Analysis of the retroauricular transmeatal approach: a novel transfacial access to the mandibular skeleton

Modified Retromandibular Approach for the Management of Condylar Fractures of the Mandible

Condylar fractures of the mandible have been of particular interest to surgeons for decades, as there is a big debate regarding the management option: conservative versus surgical modality. Conservative treatment is the preferred treatment modality for condylar head (diacapitular) fractures. Currently, surgical modality is favored and surgeons are opting for open reduction and internal fixation for diacapitular fractures as it reestablishes the anatomical position of the fragments and disc, and permits immediate functional mobility of the jaw, thereby reducing the chances of occurrence of temporomandibular joint ankylosis. This case series enumerates the pros and cons of open reduction and internal fixation of condylar fractures of the mandible occurring at various levels using a modified retromandibular approach and highlights that this can be considered as one of the treatment options for condylar fractures.

Variants and Modifications of the Retroauricular Approach Using in Temporomandibular Joint Surgery: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The retroauricular approach (RA) has been developed in order to expose the temporomandibular joint in a way that minimizes the risk of injury to the facial nerve and masks the postoperative scar. One of its characteristics is an excellent posterolateral view of the mandibular head, which allows for the preservation of the lateral temporomandibular joint ligaments in the course of open intracapsular surgery. Aim: The aim of this study is to systematically review the currently used variants and modifications of RA. Materials and Methods: The construction of the following study is based on PICOS and PRISMA protocols. A systematic literature search was performed based on the PubMed and BASE search engines; furthermore the authors performed a more detailed search in the Google Scholar article database as well as a loop search within the references of papers included in the systematic review. Results: Searching medical articles databases, Google Scholar, and references yielded a total of 85 records. First the titles and abstracts were blindly screened which was followed by a full-text eligibility check resulting in eventually including and qualifying 7 articles for detailed analysis. Discussion: All known variants and modifications of RA are characterized by high safety for the facial nerve and an aesthetically hidden scar. There were no reports of auricle necrosis in the collected material. Conclusions: In this systematic review, 2 variants and 2 modifications of RA that allow for open temporomandibular joint surgery have been identified; all of them together cover a large spectrum of indications for joint surgery, including reposition and osteosynthesis of mandibular head fractures, eminoplasty, or eminectomy and treatment of some forms of ankylosis.

Retro-Auricular Approach to the Fractures of the Mandibular Condyle: A Systematic Review

This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the retro-auricular trans-meatal approach (RA) to mandibular head fractures. Fractures of the mandibular head (8%) are a specific type of mandibular condyle fractures (34%). Despite numerous complications of conservative treatment, e.g., limited mobility and even ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint, as well as shortening of the mandibular ramus resulting in malocclusion, surgical intervention in this type of fracture is still problematic. The main problems with the dominant pre-auricular approach are the high risk of paralysis of the facial nerve and persistence of a visible scar. An attractive alternative is RA, which, despite its long history, has been described in English very few times, i.e., in only two clinical trials described in three articles in the last 21 years. According to these studies, RA gives a minimum of 90% of ideal positions of bone fragments and an always fully preserved function of the facial nerve in the course of long-term observation. RA allows the application of long screws for fixation, which provide good stabilization. In addition, new types of headless screws leave a smooth, non-irritating bone surface, and the immediate future may be dominated by their resorbable varieties. RA can, therefore, be treated as a very favorable access to fractures of the mandibular head, especially due to the protection of the facial nerve and the possibility of providing a stable and predictable fixation.

The relationship between the status and position of third molars and the presence of mandibular angle and condylar fractures

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the status and position of third molars, and the presence of mandibular angle and/or condylar fractures, in a group of patients treated for mandibular fractures, thus hoping to contribute to the knowledge of potential predictors of these fractures.

METHODS

A retrospective study was designated to include all the patients who were diagnosed and treated with open reduction and internal fixation for isolated mandibular angle fractures or isolated mandibular condylar fractures between 1st of January 2012 and 31st of December 2018. The following data were collected for each included patient: gender, age, etiology, site and side of the fracture, and presence and eruption state of third molars in the fracture side.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were diagnosed with a condylar fracture, 48 with an angle fracture. No statistically significant difference was observed as for etiology and gender distribution between angle fracture and condyle fracture patients (p > 0.05). Angle fractures were statistically associated with the presence of third molars, whereas condylar fractures with the absence of third molars (p < 0.000005). The presence of completely erupted 3Ms was associated with condylar fractures (p < 0.05), and partially impacted 3Ms were associated with angle fractures (p < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

Mandibular angle fractures and third molar presence are associated in patients who present with mandibular fractures, especially if the third molar is incompletely erupted. This information should be kept in consideration as for the diagnosis and management of patients with mandibular fractures.

Medical students' knowledge of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to assess medical students' knowledge of "medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws" (MRONJ).

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was administered to all the medical students in the last two years of school of medicine at the University of Eastern Piedmont between January 2019 and March 2019. The questionnaire contained a first section regarding demographic and personal data of the student and a second section regarding the knowledge on MRONJ.

