Evaluation of postoperative outcomes in palatoplasty with three soft palate cleft repairs.

The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative clinical and functional outcomes of palatoplasty with three soft palate cleft repairs and analyse the factors potentially impacting these outcomes. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a consecutive series of 337 patients who underwent primary cleft palate repair by palatoplasty modified with either Furlow Z-plasty (P-FZP, n = 77), intravelar veloplasty (P-IVV, n = 110), or combined intravelar veloplasty-Furlow Z-plasty (P-IVV-FZP, n = 150). The postoperative outcomes evaluated included wound healing (complete closure/fistula) and velopharyngeal function. Demographic and surgical data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate analysis. There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to the sex distribution, age at repair, cleft width, cleft type, or follow-up duration. However, relaxing incisions were significantly more common with P-FZP (26.0%) and P-IVV (29.1%) compared to P-IVV-FZP (10%) (P = 0.002 and <0.001, respectively). The complete wound closure rate was significantly higher with P-IVV-FZP (97.3%) compared to P-FZP (88.3%) (P = 0.012) and P-IVV (90%) (P = 0.015). The normal velopharyngeal function rate was comparable for P-IVV-FZP (86.7%) and P-FZP (83.1%), and both rates were significantly better than the rate with P-IVV (73.6%) (P = 0.039 and 0.029, respectively). The cleft type and width were identified as factors influencing postoperative outcomes. In conclusion, it may be appropriate to prioritize the palatoplasty with combined intravelar veloplasty-Furlow Z-plasty whenever feasible.

Treatment of painful temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction: network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

There is currently no consensus on the best treatment for painful temporomandibular disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR), and no network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing all types of treatments for this condition has been conducted. The objective of this study was to compare and rank all treatments for DDwoR, including conservative treatments, occlusal splints, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), arthrocentesis (Arthro) alone, Arthro plus intra-articular injection (IAI) of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Arthro plus IAI of hyaluronic acid (HA), Arthro with exercises, Arthro plus occlusal splints, and manipulative therapy. Outcome variables were pain intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and maximum mouth opening (MMO, mm). The mean difference with 95% confidence interval was estimated using Stata software. The GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. A total of 742 patients from 16 RCTs were included in the NMA. Both direct meta-analysis and NMA showed that Arthro with IAI of co-adjuvants provided better pain reduction in the short term (≤3 months) than Arthro alone. However, the quality of the evidence was very low. In the intermediate term, Arthro alone or combined with co-adjuvants provided better pain reduction than conservative treatment, but with low-quality evidence. Conservative treatment significantly increased MMO in the short term compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the results of this NMA suggest that arthrocentesis with intra-articular injection of adjuvant medications may be superior to conservative treatments in reducing pain intensity at long-term follow-up, while no significant differences were found for the MMO outcome. However, the quality of evidence was generally low to very low, and further RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.

Treatments for painful temporomandibular disc displacement with reduction: a network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

There is currently no consensus on the best treatment for painful temporomandibular disc displacement with reduction (DDwR), and no network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing all types of treatment for this condition has been conducted. The objective of this study was to compare and rank all treatments for DDwR, including conservative treatments, occlusal splints, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), manual therapy, no treatment (control), arthrocentesis (Arthro) alone, Arthro plus intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma (Arthro-PRP) or hyaluronic acid (Arthro-HA), and Arthro plus occlusal splint. Predictor variables were pain intensity and maximum mouth opening (MMO). The mean difference with 95% confidence interval was estimated using Stata software. The GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. Twenty RCTs reporting 1107 patients were identified in the literature search; 980 of these patients were included in the network meta-analysis. Direct meta-analysis showed that Arthro-PRP significantly reduced pain intensity compared to Arthro alone, while occlusal splint and manual therapy were superior to conservative treatment (all very low quality evidence). Arthro with intra-articular injection of PRP/HA ranked as the most effective treatment in terms of pain reduction, whereas LLLT ranked the best choice for increasing MMO for patients with DDwR. However, it is important to note that the evidence for the superiority of these treatments is generally of very low quality. Therefore, further high-quality research is needed to confirm these findings and provide more reliable recommendations for the treatment of DDwR.

