A Comparative Study of Transbuccal and Extraoral Approaches in the Management of Mandibular Angle Fractures: A Systematic Review

Comparison of Conventional Versus Right Angled Fixation Technique in Management of Mandibular Angle Fractures - A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study

PURPOSE

The treatment of mandibular angle fractures ranges from observation to closed reduction with maxillomandibular fixation to open reduction and internal fixation. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of three different techniques (transoral, transbuccal, and right-angled fixation technique) for single adaptational monocortical upper border plating in mandibular angle fracture.

METHODS

The study conducted at our center was a prospective randomized study. The study duration was from November 2019 to August 2021. The three groups included in our study were transoral, transbuccal, and transoral approach using the right-angled drill. Patients who required open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular angle fracture were included in the study. Computer-generated randomization method was used to allot the participants in any of the three groups, ie, transoral, transbuccal, or right-angled fixation technique. The primary outcome clinical variables were mouth opening (MO), occlusion stability, scar or laceration, facial nerve weakness, infection, and the radiological variables were gap between the fracture segments and displacement of the fracture segment. The secondary outcome of our study is a comparison of the perioperative complications including plate exposure during the entire fracture healing period. The covariates of the study were age, sex, etiology, and tooth in line of fracture. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA, post hoc Tukey test, and Pearson χ² test. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients were included in our study. According to randomization, each group was allotted 16 patients. In the study, 66.7% of the study population were male and 33.3% were female; 75% of the study population were victims of road traffic accidents, and 25% were injured due to assault. The mean and standard deviation for MO at 1 month were 31.3 ± 2.9 for the transoral group, 35.8 ± 1.7 for the transbuccal group, and 35.5 ± 1.3 for the right-angled fixation group. On intergroup comparison, statistically significant results were seen at the 1-month postoperative MO clinical parameter. The P value here was 0.02 which was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The comparison of the right-angled fixation technique to transoral and transbuccal fixation methods have not been documented. Our study is the first of its kind to compare the right-angled fixation technique to various other approaches. Our study showed that the MO was better postoperatively with the transbuccal approach. The other variables showed no difference among the three techniques.

Facial scars resulting from a transbuccal approach during osteosynthesis of a sagittal split osteotomy: A retrospective study

The purpose of the current study was to assess the quality of facial linear scars. The Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) was developed and validated as a tool to assess postoperative scars. Postoperative facial scars were rated using high-quality macrophotographs and SBSES by three independent raters at baseline and three months thereafter. Percentage agreement (PA) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to measure interrater and intrarater reliability. Scar outcomes ranging from 0 (worst) to 5 (best) were evaluated against age and gender. One-hundred-sixty-six patients with a mean age of 30.6 years (range of 17-59) were included in this study. Forty-four were male (26.5%), and 122 were female (73.5%). Mean total SBSES scores were 4.63 (range of 4.56-4.76) at baseline and 4.60 (range of 4.54-4.72) at three months. As patient's age increased, mean total SBSES scores also decreased significantly (r = -0.216, p = 0.005). Gender did not significantly affect raters' perception of scar cosmesis (p = 0.847). Interrater reliability showed an ICC of 0.675 (95% CI, 0.609-0.731) and a PA of 65.4% at baseline, and an ICC of 0.655 (95% CI, 0.585-0.715) and a PA of 64.2% at three months. Intrarater reliability found ICCs ranging from 0.988 to 0.990 and a PA of 96.8% with 3 separate raters. Within the limitations of the study it seems that the transbuccal approach during osteosynthesis of a sagittal split osteotomy seems still to be acceptable when the patient gives his or her informed consent and advanced instruments like an angled screwdriver are not available.

Minimally Invasive "Trocar-Free" Approach for Rear Mandibular Fractures Management

ABSTRACT

The request of minimally invasive surgery is progressively expanding the indications of endoscopically assisted intraoral access for mandibular traumas. The aim of our study is to assess how much the use of the angled drill may affect the outcome of patients treated for rear mandibular fracture.In our retrospective case-control trial we enrolled 36 patients with mandibular rear fractures treated through endoscopically assisted intraoral access. Eighteen patients were treated by using an angled drill "trocar free," and 18 treated by linear drills placed through trocars. Surgical times, hospitalization times (HT), and major complications rate were compared between the 2 groups.Group 1 showed a significant reduction in HT (1.72 versus 2.22 days, P = 0.024) and an increase in the surgical times (3.0 versus 2.53 hours, P = 0.019). Significant reduction of total amount of complication was seen in group 1 versus group 2 (P = 0.007).The "trocar free" approach allowed by angled drills, in our hands, greatly reduces the invasiveness of the surgery resulting in a significant reduction in HT and smaller share of vascular-nervous sequelae. Our results suggest the "trocar free" approach as a valuable choice when indicated for the treatment of rear mandibular fractures.

Total temporomandibular joint replacement without a submandibular incision

Temporomandibular joint replacement is a well-accepted and successful treatment option for advanced pathology of the temporomandibular joint. There are however a number of complications associated with the procedure such as post-operative infection, facial nerve damage and scarring. Total joint replacement has traditionally involved the use of both a pre-auricular and submandibular incision. We present an approach that uses only a pre-auricular incision without the need for a submandibular incision. This approach is less invasive and has the potential to decrease risk of damage to the marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve and scarring of the neck.

Integrity of a Single Superior Border Plate Repair in Mandibular Angle Fracture: A Novel Cadaveric Human Mandible Model

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the integrity of human mandibular angle fracture after fixation with a single titanium plate along the upper lateral border with that of the native human mandible.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional anatomic study involved the left hemimandibles of 16 human cadavers. They were selected and divided in 2 groups by remaining dental status. Additional predictor variables, such as height of the left mandibular body and gender, were noted. Left hemisected native mandibles were mounted at the condyle and loaded on an Instron 5565 mechanical unit (Instron Corp, Norwood, MA) until fracture. Fractured left hemimandibles were fixated with a titanium miniplate and screws. After plate fixation, each hemimandible was reloaded on an Instron 5565 until fracture. Data pertaining to primary outcomes of load application were recorded in newtons at displacement values of 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 mm and at displacement at fixation failure. Primary outcomes of maximum load and displacement at maximum load were recorded in newtons and millimeters, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sample characteristics. Statistical comparisons were performed using t test, χ² (or Fisher exact) test, and linear regression. Pearson correlation was used to examine relations between select biomechanical measurements.

RESULTS

The study sample was composed of 12 female and 4 male cadaveric hemimandibles. Donors' age at time of death ranged from 54 to 95 years (mean age, 78.94 yr). The mean maximum load in native and plated hemimandibles was 943.56 and 292.57 N, respectively (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Key clinical findings of this study include the inability of single plate mandible fixation to restore the mandible to preinjury levels and verification that gender, dental status, and height of the mandible do not alter the stability of a single plate fixated mandible.

Facial Nerve Paralysis-A Rare Complication of Open Reduction of Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fractures

Facial nerve paralysis is an unusual formidable complication that can manifest after various maxillofacial surgeries, including open reduction of facial trauma. The branches more predisposed to such injury are the zygomatic and marginal mandibular branches. Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures are frequently encountered in maxillofacial trauma. The facial nerve has not been described as endangered during ZMC surgery. Paralysis of the buccal branch after ZMC repair with delayed onset has been reported only once. This report describes a patient with immediate facial nerve paralysis after open reduction and internal fixation of an isolated ZMC fracture through an intraoral approach. This is a previously unreported rare complication after ZMC fracture repair that should be discussed as a possibility when obtaining preoperative consent.