Background: and Purpose Antiplatelets are often used before direct oral anticoagulant (DOACs) initiation after an acute ischemic stroke related to atrial fibrillation (AF), but the evidence is weak. Here, we explored the risks and benefits of this approach. Methods: A post-hoc analysis of ELAN (Early versus Late Initiation of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Post-ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) trial data (NCT03148457) was conducted to compare the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, major bleeding (extracranial or intracranial hemorrhage [ICH]), and vascular death within 30 days (as a composite and as individual outcomes) in participants treated with and without antiplatelets before DOAC initiation after an AF-associated ischemic stroke. We used both logistic and cause-specific Cox proportional hazards regression in inverse probability of treatment weighted models to account for confounding. We calculated the net benefit of antiplatelet use by subtracting the weighted rate of excess bleeding events attributable to antiplatelets from the rate of excess ischemic events possibly prevented by antiplatelets. Results: Among 2,013 participants (median age 77 years, 45.5% female), 1,090 (54.1%) used antiplatelets, and 70 (3.5%) experienced the composite outcome. Antiplatelet use was not associated with the composite outcome (inverse probability of treatment weighted odds ratio [ORweighted] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–1.72; inverse probability of treatment weighted hazard ratio [HRweighted] 1.06, 95% CI 0.65–1.72), but showed a lower risk of ischemic stroke recurrence (ORweighted 0.58 [0.30–1.08], HRweighted 0.57 [0.30–1.10]), and a higher risk of major bleeding (ORweighted 1.76 [0.56–6.63], HRweighted 1.88 [0.56–6.39]). Its net benefit was +0.57 (95% CI -1.25 to +2.34) to +0.30 (-1.82 to +2.27) weighted events/100 person-months for ICH weights 1.5 to 3.1. Conclusion Following an AF-associated ischemic stroke, we found a lower risk of recurrence and no signs of net harm with antiplatelet use before DOAC initiation, despite an increased risk of bleeding.

Objectives: Geriatric maxillofacial trauma (GMT) is not an uncommon entity in maxillofacial surgery practice. The aim of the study was to document the experience with GMT cases in a single private dental college and hospital in an effort to uncover the etiology, prevalence, fracture sites, and various types of treatment in GMT. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Saveetha Dental College and Hospital in Chennai. Data from patients diag-nosed with maxillofacial trauma between January 2019 and December 2023 were retrieved from hospital records, and those aged ≥60 years wereincluded in the study. Patients’ basic demographic details and the prevalence, etiology, fracture sites, and various treatments of GMT were recorded and analyzed. The collected data were entered into a structured database and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 23.0 (IBM). Results: A total of 867 cases were screened, and 37 (4.04%) GMT patients were finally included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 65±5 years, and there were six females and 31 males. A ground-level fall was the common etiology (n=17), and the most common site of fracture was the mandible (n=15). Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was the most common treatment modality (n=24) among included cases. Conclusion Although the prevalence of GMT was low, ground-level falls were a common reason for trauma; hence, geriatric patients require comprehensive care in home and outdoor settings. Enhanced anesthetic and surgical techniques have made ORIF a suitable treatment approach in the present era.

Background: and Purpose Antiplatelets are often used before direct oral anticoagulant (DOACs) initiation after an acute ischemic stroke related to atrial fibrillation (AF), but the evidence is weak. Here, we explored the risks and benefits of this approach. Methods: A post-hoc analysis of ELAN (Early versus Late Initiation of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Post-ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) trial data (NCT03148457) was conducted to compare the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, major bleeding (extracranial or intracranial hemorrhage [ICH]), and vascular death within 30 days (as a composite and as individual outcomes) in participants treated with and without antiplatelets before DOAC initiation after an AF-associated ischemic stroke. We used both logistic and cause-specific Cox proportional hazards regression in inverse probability of treatment weighted models to account for confounding. We calculated the net benefit of antiplatelet use by subtracting the weighted rate of excess bleeding events attributable to antiplatelets from the rate of excess ischemic events possibly prevented by antiplatelets. Results: Among 2,013 participants (median age 77 years, 45.5% female), 1,090 (54.1%) used antiplatelets, and 70 (3.5%) experienced the composite outcome. Antiplatelet use was not associated with the composite outcome (inverse probability of treatment weighted odds ratio [ORweighted] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–1.72; inverse probability of treatment weighted hazard ratio [HRweighted] 1.06, 95% CI 0.65–1.72), but showed a lower risk of ischemic stroke recurrence (ORweighted 0.58 [0.30–1.08], HRweighted 0.57 [0.30–1.10]), and a higher risk of major bleeding (ORweighted 1.76 [0.56–6.63], HRweighted 1.88 [0.56–6.39]). Its net benefit was +0.57 (95% CI -1.25 to +2.34) to +0.30 (-1.82 to +2.27) weighted events/100 person-months for ICH weights 1.5 to 3.1. Conclusion Following an AF-associated ischemic stroke, we found a lower risk of recurrence and no signs of net harm with antiplatelet use before DOAC initiation, despite an increased risk of bleeding.

