Bone quality assessment in patients with healing mandibular fracture sites: a computed tomography investigation.

The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the bone quality of healing mandibular fracture sites by measuring the Hounsfield units (HU) on computed tomographic (CT) images obtained presurgery and postsurgery in patients treated with rigid internal fixation (RIF). The HU values of healing fracture sites were compared to those of corresponding nonfractured (control) sites on the opposing side and cervical vertebrae sites in the same patients. In total, 31 patients with 45 mandibular fractures treated with RIF underwent presurgical and postsurgical CT examinations. The scans performed after surgery (1, 3, 6, 12, or 18 months) were taken only when there was a need for radiographic evaluation due to a complaint of discomfort from the patient or when the surgeon needed to verify the postsurgical outcome, and each patient underwent only a single postsurgical CT. At the presurgical CT examination, the HU values were lower in the fracture sites than in the control sites. At 3 months postsurgery, the HU values in the fracture sites had increased as the mandibular bone healed. At 6 months postsurgery, the HU values in the fracture sites were higher than those of the control sites. At 12 and 18 months postsurgery, the HU values of both sites were similar. The HU values of the cervical vertebrae remained constant with time. These results suggest that, in patients who have been treated with RIF for mandibular bone fracture, HU values measured by CT vary across time, expressing the physiologic bone healing process.

M3YOLOv5: Feature enhanced YOLOv5 model for mandibular fracture detection.

BACKGROUND: It is very important to detect mandibular fracture region. However, the size of mandibular fracture region is different due to different anatomical positions, different sites and different degrees of force. It is difficult to locate and recognize fracture region accurately. METHODS: To solve these problems, M3YOLOv5 model is proposed in this paper. Three feature enhancement strategies are designed, which improve the ability of model to locate and recognize mandibular fracture region. Firstly, Global-Local Feature Extraction Module (GLFEM) is designed. By effectively combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Transformer, the problem of insufficient global information extraction ability of CNN is complemented, and the positioning ability of the model to the fracture region is improved. Secondly, in order to improve the interaction ability of context information, Deep-Shallow Feature Interaction Module (DSFIM) is designed. In this module, the spatial information in the shallow feature layer is embedded to the deep feature layer by the spatial attention mechanism, and the semantic information in the deep feature layer is embedded to the shallow feature layer by the channel attention mechanism. The fracture region recognition ability of the model is improved. Finally, Multi-scale Multi receptive-field Feature Mixing Module (MMFMM) is designed. Deep separate convolution chains are used in this modal, which is composed by multiple layers of different scales and different dilation coefficients. This method provides richer receptive field for the model, and the ability to detect fracture region of different scales is improved. RESULTS: The precision rate, mAP value, recall rate and F1 value of M3YOLOv5 model on mandibular fracture CT data set are 97.18%, 96.86%, 94.42% and 95.58% respectively. The experimental results show that there is better performance about M3YOLOv5 model than the mainstream detection models. CONCLUSION: The M3YOLOv5 model can effectively recognize and locate the mandibular fracture region, which is of great significance for doctors' clinical diagnosis.

Streamlining complex mandibular fracture treatment: Integration of virtual surgical planning and short-segment drilling guides.

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a combined virtual surgical planning (VPS) and short-segment drilling guides (SSDGs) workflow for the treatment of complex mandibular fractures. Consecutive patients with complex mandibular fractures underwent treatment using the VPS and SSDGs workflow from August 2020 to April 2022. Various mandibular landmarks were compared between the preoperative virtual surgical plan and postoperative data, including condylar distance (CoD), mandibular angle width (GoL-GoR), GoMeGo angle (∠GoL-Me-GoR), the difference in mandibular angles between the left and right sides (Δ∠Co-Go-Me), and the difference in length between the left and right mandibular body (ΔGo-Me). Additionally, preoperative preparation time and surgical duration were retrospectively analyzed and compared to conventional surgery. All 14 consecutive patients with complex mandibular fractures achieved successful reduction using the VPS and SSDGs workflow. Three-dimensional comparison revealed a mean deviation distance of 0.91 ± 0.50 mm and a root-mean-square deviation of 1.75 ± 0.47 mm between the preoperative designed mandible model and the postoperative mandible model. The percentage of points with deviation distances less than 2 mm, 1 mm, and 0.5 mm between preoperative and postoperative models were 78.47 ± 8.87 %, 60.02 ± 14.28 %, and 38.64 ± 15.48 %, respectively. There were no significant differences observed in CoD, GoL-GoR, ∠GoL-Me-GoR, Δ∠Co-Go-Me, and ΔGo-Me between preoperative virtual surgical planning and postoperative measurements. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the injury-to-surgery interval, admission-to-surgery interval, and surgical duration between the workflow and conventional surgery. The combined VPS and SSDGs workflow proved to be an accurate and feasible method for treating complex mandibular fractures. It offers advantages such as minimal preoperative preparation time and the ability to precise transfer screw positions of the pre-bent reconstruction plate during surgery. This approach is particularly suitable for managing complex mandibular fractures.