Management of clinically node-negative early-stage oral cancer: network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The best treatments for the clinically node-negative (cN0) neck in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients are a subject of ongoing debate and there is no consensus. A network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was conducted to determine the most effective treatment and to rank treatments based on their effectiveness. A systematic search was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to retrieve RCTs that compared therapeutic neck dissection (TND), sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), and elective neck dissection (END). The outcomes analysed were overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and nodal recurrence. Hazard ratios and risk ratios were calculated by direct meta-analysis and NMA. Ten RCTs with a total of 1858 patients were eligible for inclusion. Direct meta-analysis showed END to be superior to TND and comparable to SLNB. The NMA revealed no statistically significant difference between END and SLNB (very low quality evidence) regarding OS, DSS, DFS, and nodal recurrence. However, END was found to significantly improve OS and DFS, and reduce nodal recurrence when compared to TND (moderate quality evidence). END ranked as probably the top treatment option for maximizing OS and DSS, and reducing nodal recurrence in early-stage OSCC, followed by SLNB and TND. There was very low quality evidence supporting SLNB as non-inferior to END for patients with early-stage OSCC. This NMA yielded favourable results for the use of END (with moderate quality evidence) in early-stage OSCC patients, although excellent results have also been obtained with SLNB. However, data in the literature for SLNB are scarce, as this technique has not yet been formalized in many countries. There is a need to further explore SLNB for early-stage OSCC patients, as well as its value in detecting occult lymph node metastases on the contralateral side. More studies comparing morbidity, quality of life, and costs between the different management strategies for the clinically negative neck in early-stage OSCC patients are needed.

Effectiveness of different treatments for odontogenic keratocyst: a network meta-analysis.

Odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) are benign but aggressive lesions. As there is a lack of well randomized clinical studies assessing the effectiveness of the different treatment options for OKC, a network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to identify the best treatment option with the lowest recurrence rate. An electronic search was performed following the PRISMA guidelines to identify all clinical studies comparing treatment options against enucleation alone. The outcome variable was recurrence. The predictor variables were treatments. The eight included treatments were: enucleation with peripheral ostectomy/curettage (E + PO/curettage); enucleation with cryotherapy (E + CRYO); enucleation with/without PO followed by modified Carnoy's solution (E ± PO+MCS); enucleation with PO and with topical 5-fluorouracil (E + PO+5FU); enucleation with/without PO followed by original Carnoy's solution (E ± PO+CS); marsupialization alone (MARS); marsupialization followed by secondary enucleation with/without PO (MARS+2°E ± PO); and resection. The odds ratio was used to estimate the recurrence rate. A frequentist NMA was performed using Stata software. A total of 2989 patients in 40 studies were included. Both direct pairwise meta-analysis and NMA showed that E + 5FU+PO was significantly superior to E ± PO+MCS. However, no statistically significant difference was found between E ± PO+CS vs E + 5FU+PO, E ± PO+MCS, and resection, respectively (all very low quality evidence). The three most effective treatments in reducing the recurrence rate were E + PO+ 5FU (98.1%; very low quality evidence), resection (83.5%; very low quality evidence), and E ± PO+CS (63.8%; moderate quality evidence). The findings from this study suggest that CS remains the most effective fixative agent after enucleation and PO until proven otherwise. Additionally, 5FU appears to be an effective method with promising results that needs further research. Finally, the efficacy of MCS remains controversial; further in vivo and in vitro studies are required to determine new protocols. As this NMA included retrospective studies, the results should be interpreted with great caution (level of evidence: type III).

Do antibiotics prevent infection after third molar surgery? A network meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether antibiotics, compared to placebo, can prevent infection or dry socket after third molar surgery. A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed following registration of the protocol (CRD42021276266). Four databases and the grey literature were searched, and papers were selected based on the PICOS question. RoB 2 and GRADE were used to evaluate the risk of bias and certainty of the evidence, respectively. The NMA was performed using Stata. Of 58 randomized clinical trials identified, 34 were included in the NMA. Patients treated with amoxicillin (relative risk (RR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.84; low quality of evidence) and those treated with metronidazole (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31-0.84; low quality of evidence) showed a lower risk of infection and dry socket when compared to patients given a placebo. Postoperative amoxicillin (750 mg) and amoxicillin plus clavulanate (500 mg + 125 mg, or 2000 mg + 125 mg), and preoperative metronidazole (800 mg) are useful to prevent infection or dry socket when compared to placebo. The low rate of infection after third molar surgery, the correct concept of antibiotic prophylaxis, and antibiotic resistance must be taken into account when choosing to treat healthy patients undergoing third molar surgery with antibiotics.

