Endoscopic-Assisted Treatment Combined With Transoral and Transbuccal Approach to Mandibular Subcondylar Fractures.

PURPOSE: Endoscopic treatment of maxillofacial fractures is a different way of performing open reduction and internal fixation. This report presents a case series of mandibular subcondylar fractures performed with combined endoscopic transoral and transbuccal approaches and the results.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Sixteen patients with mandibular condylar fractures were preoperatively assessed for risk and underwent open reduction and internal fixation with the endoscope-assisted transoral approach. Duration of hospital stay was recorded and patients were followed for an average of 17 months for possible complications.

RESULTS

No major complications were encountered in any patient. Minimal angulation was observed in 3 patients. One patient had late complaints of temporomandibular joint pain.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic-assisted mandibular condylar fracture repair includes special surgical equipment and manipulation not used in classic methods. With this approach, subcondylar fractures can be more readily manipulated through a transbuccal puncture with appropriate fixation achieved.