Question

What‌ ‌is‌ ‌phossy‌ ‌jaw?‌ ‌

Answer 1

In 1839, Vienna physician Lorinser diagnosed the first instance of phossy jaw. The patient was a five-year-old female Viennese matchstick builder who had been exposed to phosphorus vapours. The condition was given the name "Phosphorus chronicus" by him. Lorinser reported the toxic effects of white phosphorus in matchsticks in 1844, reporting 22 cases of phossy jaw.

Complete answer:
Phossy jaw, also known as phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, was an occupational condition that affected people who dealt with white phosphorus (also known as yellow phosphorus) without adequate protective equipment. It was most popular among matchstick factory workers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. White phosphorus vapour, which breaks the jaw bones, was the cause. The disease-causing workplace conditions have since been eradicated thanks to modern industrial hygiene procedures.
Many that have a phossy jaw normally experience painful toothaches and gum swelling. "Persistent and progressive" pain extended to adjacent teeth and jawbone was defined. In the development of fistula, tooth loss, and repeated abscesses, pus entering the oral mucosa formed over time. After three months, the sequestrum (dead bone that has detached from live bone) formed, followed by necrosis of the jaw after six months. The ultimate isolation of the sequestrum, which was characterised as porous and light in weight, was a defining feature of this disease. The lower jaw was affected more often than the upper jaw.
In the dusk, the affected bones glowed a greenish-white colour. In certain chronic conditions, the disease even affected the brain, resulting in seizures.
Topical antimicrobials, cautious sequestra debridement, and anaesthesia were all used as treatments. The patient could be saved if the affected jaw bones were surgically removed; otherwise, the patient would die of organ failure. The condition was excruciatingly unpleasant and disfiguring for the recipient, with decaying bone tissue and a foul-smelling discharge accompanying it. However, removing the jaw bone has a significant impact on the patients' ability to eat, contributing to additional health issues such as malnutrition.

Note:
Topical antimicrobials, cautious sequestra debridement, and anaesthesia were all used as treatments. The patient could be saved if the affected jaw bones were surgically removed; otherwise, the patient would die of organ failure. The condition was excruciatingly unpleasant and disfiguring for the recipient, with decaying bone tissue and a foul-smelling discharge accompanying it. However, removing the jaw bone has a significant impact on the patients' ability to eat, contributing to additional health issues such as malnutrition.