Complications after different methods for fixation of mandibular angle fractures: network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The aim of this review was to compare mandibular angle fracture fixation methods that were evaluated through randomized clinical trials considering postoperative complications. Additionally, different treatment methods were ranked based on their performance. A systematic review was performed based on the Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. The quality of evidence and network meta-analysis were conducted using the GRADE tool and R software, respectively. Four databases were searched, and the papers were selected based on the PICOS strategy. A total of 3584 papers were found. After screening 15 papers were included. One plate placed on lateral border (tension zone) presented lower risk than one plate placed on superior border (tension zone) for infection [risk ratio (RR): 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33 to 0.71] and plate removal necessity (RR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.69), with moderate quality of evidence. There were no significant differences among the mandibular angle fracture treatments for malocclusion and paraesthesia outcomes. In conclusion, one plate placed on the lateral border in the tension zone is the best choice regarding postoperative infection and plate removal necessity when fixing mandibular angle fractures. None of the tested fixation methods were associated with a significant risk of malocclusion and paraesthesia events.

Effectiveness of occlusal splint therapy in the management of temporomandibular disorders: network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

A network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to assess the effectiveness of various types of occlusal splint in the management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and to rank them according to their effectiveness. An electronic search was undertaken to identify RCTs published until August 2019. Predictor variables were control, non-occluding splint, hard stabilization splint (HSS), soft stabilization splint (SSS), prefabricated splint, mini-anterior splint, anterior repositioning splint (ARS), and counselling therapy (CT) with or without HSS. Outcome variables were pain improvement, post-treatment pain intensity, improvement in mouth opening, and disappearance of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds. Forty-eight RCTs were included. There was a significant decrease in post-treatment pain intensity in arthrogenous TMDs after ARS (low quality evidence), CT+HSS (moderate quality evidence), mini-anterior splints (very low quality evidence), and HSS alone (low quality evidence), when compared to the control. There was a significant decrease in post-treatment pain intensity in myogenous TMDs with mini-anterior splints (very low quality evidence), SSS (very low quality evidence), CT alone (moderate quality evidence), CT+HSS (moderate quality evidence), and HSS alone (moderate quality evidence), when compared to control. ARS and CT were superior in decreasing TMJ clicking than control and HSS alone. The three highest-ranked treatments for post-treatment pain reduction in arthrogenous TMDs were ARS (92%, very low quality evidence), CT+HSS (67.3%, low quality evidence), and HSS alone (52.9%, moderate quality evidence). For myogenous TMDs, they were mini-anterior splints (86.8%, low quality evidence), CT+HSS (61.2%, very low quality evidence), and HSS alone (59.7%, moderate quality evidence). Based on this NMA of 48 RCTs, there is moderate to very low quality evidence confirming the effectiveness of occlusal splint therapy in the treatment of TMDs. Multimodal therapy consisting of CT+HSS may produce the maximum improvement for TMD patients.

Do osteoconductive bone substitutes result in similar bone regeneration for maxillary sinus augmentation when compared to osteogenic and osteoinductive bone grafts? A systematic review and frequentist network meta-analysis.