The necessity of removal of third molars involved in mandibular fractures: A retrospective study.

This retrospective analysis aimed to investigate the necessity of removing the wisdom tooth in cases of angle fractures of the mandible. The study retrieved 595 mandible fractures from January 2006 to December 2021 through the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry System, of which 303 involved a fracture through the angle of the mandible, including the wisdom tooth socket. Of these, 203 (66.9%) underwent open reduction and internal fixation with retention of the third molar. The authors found that only four (2%) patients returned for the removal of plates and the retained third molar during the follow-up period. Therefore, the authors concluded that wisdom teeth removal should remain an exception during open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular angle fractures unless they hinder fracture reduction, pose a potential infection risk, or interfere with occlusal stability.

Infection Rates of an Intraoral Versus Extraoral Approach to Mandibular Fracture Repairs are Equal: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: This study investigates whether the intraoral approach to mandibular open reduction and internal fixation, through exposure to the oral cavity's microbiome, results in higher infection rates compared to the extraoral approach, thus addressing a critical public health concern, potentially offering an opportunity to reduce health-care costs, and aiming to guide effective clinical practice. METHODS: In this systematic review with meta-analyses, a review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Embase and PubMed for articles published between 1989 and 2023. Inclusion criteria targeted studies on open reduction and internal fixation mandibular fractures comparing intraoral and extraoral approaches and reporting infection rates. Exclusion criteria eliminated non-English articles, case reports, and studies with insufficient approach-specific data. The primary outcome was the postoperative infection rate, with surgical approach as the predictor. Covariates such as age, sex, diabetes, and smoking status were included when reported. Data were analyzed using R software, employing random-effects models due to anticipated heterogeneity (I2 statistics). RESULTS: From 61 studies, 11 provided direct comparisons involving 1,317 patients-937 intraoral and 380 extraoral. Infection rates were 5.9% for intraoral and 10% for extraoral approaches. Pooled relative risk was 0.94 [95% confidence interval, 0.63, 1.39], suggesting no significant risk difference. Prevalence of infections was estimated at 9% for intraoral and 6.1% for extraoral procedures, with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 84% for intraoral and 56% for extraoral). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis found no significant difference in infection rates between the two approaches. There is opportunity to expand on reporting complication rates comparing the various approaches to mandibular fixation. Until these data are presented, surgeon preference may dictate the operative approach to expose the mandible for reduction and fixation.

Non-Surgical Site-Related Complications in Mandibular Fracture Surgery - A Problem of Elderly Patients?

BACKGROUND: Scientific evidence of nonsurgical site-related complications in mandibular fracture patients is limited. PURPOSE: The purpose was to measure the frequency of nonsurgical site complications in patients with mandible fractures, describe the types of complications, and identify the risk factors associated with these complications. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Helsinki University hospital between 2018 and 2021. Patients undergoing surgery with open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular fracture(s) were evaluated. Patients under 16 years of age were excluded. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: Primary predictor variable was age. Patient-related predictor variables were sex, long-term disease(s), smoking, and alcohol and/or drug abuse. Injury and fracture-related variables were injury mechanism, type and site of facture, combined craniofacial fracture(s), and associated injury(s). MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE(S): The primary outcome variable was nonsurgical site-related postoperative complication. The secondary outcome variable was type of complication. COVARIATES: Not applicable. ANALYSES: The main outcome variable was cross tabulated for pairwise comparisons with predictor variables. Multivariate logistic regression was performed for statistically significant (P < .05) variables. RESULTS: The data included 314 patients (age range: 16 to 89 years; mean age: 38 years old; median age: 33 years old); most (78.3%) were men. Nonsurgical site-related postoperative complications occurred in 6.7% of patients. The most common complication type was pulmonary complication (36.0%), followed by urinary complication (20.0%) and general infection (16.0%). Nonsurgical site-related postoperative complications were most likely to occur in patients who were elderly (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.55; 95% CI 1.92 to 16.21; P = .002), had combined craniofacial fractures (aOR 2.92; 95% CI 1.06 to 8.03; P = .038), and abused alcohol or drugs (aOR 4.51; 95% CI 1.70 to 11.96; P = .003). Pulmonary complications occurred more often in elderly patients, whereas urinary complications were more common in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The types of nonsurgical site complications in mandibular fracture patients increase and vary according to the patient's age. Awareness of possible complications related to different age groups helps anticipate and identify these in clinical work, and to consider the overall treatment of the patient beyond the fracture.