RESULTS

On the whole, 72 medical students agreed to participate to this study and filled in the questionnaire. As for indications for the use of bisphosphonates 45 students correctly answered "osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, multiple myeloma, or metastasis of some malignant tumors". Almost all students (71 out of 72) answered that a thorough examination of oral cavity and a dentist screening is needed and fundamental before starting bisphosphonate assumption. As for drugs responsible for MRONJ, only 12 students out of 72 correctly answered "bisphosphonates, denosumab, and antiangiogenic drugs".

DISCUSSION

A better level of knowledge and awareness by medical doctors and young physicians may lead, in future, to minimize incidence of MRONJ as well as to a better resolution of ONJ cases. Theoretical and practical initiatives could be promoted to improve and consolidate the knowledge of future physicians about this important issue.

Psychological profiles in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery or rhinoplasty: a preoperative and preliminary comparison

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess, identify, and compare the personality traits and psychosocial status of two groups of patients undergoing orthognathic surgery and rhinoseptoplasty respectively.

STUDY DESIGN

This prospective study recruited patients referred for orthognathic surgery and for rhinoseptoplasty. The research protocol included the administrations of questionnaires to the patients during their last visit before surgery, including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the tree drawing test (or Baum test), and the BC Scale.

RESULTS

As for MMPI-2, the highest (pathological) percentages were encountered in Hypochondriasis and Psychasthenia scales within the Orthognathic Surgery Group, whereas in the rhinoseptoplasty group, the highest scores were obtained in the Hypochondriasis, Psychasthenia, Psychopathic Deviate, and Schizophrenia scales.

CONCLUSIONS

It would be important to assess some characteristics of the patients' mental health and emotional state prior to surgery, including depression, anxiety, panic, and aggression. The overview of these factors may give an insight into the psychological and emotional capacity of the patients undergoing orthognathic and rhinoseptoplasty surgery.

Assessment of facial nerve injury with "House and Brackmann facial nerve grading system" in patients of temporomandibular joint ankylosis operated using deep subfascial approach

Background:

Preservation of the functional integrity of the facial nerve (FN) is a critical measure of success in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery. In spite of the development of a myriad of surgical approaches to the TMJ, FN remains at risk. The deep subfascial approach provides an additional layer of protection (the deep layer of the temporalis fascia and the superficial temporal fat pad) to the temporal and zygomatic branches of the FN and thus, is the safest method to avoid FN injury.

Objectives:

To assess FN injury following TMJ surgery using deep subfascial approach and measuring it on House and Brackman facial nerve grading system (HBFNGS).

Materials and Methods:

Twenty TMJs in 18 patients were operated for TMJ ankylosis, using “the deep subfascial approach.” FN function was assessed postoperatively at 24 h, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months using HBFNGS. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16.0.

Results:

Of 20 surgical sites 3 sites showed Grade III (moderate) FN injury and 17 sites showed Grade II (mild) FN injury at 24 h. The condition improved with time with full recovery of FN at all surgical sites at 6 months.

Conclusion:

The deep subfascial approach has a distinct advantage over the conventional approaches when dissecting the temporal region and is the safest method to avoid injury to FN.

Current opinions on surgical treatment of fractures of the condylar head

Treatment of mandibular condyle fractures is still controversial, with surgical treatment slowly becoming the preferred option. However, fractures of the condylar head (diacapitular fractures) are still treated conservatively at many institutions. Recently, more and more surgeons have begun to perform open treatment for diacapitular fractures because it allows to restore the anatomical position of the fragments and disc, it allows an immediate functional movement of the jaw, and avoid the ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint induced by the trauma. Several techniques have been proposed to reduce and fix fractures of the condylar head, such as standard bone screws, resorbable screws, resorbable pins, and cannulated lag screws. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review the literature about the surgical treatment of fractures of the condylar head to resume the current knowledge about open treatment of such fractures.

Epidemiology and treatment outcome of surgically treated mandibular condyle fractures. A five years retrospective study

Surgical management of mandibular condyle fractures is still controversial. Although it provides better outcome than closed treatment questions still remain about the surgical approach and the osteosynthesis devices to be used. Between 2005 and 2010, we managed 168 mandibular condyle fractures with open treatment. Two surgical approaches were used in this study, a pre-auricular and a high submandibular approach (one or the other or as a combined approach). Internal fixation was performed using TCP(®) plates (Medartis, Basel, Switzerland) or with two lag screws (15 and 17 mm). Delta plates were used in 15 cases (8.9%). We report the epidemiology of these fractures and the outcomes of the surgical treatment. We assessed the complications related to the surgical procedure and those related to the osteosynthesis material. The facial nerve related complication rate was very low and the osteosynthesis materials used proved to be strong enough to realize a stable fixation. The two approaches used in this study appeared to be safe with good aesthetic results. Most of the surgical procedure failures occurred in high subcondylar fractures especially when bilateral.