The purpose of this network meta-analysis was to identify the most effective biomaterials producing higher new bone formation (NBF) and lower residual graft (RG) and connective tissue (CT) following maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA), and to generate a ranking based on their performance. The MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until March 2018, evaluating histomorphometric outcomes after MSA. Predictor variables were autogenous bone (AB), allografts (AG), xenografts (XG), alloplastic bone (AP), AB+XG, AB+AP, AG+XG, XG+AP, and grafts combined with autologous platelet concentrates/recombinant growth factors, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), or recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Outcome variables were NBF%, RG%, and CT%. Healing time was considered. The weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated via frequentist network meta-analysis using Stata software. Fifty-two RCTs (1483 biopsies) were included. At a healing time <6 months, AB was superior to AP (WMD-10.66%, 95% CI-16.38% to -4.94%) and XG (WMD-7.93%, 95% CI-15.11% to -0.75%) for NBF. Regarding CT, AB was superior to XG+AP, AP, MSCs, and XG. At a healing time ≥6 months, NBF was higher for AB than AP (WMD-7.06%, 95% CI-12.59% to -1.52%). RG was lower in AB than AP (WMD 12.03%, 95% CI 3.04% to 21.03%), XG (WMD 14.62%, 95% CI 4.25% to 24.98%), and growth factors (WMD 12.32%, 95% CI 0.04% to 24.60%). The three highest ranked biomaterials for increasing NBF were AG+XG (95%, very low quality evidence), growth factors (69.9%, low quality evidence), and AB alone (69.8%, moderate quality evidence). The three highest ranked biomaterials for decreasing RG were BMPs (88.8%, very low quality evidence), AB alone (81.5%, moderate quality evidence), and AB+AP (58.9%, very low quality evidence). Finally, XG+AP (84.7%, low quality evidence), AP alone (77.7%, moderate quality evidence), and MSCs (76.1%, low quality evidence), were the three highest ranked biomaterials for decreasing the amount of CT. Network meta-analysis provided moderate quality evidence that AB alone is probably the best option to obtain greater NBF after MSA in the first 6 months after surgery. Additionally, the results of this network meta-analysis support the hypothesis that osteoconductive bone substitute materials should be combined with osteogenic or osteoinductive grafts for superior histomorphometric outcomes in MSA.

Khat chewing habit produces a significant adverse effect on periodontal, oral health: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although there is a general agreement that a khat chewing habit produces clinicopathological changes in the oral mucosa. However there is no reliable evidence of the effects of a khat chewing habit on the periodontal tissues. Thus, authors aimed to investigate the influence of khat chewing habits on periodontal, oral health, by comparing khat chewers to non-chewers in respect of gingival recession, periodontal pocketing depth and loss of attachment. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus and grey literature. The inclusion criteria were all studies with aims of comparing khat chewers and/or sides to non-chewers and/or sides in respect of gingival recession, periodontal pocketing depth and loss of attachment. For continuous data, we computed weighted mean difference or standard mean difference analyses. An odds ratio using a random effect model was used if heterogeneity was detected; otherwise, a fixed effects model with a 95% confidence interval was used for continuous data. Two subgroups were analysed: khat chewers vs non-chewers and khat chewer sides vs non-chewer sides of the chewer's individuals. A total of 6373 participants were enrolled in 12 studies (khat chewers=3812, non-chewers=2561). There were statistically significant differences between khat and non-chewers in both subgroup analyses regarding gingival recession, periodontal pocketing depth and loss of attachment (P<.05). The odds ratios for khat chewers compared to non-chewers, in respect of depth of periodontal pocket and gingival recession were 4.797 and 6.853 respectively. The results of this meta-analysis have shown that the khat chewing habit produces a destructive and adverse effect on periodontal, oral health.

Are bicortical screw and plate osteosynthesis techniques equal in providing skeletal stability with the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy when used for mandibular advancement surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in postoperative skeletal stability between bicortical screw and monocortical plate fixation after mandibular advancement surgery with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSO). A comprehensive search of major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL) was conducted to locate all relevant articles published from inception to October 2015. Studies were selected based on inclusion criteria; randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and retrospective studies comparing bicortical screw vs. monocortical plate fixation after BSSO, reported in peer-reviewed publications in the English language, were considered eligible. Changes in linear measurements (horizontal and vertical) were analyzed. Five relevant studies were identified, involving 203 patients (bicortical screw n=98, monocortical plate n=105). No significant difference was found between monocortical plate and bicortical screw fixation in horizontal (P=0.099) or vertical measurement (P=0.882). Based on this review, there is overall agreement in the literature that the amount of advancement has a direct relationship with postoperative changes. The results of this meta-analysis support the hypothesis that there is no statistically significant difference in skeletal stability between bicortical screw and monocortical plate fixation of the BSSO following mandibular advancement surgery.