Digitally driven surgical guide planning.

To investigate the role of a fully digital process in the surgical treatment of mandibular fractures in children. We analyzed a complete dataset from 22 children with mandibular fractures treated with digital surgical assistance. The patient's treatment process included preoperative thin layer CT (Computed Tomography) scanning, computer-aided design (3D reconstruction, virtual reduction, and internal fixation device determination and shaping), and 3D printing (jaw model, bite plate). We used occlusal and shaping plates during surgery to assist in fracture reduction and fixation. During the follow-up, we observed the occurrence of fracture healing, occlusal relationships, opening degrees, and complications in pediatric patients after surgery. Next, we used the 3D overlay function of MIMICS software to compare the preoperative surgical design with postoperative jaw imaging data to evaluate the overall surgical effect. The postoperative imaging data showed good fracture healing, normal occlusion during follow-up, and significant improvement in opening degrees. The mean preoperative opening degree was 23.59 ± 2.89 mm, and the mean postoperative opening degree was 29.82 ± 1.79 mm; there was a significant difference between these two parameters (p < 0.05). There were no complications such as tooth germ injury, nerve injury or fracture block displacement. The postoperative mandibular imaging data was imported into MIMICS software for 3D overlay visualization, and the postoperative mandibular morphology recovery was well-matched with the preoperative design. We measured the average upper deviation (0.65 ± 0.09) mm and the average lower deviation (-0.57 ± 0.14) mm. The fully digital process has a precise, minimally invasive, and safe effect in the surgical treatment of mandibular fractures in children, and the clinical effect is satisfactory.

A Novel Method to Fix Paediatric Mandibular Fracture using 2-0 Polyglactin Suture: A Technical Note.

BACKGROUND: Reduction and stabilisation of fractures at the earliest is valuable in the paediatric age groups. This novel technique focuses on stabilisation of the fracture fragments using vicryl, which has an added advantage to conventional plating and wiring. This study aimed on a novel cost-effective technique of stabilising the paediatric mandibular fracture using 2-0 resorbable polyglactin 910 suture with minimal trauma to tooth buds and bone and adequate stability. TECHNIQUE: After raising a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap, the fracture segments are identified and reduced. 1.6mm drill bit is used to make holes through the buccal cortex on either side of the fractured segment in an anteroposterior direction. The patency of holes is checked by passing a long 26-gauge wire. The proximal end of the wire is bent into a loop, a 2-0 resorbable polyglactin suture (vicryl) is passed through this loop and the loop is pressed in place to lock the suture. The wire with the attached suture is pulled through the distal end. Once the suture is secure in place, the 26G wire is cut, and the two ends of sutures are knotted and stabilised. The mucoperiosteal flap is then closed. CONCLUSION: A novel method of stabilisation of paediatric fracture without hampering the tooth and jaw growth, especially in the financially unstable population. 2-0 polyglactin 910 suture is cost-effective, $2 US, compared to resorbable plates costing about $150 US, and easily available. Polyglactin 910 takes 40-60 days for resorption, and half-life tensile strength is 2 weeks; thus, it gives adequate stability and time for callus formation and does not damage the tooth buds or bone by cutting through them.

The profile of patients with maxillofacial trauma due to interpersonal violence treated in a hospital emergency room.

AIM: This study evaluated records of patients with maxillofacial trauma due to interpersonal violence (IPV) being treated in the emergency room of a level I trauma center hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data of patients with maxillofacial trauma due to IPV recorded between January 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively examined. Personal data, days on which they experienced IPV, and the type of maxillofacial trauma sustained were extracted and statistically analyzed (p < .050). RESULTS: During the analysis, 1034 patients with maxillofacial trauma were identified; of these patients, 292 (28.2%) who experienced trauma due to IPV were included in this study. There was a mean age of 32.6 years and the most common type of trauma was soft tissue injuries (38.7%). Mandible and nose fractures were more prevalent in males and females, respectively. Our data, when compared with other studies on maxillofacial trauma due to IPV, showed a lower prevalence and male-to-female ratio, and a higher presence of dentoalveolar trauma. Additionally, our data when compared with studies on maxillofacial trauma due to other causes showed lower mean age and male-to-female ratios, and a higher occurrence of nose fractures differing from the predominance of mandibular fractures. CONCLUSION: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must be able to suspect and identify cases due to IPV among their patients with trauma. With our results, although each case has its individuality, we can suggest that cases of maxillofacial trauma in young, female, and nasal fracture patients may be suspicious for IPV.

The Effect of Duration of Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Infections Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Mandibular Fractures: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.

AIM: To evaluate the benefits of a long-term prophylactic antibiotic regimen following treatment of fractured mandibles with open reduction and internal fixation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was undertaken at Wits Oral Health Centre. Patients with mandibular fractures who were managed with open reduction and internal fixation using miniplates were randomized into 2 groups. The control group, the perioperative antibiotic (POA) group, was composed of patients who received intravenous (IV) antibiotic cover intraoperatively and a further 3 IV doses 24 hours postoperatively. The study group, the extended postoperative antibiotic (EPOA), was composed of patients who received similar doses as the control group but with an additional 5 days of oral antibiotics upon discharge. The patients were then evaluated for evidence of infection 1, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients were included in the study, 41 in the POA and 36 in the EPOA groups. Fourteen patients had evidence of infection noted within the 6-week follow-up period (10 in the POA and 4 in the EPOA groups). Statistical analysis with the Pearson Chi-square and Student t test showed no statistically significant difference ( P =0.399) between POA and EPOA groups. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to site and etiology of fracture, duration of operation, and presence of infection ( P >0.05) during the 6-week review period. CONCLUSIONS: The extended use of antibiotic prophylaxis when managing mandibular fractures with open reduction and internal fixation offers no additional benefit in reducing postoperative infections.

Analysis of Surgical Complications in Mandibular Fractures in the Center of Italy: A Retrospective Study.

Mandibular fractures are the second most common maxillofacial fractures. The prevalent treatment for this kind of fractures is either a surgical procedure such as maxillomandibular fixation or open reduction and internal fixation or a combination of both. Sometimes the patients might develop locoregional postoperative complications. The most frequently reported complications are trigeminal V3 injury and surgical site infection. A 4-year retrospective study was performed at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I of Rome, Italy, and the postoperative complications after mandibular fracture surgical treatment were collected. The authors studied the characteristics of each complication and the correlation with the type of mandibular fracture and the surgical treatment chosen.

Food Desert Residence Is Not Associated With Dietary Adherence or Complication Rates in Patients With Isolated Mandibular Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Mandible fracture management requires postoperative dietary modifications to promote healing. Over 20 million Americans live in food deserts, low-income neighborhoods over one mile from a grocery store. The relationship between food desert residence (FDR) and adherence to postoperative dietary instructions remains unexplored. PURPOSE: This study's purpose is to evaluate the relationships between FDR, known risk factors, dietary adherence, and complications among patients with isolated mandible fractures. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a level 1 trauma center and analyzed patients with mandible fractures between January 2015 and December 2020. Inclusion criteria included operative treatment of adult patients for mandible fractures; pregnant, incarcerated, and patients with incomplete data were excluded. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: FDR was the predictor variable of interest. FDR (coded yes or no) was generated by converting patient addresses to census tract GeoIDs and comparing them to the US Department of Agriculture Food Access Research Atlas. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: The study examined two outcome variables: dietary adherence and postoperative complications. Dietary adherence was coded as adherent or nonadherent, indicating documented compliance with postoperative dietary modifications. Postoperative complications were coded as present or absent, reflecting infection, hardware failure, and mandible malunion or nonunion. COVARIATES: The covariates analyzed included age, sex, ethnicity, mechanism of injury, medical and psychiatric comorbidities (including diagnoses such as diabetes, hypertension, and schizophrenia), and tobacco use. ANALYSES: Relative risks (RRs) and multivariate logistic regression models were generated for both outcome variables. Two-tailed P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: During the study period, 143 patients had complete data allowing for FDR and dietary adherence determination, 124 of whom (86.7%) had complication data recorded. Of the cohort, 51/143 (35.7%) resided within a food desert, 30/143 (21.0%) exhibited dietary nonadherence, and 46/124 (37.1%) experienced complications. FDR was not associated with increased risk of dietary nonadherence (RR 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52 to 1.61, P = .76) or complications (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.89; P = .46). On multivariate regression, dietary nonadherence was associated with increased complications (odds ratio 2.85, 95% CI 1.01 to 8.09, P = .049). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: There was no association between FDR and dietary nonadherence or complications in mandible fracture patients. However, dietary nonadherence was associated with complications, highlighting the need for further research and intervention.

Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Severe Sequela of Open Mandibular Fracture and Delay in Treatment.

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is a rare condition in the United States, with very few cases reported as a sequela of mandibular fracture. The authors describe the case of a 40-year-old man with poor oral health and no significant past medical history who developed CNF following delayed treatment of an open mandibular fracture, leading to life-threatening septic shock, thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, and septic emboli to the lungs. Successful management of this patient was accomplished by serial surgical debridement, the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and hemodynamic support. Eventual reconstruction was performed with external fixation of the mandible fracture and split-thickness skin grafting for the left neck and chest wound. The authors recommend early treatment of open mandibular fractures for immunocompromised patients or patients with poor oral hygiene to avoid the rare but potentially fatal complication of CNF and highlight external fixation as a useful technique in select cases of complex mandibular fractures.

A Temporary Intraoperative Fixation Method for the Absorbable Plates Fixation of Condylar Fracture by Retromandibular Transparotid Approach.

The authors describe a temporary intraoperative fixation method for the absorbable plates' fixation of subcondylar fracture by retromandibular transparotid approach. First, the fracture was temporarily fixed with a 4-hole titanium microplate across the fracture line in the center of the lateral surface of the condyle to maintain the reduction of the fracture. Then, two 4-hole absorbable mini-plates were fixed on the posterior and anterior border of the condylar neck. Finally, the 4-hole titanium microplate and screws were removed before the wound closure. In the absorbable plates' fixation of subcondylar fracture by transparotid approach, the method of temporary intraoperative fixation using a 4-hole titanium microplate offsets the limited exposure of the operative field, smooths the operation, and offers the reliability and validity of the absorbable plates' fixation.

Can a Point-of-Care 3D Printing Workflow Produce Accurate and Successful Results for Craniomaxillofacial Trauma?

BACKGROUND: Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is having a profound impact on craniomaxillofacial surgery, and point-of-care (POC) solutions for repairing facial trauma are starting to emerge. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the success and accuracy of a POC 3D printing workflow for craniomaxillofacial trauma. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to analyze subjects presenting to a level 1 trauma center after sustaining facial trauma and were then treated using the POC 3D printing workflow. Subjects were excluded if they were not treated with the POC 3D printing workflow, were lost to follow-up, or if clinical data were incomplete. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: Predictor variables included the cause of trauma (mechanism), location of the mandibular fracture, type of fracture, mandibular severity score, and repair error (ie, root mean square error (RMSE) value for planned vs actual outcome). MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE(S): The primary outcome variables were case success and case error. Success was defined as clinical and radiographic evidence of bony stability at 3 months. Case accuracy was calculated overlaying preoperative plan data to postoperative data generating a numerical value (RMSE value, mm). COVARIATES: Covariates included age (years), gender (male/female), surgery time (mins), and CAD/CAM time (preoperative). ANALYSES: Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable. Dependence between rates or counts was established using the Wilcoxon rank sum or Fisher's exact test. Linear regression model was computed to discern how predictor variables influence RMSE. A P value < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The sample included 27 subjects (19 male/8 female). The average age of all subjects was 46.4 ± 18.0 years. Common mechanisms of injury were assault (33%) and self-inflicted gunshots (SIGSW; 30%), and the average severity score for mandible injury was (13.5 ± 3.3). Ninety-three percent of cases were deemed successful. The average repair accuracy (RMSE value) was 3.4 ± 1.8 mm. A linear regression model indicated those injured by a fall (ß-coefficient 1.99; P = .010), motor vehicle collision (ß-coefficient 1.49; P = .043), or SIGSW (ß-coefficient 2.82; P < .001) correlated with RMSE. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: In-house CAD/CAM technologies can be utilized at the POC to repair complex facial trauma accurately and successfully.

Mandibular angle fractures: a demographic review, with particular reference to post-operative complications.

BACKGROUND: Mandibular angle fractures (MAF) have a recognized complexity of treatment and an increased risk of incurring complications. METHODS: This retrospective study included 45 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with an isolated MAF and no other facial fractures. The average age was 27.3 (SD = 7.7). RESULTS: A comparatively low rate of complications (11.1%) and a low rate of reoperation (1.8%) are reported, along with a significant role of smoking in complications (p = 0.022). A non-significant association was noted between complications, male gender and assault as an aetiological factor. CONCLUSIONS: Review of the data from this study confirms that complication rates for patients attending the National Maxillofacial Unit are similar to or better than that of international studies. An overview of the aetiology of fracture complications is included.

