title: Evaluation of the oral flora in 150 patients suffering from chronic craniofacial pain: a retrospective study.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine if microbial infection was a significant factor in patients with undiagnosed craniofacial pain. Of the 150 patients from whom intra-bony cultures were obtained, 23 different groups of isolates were obtained. There were 49 (32.67%) patients whose cultures exhibited growth of microbes other than routine oral flora, mixed skin flora or routine respiratory flora. The most common was of the Streptococcus species (11 or 22.91%) of the 49. Sixty-seven (67) (44.67%) of the total cultures demonstrated the growth of mixed skin flora, nineteen (12.67%) demonstrated the growth of routine respiratory flora and sixteen (10.67%) demonstrated the growth of routine oral flora. No bacterial isolates were found in 16 (10.67%) cultures. The most common histological diagnoses of those who exhibited pathogenic microbial growth were, in order: 1. focal osteoporotic marrow defect; 2. ischemic osteonecrosis; and 3. chronic nonsuppurative osteomyelitis.
authors.affiliation: TMJ & Facial Pain Center, Westerville, Columbus, Ohio, USA. drwes@drshankland.com
authors.forename: Wesley E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Shankland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000098:blood supply / Q000382:microbiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000382:microbiology; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000382:microbiology; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000382:microbiology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult