The aim of this work was to study the prevalence and clinical presentation of root fractures in a series of patients with dental trauma. Treatment strategies were classified and outcomes after a 6-month period presented. The study population comprised 76 patients (between the ages of 2 and 55 years) with 93 root fractures in their teeth (18 primary, 75 permanent). Data were collected following the taking of a detailed clinical history, objective clinical examination and photographic and radiological investigation. Since most of the primary teeth were extracted, only cases with root fracture of permanent teeth were followed-up: in all, 24 patients with 31 teeth with root fractures. The prevalence of root fractures in permanent teeth was 7.7% of all injuries, while in primary teeth it was 3.8%. The most frequently involved teeth were the maxillary incisors with a percentage of 75% in permanent teeth. Moreover, 40% of root fractures in permanent teeth were associated with fracture of the alveolar bone and of the soft tissues and in 45% of cases, the adjacent teeth were also injured. The results of this study reaffirm the necessity for scrupulous diagnosis of teeth after a traumatic injury. Adjacent teeth and those in the opposing arch should not be ignored. Treatment is multidisciplinary, requiring surgical, orthodontic, operative and prosthetic compliance. Periodic check-up is essential.

We aimed to: (i) study the prevalence of root resorption after luxation or avulsion injuries on permanent teeth referred to our dental clinic over a 3-year period; (ii) study the relationship between type of injury and resultant type of resorption complication; and (iii) evaluate success of treatment protocols for various resorption complications. We observed 1943 patients with dental trauma, aged between 2 and 26 years, referred to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Dental Clinic, University of Brescia, from 1st September 1997 to 31st December 2001. Of these, 261 permanent teeth had sustained luxation (n = 188) or avulsion (n = 73) injuries. Permanent teeth luxation and avulsion injuries occurred most often in upper incisors (75%) of patients mostly aged 12-21 years, with males more commonly affected than females (68.3% vs. 31.7%). These cases were followed for 5 years, and complications and response to treatment were recorded. Root resorption was observed in 45 (17.24%) of these cases. Of the 45 cases with resorption, 9 were associated with luxation injury (20%) while 36 (80%) with avulsion. We distinguished 30 cases of inflammatory root resorption (18 transient and 12 progressive) and 15 cases of ankylosis and osseous replacement. When resorption was recognized, quick and effective treatment could still result in an excellent functional and aesthetic outcome for these teeth.

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This case describes a patient with a traumatic crown fracture of an upper incisor, associated with a laceration wound in the lower lip, showing local oedema. While palpating the tissues of the lower lip we felt the presence of a foreign body. This was confirmed by a radiograph of the lip that showed a radiopaque material, being similar to the coronal fragment of the fractured incisor. It was successfully surgically removed and immediately reattached using a composite adhesive technique. At the follow-up of 1 year later the vitality test on the teeth was positive and neither one of the two traumatized teeth showed any sign of discoloration.

Objectives: We report our experience with posterior preperitoneal prosthetic hernioplasty for inguinal hernia in patients undergoing concomitant pelvic surgery for prostatic pathologies. Methods: 172 patients with unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia underwent posterior preperitoneal prosthetic hernioplasty during pelvic surgery for BPH and malignant prostatic pathologies. Results: There was no evidence of hernial recurrence after a mean of 30 months and no complications attributable to the hernial repairs, except for 1 patient who developed a small periprosthetic hematoma and 1 patient with a pelvic lymphocele, both spontaneously resolved. Conclusions: Posterior preperitoneal prosthetic hernioplasty for inguinal hernia combined with pelvic surgery for prostatic pathologies should be applied routinely by urologists because it is a relatively simple procedure and with a very low rate of complications and recurrence.