Objectives: Geriatric maxillofacial trauma (GMT) is not an uncommon entity in maxillofacial surgery practice. The aim of the study was to document the experience with GMT cases in a single private dental college and hospital in an effort to uncover the etiology, prevalence, fracture sites, and various types of treatment in GMT. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Saveetha Dental College and Hospital in Chennai. Data from patients diag-nosed with maxillofacial trauma between January 2019 and December 2023 were retrieved from hospital records, and those aged ≥60 years wereincluded in the study. Patients’ basic demographic details and the prevalence, etiology, fracture sites, and various treatments of GMT were recorded and analyzed. The collected data were entered into a structured database and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 23.0 (IBM). Results: A total of 867 cases were screened, and 37 (4.04%) GMT patients were finally included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 65±5 years, and there were six females and 31 males. A ground-level fall was the common etiology (n=17), and the most common site of fracture was the mandible (n=15). Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was the most common treatment modality (n=24) among included cases. Conclusion Although the prevalence of GMT was low, ground-level falls were a common reason for trauma; hence, geriatric patients require comprehensive care in home and outdoor settings. Enhanced anesthetic and surgical techniques have made ORIF a suitable treatment approach in the present era.

Background: and Purpose Antiplatelets are often used before direct oral anticoagulant (DOACs) initiation after an acute ischemic stroke related to atrial fibrillation (AF), but the evidence is weak. Here, we explored the risks and benefits of this approach. Methods: A post-hoc analysis of ELAN (Early versus Late Initiation of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Post-ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) trial data (NCT03148457) was conducted to compare the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, major bleeding (extracranial or intracranial hemorrhage [ICH]), and vascular death within 30 days (as a composite and as individual outcomes) in participants treated with and without antiplatelets before DOAC initiation after an AF-associated ischemic stroke. We used both logistic and cause-specific Cox proportional hazards regression in inverse probability of treatment weighted models to account for confounding. We calculated the net benefit of antiplatelet use by subtracting the weighted rate of excess bleeding events attributable to antiplatelets from the rate of excess ischemic events possibly prevented by antiplatelets. Results: Among 2,013 participants (median age 77 years, 45.5% female), 1,090 (54.1%) used antiplatelets, and 70 (3.5%) experienced the composite outcome. Antiplatelet use was not associated with the composite outcome (inverse probability of treatment weighted odds ratio [ORweighted] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–1.72; inverse probability of treatment weighted hazard ratio [HRweighted] 1.06, 95% CI 0.65–1.72), but showed a lower risk of ischemic stroke recurrence (ORweighted 0.58 [0.30–1.08], HRweighted 0.57 [0.30–1.10]), and a higher risk of major bleeding (ORweighted 1.76 [0.56–6.63], HRweighted 1.88 [0.56–6.39]). Its net benefit was +0.57 (95% CI -1.25 to +2.34) to +0.30 (-1.82 to +2.27) weighted events/100 person-months for ICH weights 1.5 to 3.1. Conclusion Following an AF-associated ischemic stroke, we found a lower risk of recurrence and no signs of net harm with antiplatelet use before DOAC initiation, despite an increased risk of bleeding.

Objectives: Geriatric maxillofacial trauma (GMT) is not an uncommon entity in maxillofacial surgery practice. The aim of the study was to document the experience with GMT cases in a single private dental college and hospital in an effort to uncover the etiology, prevalence, fracture sites, and various types of treatment in GMT. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Saveetha Dental College and Hospital in Chennai. Data from patients diag-nosed with maxillofacial trauma between January 2019 and December 2023 were retrieved from hospital records, and those aged ≥60 years wereincluded in the study. Patients’ basic demographic details and the prevalence, etiology, fracture sites, and various treatments of GMT were recorded and analyzed. The collected data were entered into a structured database and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 23.0 (IBM). Results: A total of 867 cases were screened, and 37 (4.04%) GMT patients were finally included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 65±5 years, and there were six females and 31 males. A ground-level fall was the common etiology (n=17), and the most common site of fracture was the mandible (n=15). Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was the most common treatment modality (n=24) among included cases. Conclusion Although the prevalence of GMT was low, ground-level falls were a common reason for trauma; hence, geriatric patients require comprehensive care in home and outdoor settings. Enhanced anesthetic and surgical techniques have made ORIF a suitable treatment approach in the present era.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 369 patients with symptoms of cervical myelopathy assessed using cervical dMRI. After assessing the subaxial cervical spine at each disc level (C3–T1), significant changes in the degree of central canal stenosis were determined. The appearance and extent of hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted sequences were also noted. Results: Overall, 653/1,845 (35.39%) disc levels showed an increase in stenosis grade on extension MRI, with 168/653 (25.72%) and 180/653 (27.56%) disc levels changing from grades 0/1 to grades 2 and 3, respectively. Moreover, 120/369 (32.52%) patients showed a mean increase of 1.55±0.75 levels of compression on extension MRI when compared to neutral MRI. A fresh-appearing hyperintense lesion was observed in 79 (4.28%) disc levels on flexion MRI, which was not visualized on neutral MRI. Conclusions Cervical dMRI may help surgeons plan for surgery, discuss the prognosis with the patient, and safeguard themselves from medico-legal issues arising from improper or missed diagnosis and treatment.