three groups (G) of 15 subjects each: G-I: 15 individuals with IA-TMD submitted to an energy dose of 52.5 J/cm(2); G-II: dose of 105.0 J/cm(2); and G-III: placebo group (0 J/cm(2)). In all groups, the applications were performed on condylar points on the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles. Two weekly sessions were held for five weeks, totaling 10 applications. The assessed variables were: mandibular movements and painful symptoms evoked by muscle palpation. These variables were measured before starting the study, then immediately after the first, fifth, and tenth laser application, and finally, 32 days after completing the applications. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences for G-I and G-II at the level of 1% between the doses, as well as between assessments. Therefore, it was concluded that the use of low level laser increased the mean mandibular range of motion and reduced painful symptoms in the groups that received effective treatment, which did not occur in the placebo group.

Criteria for the request of preoperative tests among oral and maxillofacial surgeons

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the criteria employed for the requesting of preoperative tests among maxillofacial surgeons. Materials and methods: Thirty maxillofacial surgeons working in Aracaju (Brazil) received a questionnaire to fill out. The study inquired about the practice of requesting preoperative tests for healthy patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery. Results: Most of the surgeons interviewed requested tests that are not recommended for the case in question. The highest frequency of requests was a complete blood count, coagulation test, blood glucose test and chest radiograph. Conclusion: The absence of strict rules for the requesting of preoperative tests causes uncertainty and a lack of criteria regarding pre-surgical conduct. It was not possible to clearly define the criteria used by surgeons for requesting such tests, as the clinical characteristics of the hypothetical case presented suggest a smaller number of tests. (C) 2011 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery.

A rare case of iatrogenic gingival Kaposi's sarcoma

Kaposi's sarcoma is an angioproliferative tumour rarely found in the oral cavity. We present the 3rd case of iatrogenic gingival Kaposi's sarcoma reported in the English-language literature which developed in a young patient 5 years after a renal transplant and discuss their histological features and differential diagnosis. (c) 2011 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery.

Distribuição do nervo ibular comum em fetos de equinos e descrição anatômica de pontos para bloqueio anestésico

Analisou-se a distribuição do nervo fibular comum em 30 fetos de equinos, sem raça definida, provenientes do acervo do Laboratório de Anatomia Animal da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, que foram injetados e conservados em solução aquosa de formaldeído a 10%. Contatou-se que o referido nervo deriva do isquiático, divide-se em nervos fibulares superficial e profundo, distribuindo-se para os músculos extensores lateral e longo do dedo, fibular terceiro e tibial cranial. Traçando-se uma linha imaginária na região médio-lateral da tuberosidade do osso tíbia, o nervo fibular comum pode ser bloqueado em sua parte proximal, no terço caudal, entre o tendão de inserção do músculo bíceps femoral e a face lateral do músculo gastrocnêmio lateral (terço médio); e o nervo fibular profundo, na parte proximal da tíbia, crânio-distalmente ao fibular comum. O bloqueio do nervo fibular superficial pode ser realizado em duas regiões da tíbia: na proximal, considerando-se a linha imaginária, distalmente ao ponto citado para o fibular comum e caudalmente ao descrito para o fibular profundo; e na distal, na face lateral da articulação tíbio-társica, entre os tendões de inserção dos músculos extensores lateral e longo do dedo.

Multiple trichoblastomas in a dog

Background – Hair follicle tumours generally present as benign, solitary masses and have a good prognosis following surgical resection. Hypothesis/Objectives – This report describes a case of multiple trichoblastomas in a dog. Animal – A 2-year-old crossbred dog presented with multiple soft cutaneous periocular, perilabial, submandibular and nasal nodules, between 2 and 9 cm in diameter, located on the right side of the face. New nodules were observed on the same side of the face at a second consultation 3 weeks later. Methods – Surgical resection of all nodules was performed in two procedures. Three nodules were initially resected and submitted for histolopathology and immunohistochemistry. The diagnosis was trichoblastoma for all three. At the time of the second consultation, new and remaining nodules were biopsied and the diagnosis of trichoblastoma confirmed. The dog was treated with doxorubicin and piroxicam for 30 days prior to the second surgical procedure in an attempt to reduce new tumour growth and the size of present tumours. All nodules were resected and the defects closed using rotation flaps. Results – No recurrence of the neoplasm was noted within 10 months after surgery. Conclusions and clinical importance – Trichoblastomas are generally benign but can present as multiple neoplasms that may require surgical resection and may respond to chemotherapy. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of multiple trichoblastomas in a dog.