title: A rare case of synovial otorrhea of iatrogenic nature in dentistry.
abstract: The authors describe a unique case of left synovial otorrhea in a masticatory phase, occurring in a 64-year-old patient after a long dental sitting. The otoscopic examination and the transverse CT of the ear revealed the fracture of the anterior wall of left external auditory canal and the presence of a small bone fragment on the external side of the glenoid fossa. This situation, at present, has been judged inoperable by otologists due to the close relationship between this area and the head of the left condyle, probably responsible for the fracture. The therapy used was based on the use of a masticatory bite plate, with the aim of increasing the vertical dimension of the jaws during mastication and, so, to keep the condyle in a forward position. The result obtained was the decrease and then the halting of the liquid exit in the auricle, through an increase of the bite plate height determined by the ex iuvantibus method. This temporary therapy could bring about a spontaneous healing of the fracture, thanks to the masticatory increase of the bite plate; but if this is not possible, a fixed prosthetic solution should then be provided for the patient. Research into the literature revealed no similar observations.
authors.affiliation: School of Orthognathia, Department of Odontostomatological Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabatucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Procaccini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabobash
mesh_terms: D004424:Ear Canal / Q000293:injuries*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013582:Synovial Fluid