Maxillary sinusitis is a debilitating condition for patients due to the proximity of this anatomical structure to the dentition, oropharynx and orbital cavity and thus of paramount consideration for the oral and maxillofacial clinician. The etiopathology, when not due to oral antral communication and thus often secondary to an upper respiratory tract infection, can be multifactorial. It is the result of a detailed clinical assessment with appropriate investigations that an accurate diagnosis attained. Management of symptoms is the first course of action and provides the greatest perceived relief for the patient. Surgical management has multidisciplinary overlap and each specialism should work in harmony in their respective fortes for an optimum outcome. This chapter provides a detailed overview of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and management of patients presenting with suspected maxillary sinusitis in the absence of oral antral communication.
Introduction
Rental electronic scooters (e-scooters) were legalised in July 2020 in the UK for use on public roads. This has led to higher numbers of emergency department (ED) attendances for head and neck injuries managed by the oral and maxillofacial surgical (OMFS) department.
Aim
The aim of this research is to assess the increase in e-scooter injuries requiring OMFS input and analyse factors and management associated.
Method
Data were collected over a 24-month period. A total of 212 e-scooter-related ED presentations were recorded, with 34 patients requiring input from the OMFS department. For the patients referred to OMFS, numerical and categorical factors used independent T-tests and one-way Analysis of Variance tests, respectively, to determine statistical significance at the 5% confidence level (p <0.05).
Results
The mean age was 32.8 years (SD = 15.9) in a predominately male cohort (79.4%). Alcohol intoxication was observed in 55.8% of accidents. Injuries were most common on Saturdays (41.2%). Soft tissue injuries were present in 64.7% of patients, bony injuries in 38.2% of patients and dental injuries in 11.8% of patients. Imaging was required for 76.5% of patients. In total, 44% of patients required surgical treatment, 5.9% required major surgery and 38.2% required minor surgery.
Conclusion
This research supports the literature suggesting significant growth in e-scooter-related injuries and their associated burden of conditions managed by the OMFS department.
Supplementary Information
Zusatzmaterial online: Zu diesem Beitrag sind unter 10.1038/s41415-023-5506-5 für autorisierte Leser zusätzliche Dateien abrufbar.
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