Does the piezoelectric surgical technique produce fewer postoperative sequelae after lower third molar surgery than conventional rotary instruments? A systematic review and meta analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to answer the clinical question "Does the piezoelectric surgical technique produce fewer postoperative sequelae after lower third molar surgery than conventional rotary instruments?" A systematic and electronic search of several databases with specific key words, a reference search, and a manual search were performed from respective dates of inception through November 2014. The inclusion criteria were clinical human studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and retrospective studies, with the aim of comparing the piezoelectric surgical osteotomy technique to the standard rotary instrument technique in lower third molar surgery. Postoperative sequelae (oedema, trismus, and pain), the total number of analgesics taken, and the duration of surgery were analyzed. A total of nine articles were included, six RCTs, two CCTs, and one retrospective study. Six studies had a low risk of bias and three had a moderate risk of bias. A statistically significant difference was found between piezoelectric surgery and conventional rotary instrument surgery for lower third molar extraction with regard to postoperative sequelae (oedema, trismus, and pain) and the total number of analgesics taken (P=0.0001, P=0.0001, P<0.00001, and P<0.0001, respectively). However, a statistically significant increased surgery time was required in the piezoelectric osteotomy group (P<0.00001). The results of the meta-analysis showed that piezoelectric surgery significantly reduced the occurrence of postoperative sequelae (oedema, trismus, and pain) and the total number of analgesics taken compared to the conventional rotary instrument technique in lower third molar surgery, but required a longer surgery time.

Stability of bicortical screw versus plate fixation after mandibular setback with the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is no difference in skeletal stability between bicortical screw and miniplate fixation after mandibular setback surgery with the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). A systematic and electronic search of several databases with specific key words, a reference search, and a manual search through September 2014 was performed. The inclusion criteria encompassed clinical human studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and retrospective studies, with the aim of comparing bicortical screw fixation to miniplate fixation after mandibular setback with the BSSO. Changes in both linear (horizontal and vertical) and angular measurements (SNB and mandibular plane) were analyzed. The initial PubMed search identified 317 studies, of which seven met the inclusion criteria-one RCT, four CCTs, and two retrospective studies. Bicortical screw fixation was found to provide slightly better skeletal stability than miniplate fixation after setback with the BSSO, but the difference was not statistically significant. The results of this meta-analysis support the hypothesis that there is no statistically significant difference in skeletal stability between bicortical screw fixation and plate fixation of the BSSO when used for mandibular setback.

One miniplate compared with two in the fixation of isolated fractures of the mandibular angle.

The purpose of this study was to compare one miniplate with two in the management of isolated fractures of the mandibular angle as regards wound healing, failure of hardware, scarring, weakness of the facial nerve, and overall morbidity, by making a systematic review with a meta-analysis. I made a comprehensive electronic search with no date or language restrictions in October 2014. The inclusion criteria were studies in humans, including randomised or quasirandomised controlled trials (RCT), controlled clinical trials (CCT), and retrospective studies that compared the morbidity after treatment of such fractures with one and two miniplates. Ten publications were included: three RCT, three CCT, and four retrospective studies. Three studies showed a low, and seven a moderate, risk of bias. There was a significant difference between one and two miniplates in the incidence of wound healing, failure of hardware, weakness of the facial nerve, and overall complications (p=0.04, p =0.05, p=0.002, and p=0.05, respectively). The result of the meta-analysis showed that one miniplate placed on the external oblique ridge provided a significant reduction in the incidence of wound infection and dehiscence, failure of hardware, and overall complications, compared with two miniplates, one placed on the external oblique ridge and one placed on to the ventral surface of mandible to fix the fracture.

Impact on the pharyngeal airway space of different orthognathic procedures for the prognathic mandible.

The study objective was to evaluate, through a meta-analysis, the impact on the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) of different orthognathic surgeries for the treatment of the prognathic mandible. An electronic search of three databases and hand searches were carried out up to December 2014. The inclusion criteria were clinical human studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and retrospective studies, with the aim of comparing bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) to intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO), or one-jaw to two-jaw surgery for the treatment of the prognathic mandible. The PAS changes (anterior-posterior dimensions and cross-sectional area) at the level of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx were analyzed. A statistically significant difference was found between BSSO and IVRO groups and one-jaw surgery and two-jaw surgery with regard to PAS changes after the treatment of mandibular prognathism. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that BSSO presents less change in the PAS after mandibular setback surgery compared to IVRO. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that bimaxillary surgery is superior to mandibular setback surgery alone for the correction of the prognathic mandible, particularly in patients with factors predisposing them to the development of breathing problems.

Open versus arthroscopic surgery for the management of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: a meta-analysis of the literature.

