Facing a new reality: Significant increase in necrotizing fasciitis in the post-COVID era?

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare, rapidly progressing soft tissue infection characterized by the widespread necrosis of fascial planes and surrounding tissues.

Material And Methods: We discuss four consecutive necrotizing fasciitis cases of the head and neck region, that accrued in a time window of 6 months. Patient demographics, clinical features, laboratory analyses, imaging findings, surgical interventions, and outcome were collected, assessed and discussed.

"Evaluation of palatal bone regeneration in cleft palate patients following a two-stage palatoplasty using a modified Furlow procedure".

Background: A palatal cleft can be reconstructed using various palatoplasty techniques. Many techniques use local mucoperiosteal flaps to close the hard palate cleft, without closing the underlying bone defect. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of spontaneous bone regeneration in the remaining bone defect following a two-stage palatoplasty.

From SPECT/CT towards absolute quantification? - the case of unilateral condylar hyperplasia of the mandible.

Background: Unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH) of the mandible is a rare condition characterized by asymmetric growth of the mandibular condyles. Bone scintigraphy with SPECT(/CT) is commonly used to diagnose UCH and guide treatment. Still, varying results have been reported using the traditional threshold of 55%:45% in relative tracer uptake.

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis in children with Pierre Robin sequence: long-term analysis of teeth and jaw growth.

Treatment of children with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) having a hypoplastic mandible and upper airway distress after birth may consist of external distraction devices. Shape anomalies of the permanent molars and positional changes due to surgery have been documented. The aim of this study is to compare the long-term effects (>5 years) on the growth pattern of PRS-patients treated with an external mandibular distraction device with no-surgery cases and to investigate the dental development or damage.

Navigating the complexities and controversies of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ): a critical update and consensus statement.

Objectives: To provide a critical update identifying the knowledge gaps and controversies in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) within the Belgian healthcare context and outline opportunities for improvement and research in these areas.

Methods: A literature review was performed to identify guidelines from international clinical societies in oncology or oral and maxillofacial surgery on diagnosing, preventing, and treating MRONJ. The recommendations were critically assessed in light of recent developments in the field and confronted with the clinical experience of experts.