Indications and complications regarding titanium osteosynthesis in pediatric maxillofacial trauma: A scoping review and critical appraisal.

With the advent of biodegradable osteosynthesis material, titanium osteosynthesis for ORIF in pediatric maxillofacial trauma is not as indisputable as before. The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review to assess the indications, complications of ORIF with titanium osteosynthesis material in pediatric maxillofacial trauma. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, gray literature (ICTRP and clinicaltrials.gov) for studies published until April 2022. 3436 studies were screened and finally 13 articles, compromising a sample of 340 pediatric patients were included after full text reading. Reported complications were infection (6.5% of population), malocclusion (5% of population) and dental maleruption (8% of population). Influence on future growth could not be assessed due to short and heterogeneous follow-up periods. Eight of the thirteen studies concluded to a positive and predictable outcome using titanium ORIF for displaced/complex pediatric maxillofacial fractures. Results of this review suggest that titanium ORIF for maxillofacial fractures in the pediatric population is a reliable treatment. The surgeon must be committed to following these patients longitudinally. Interpreting the results should, however, be done with great care, as most articles have a medium to high risk of bias and limited follow-up.

Accuracy of computer-assisted mandibular reconstructions with free fibula flap: Results of a single-center series.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the accuracy of computer-assisted mandibular reconstructions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for 26 patients who had mandibular reconstruction with a microvascular free fibula flap, January 2015 to June 2018. Postoperative mandible models were obtained from computed tomography scans. After registering the models to the corresponding preoperative plan, we performed comparative measurements. Patients were grouped by condylar involvement and subdivided based on number of fibular segments used for reconstruction. For each segment, we measured length and osteotomy angles. For the final postoperative outcome, we compared intercoronoid, intergonial, and anteroposterior distances and intersegmental plane shift. RESULTS: Means (SD) for deviation of each osteotomy angle and fibular segment length were 1.98° (2.98) and 1.78 mm (2.69), respectively, remaining constant across subgroups. Other mean values were as follows: intercoronoid distance deviation, 3.86 mm (range, 0.20-11.21 mm); intergonial distance deviation, 3.14 mm (range, 0.05-8.28 mm); anteroposterior distance deviation, 2.92 mm (range, 0.03-8.49 mm); and intersegmental plane shift, 11.00° (range, 2.76-24.15°). Where the condyle was preserved, the intercoronoid and intergonial deviation means differed significantly (respectively 5.02 mm and 4.88 mm, both P < 0.05) for one-segmented and three-segmented fibular reconstructions. Furthermore, reconstructions involving the condylar region compared with condyle preservation showed significantly different intersegmental plane shifts (7.18°; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Computer-assisted surgery provides cutting guides for obtaining accurate fibular segments, but current fixation methods lead to inaccuracies and reproducibility errors. In multisegmental transfer with condylar involvement, computer-assisted fixation is recommended to ensure accuracy of the preoperative plan.