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes of the following three surgical methods for the management of internal derangement (ID) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ): arthroscopic lysis and lavage (ALL), arthroscopic surgery (AS), and open surgery (OS). A systematic and electronic search of several databases with specific key words was performed from their inception through November 2014. Clinical human studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and retrospective studies, with the aim of comparing the three surgical methods for the management of ID of the TMJ were included. Seven publications were identified: three RCTs, two CCTs, and two retrospective studies. A significant difference was found between OS and AS in pain reduction (P=0.05), but no significant difference with regard to maximal inter-incisal opening (MIO>35mm), mandibular function impairment, and clinical findings (clicking, joint tenderness, and crepitation) (P=0.52, P=0.34, and P=0.19, respectively). The results of the meta-analysis showed that the use of OS is superior to AS in pain reduction, with comparable MIO, jaw function, and clinical findings. In addition, the results of the present study showed that ALL provides greater improvement in MIO and comparable pain reduction when compared to AS.

Comparison between three-dimensional and standard miniplates in the management of mandibular angle fractures: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study.

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of mandibular angle fractures (MAFs) managed with three-dimensional (3D) miniplates and standard miniplates (according to Champy's principles). A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study was carried out on 20 patients with MAFs, divided into two groups. Group A patients were treated with a single 1-mm 3D titanium miniplate; group B patients were treated with a single 2.0-mm standard titanium miniplate. Patients were followed for 6 months for infection, wound dehiscence, segmental mobility, malocclusion, mouth opening, hardware failure, hardware palpability, paraesthesia, and malunion/non-union. A densitometry analysis was performed using DIGORA software on digital panoramic radiographs to evaluate bone healing. Six complications occurred, representing a total rate of 30%. Three complications occurred in group A and three in group B, with identical complication rates of 30%. No major difference in terms of the radiographic assessment was observed between the two systems. The 3D curved strut plate is an effective treatment modality for the management of MAFs, with a complication rate comparable to that found with the standard miniplate. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01939015.

Arthroscopy versus arthrocentesis in the management of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to assess whether arthroscopy or arthrocentesis is most effective and feasible in the management of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), specifically in relation to joint movement and pain. A comprehensive electronic search without date or language restrictions was performed in January 2014. Inclusion criteria were the following: study in humans; randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and retrospective studies; comparison of arthrocentesis and arthroscopy in the treatment of internal derangement. Six publications were included in the review, two RCTs, two CCTs, and two retrospective studies. Two studies showed a low risk of bias and four studies showed a moderate risk of bias. There were statistically significant differences between arthrocentesis and arthroscopy with regard to maximal inter-incisal opening and pain reduction, but no difference between the two groups for postoperative complications. The results of this meta-analysis on the management of internal derangement of the TMJ revealed arthroscopy to have superior efficacy to arthrocentesis in increasing joint movement and decreasing pain. Both arthroscopy and arthrocentesis have comparable postoperative complication rates. However, the current meta-analysis is incomplete due to the paucity of good quality studies in the high-impact, peer-reviewed literature; therefore, further better-designed studies are required to address this important question before final conclusions can be drawn as to the true comparative outcomes of TMJ arthrocentesis versus TMJ arthroscopy.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical outcomes for various surgical modalities in the management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the clinical outcomes of the following four methods for the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis: gap arthroplasty (GA), interpositional gap arthroplasty (IPG) using the temporalis muscle, reconstruction of the TMJ using a costochondral graft (CCG), and alloplastic joint reconstruction (AJR) of the TMJ. A comprehensive electronic and manual search of the literature without date or language restriction was performed in December 2013 to identify randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and retrospective studies with the aim of comparing the four surgical modalities for TMJ ankylosis. Sixteen publications were included: seven were CCTs and nine were retrospective. A significant difference was found between GA and IPG in maximal inter-incisal opening (MIO) and recurrence rate (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively). A significant difference was found between IPG and CCG reconstruction in MIO (P = 0.01), but no significant difference with regard to the recurrence rate (P = 0.71). There was a significant difference between costochondral joint (CCJ) and AJR for MIO and pain (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively). The results of the meta-analysis showed that IPG results in a significant improvement in MIO and lower recurrence rate when compared to GA. Also, IPG shows a greater improvement in MIO and comparable recurrence rate when compared to CCG reconstruction. GA and CCG reconstruction have a comparable recurrence rate. Lastly, CCJ provides greater MIO when compared to AJR, whereas AJR is superior to CCJ in reducing pain.