Presumed concurrent medial coronoid process fracture is a frequent radiographic finding in dogs and cats with humeral condylar fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To report the prevalence of presumed concurrent medial coronoid process fractures in a series of cases of humeral condylar fractures and evaluate factors influencing the presence of a suspected fracture of the medial coronoid process. ANIMALS: 48 dogs and 7 cats, with a total of 57 humeral fractures. METHODS: Medical records of dogs and cats diagnosed with a humeral condylar fracture with radiographs were reviewed between October 2013 and March 2022. Species, sex, neutered status, age, weight, and the nature of the trauma were noted. Radiographs were assessed for the configuration of humeral condylar fracture, the presence of a suspected fractured medial coronoid process (MCP), number of MCP fragments, nature of fracture, degree of radioulnar incongruity, soft tissue swelling, and elbow luxation/subluxation. RESULTS: A presumed fracture of the MCP was seen in 26 of 57 cases. Comminution of the condylar fracture was the only parameter that had a positive effect on the presence of a possible fractured MCP. Body weight was significantly associated with size of the suspected fractured MCP. The presence of this fracture was not associated with the type of humeral condylar fracture. The size of the presumed fractured MCP fragment was positively correlated with body weight. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There was a high prevalence of presumed fractured MCPs in dogs with humeral condylar fractures (almost 50%) and even more so in animals with comminuted fractures. The consequences of suspected fractured MCP associated with humeral condylar fractures and whether dogs and cats would benefit from removal of the fragment remain unknown.

The "low preauricular" transmasseteric anteroparotid (TMAP) technique as a standard way to treat extracapsular condylar fractures.

Condylar fracture treatment is a debated topic among maxillofacial surgeons. Various surgical techniques are used today, each one with advantages and disadvantages. The aim of this study is to present and evaluate our technique adopted for treatment of any type of extracapsular condylar fractures. Between 2020 and 2022, 16 condylar fractures were treated. In two patients with bilateral condylar fractures, the present technique was compared to the mini-retromandibular approach. All the patients were checked for clinical and radiological outcomes, facial nerve injury, scar visibility and presence of salivary complications. Dental occlusion was always restored, and facial nerve damage or salivary disorders were not observed. The skin incision, limited to the caudal two-thirds of the auricle, made the scar almost invisible and greatly improved the surgical field in the condylar neck area, facilitating the treatment. The proposed technique provides easier internal fixation for both neck and base condylar fractures with good cosmetic results, ensuring better protection of the facial nerve and parotid gland. The surgical technique described has not shown disadvantages in terms of operational difficulty, results, and complications. This novel surgical technique could represent a new choice in the treatment of extracapsular condylar fractures, although further studies are needed to support this new proposal.

How good is good enough? Lessons learned from review of outcomes of 50 patients following extraoral open reduction and internal fixation of condylar neck and base fractures at a regional major trauma centre.

The management of mandibular fractures is routine owing to their frequency, particularly those of the mandibular condyle, which are invariably common. Notwithstanding disparities in the literature, the international consensus towards which fractures of the mandibular condyle benefit from open surgical intervention is almost universally accepted. Closed reduction or non-operative management may be utilised in certain circumstances. Whilst outcome research has addressed complications with respect to operative side effects, outcomes related to the quality of bone repair and the setting in which this is delivered have not been universally addressed. The aim of this study was to determine the predictability of translating an indicated operative treatment plan into an acceptable functional result. We evaluated the outcomes of 59 extracapsular condylar fractures in 50 patients who were treated by extraoral open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) between March 2021 and August 2022. We reviewed demographic data, surgical approach, and plating strategy, and critically evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes. Whilst we found that the quality of reduction was not universally perfect, the majority were within tolerance, which we set according to the Strasbourg Osteosynthesis Research Group (SORG) definition for minimal displacement (<2 mm overlap and 10° angulation). The cohort had good functional occlusion and minimal long-term postoperative complications. Two patients required re-operation for non-union, and we discuss causality in these cases. In conclusion, we found that ORIF of condylar neck and base fractures is predictable in real-time surgical practice with respect to functional outcome. However, if imperfectly reduced, there is a small risk of non-union.