title: Follow-up of condylar fractures of the mandible in 8 patients at 18 months after transoral endoscopic-assisted open treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The results of endoscopic-assisted transoral approach for open reduction and miniplate fixation of condylar mandible fractures were evaluated 18 months after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The transoral endoscopic-assisted treatment of condylar fractures was performed in 8 consecutive patients from April 1998 to December 1999 at the University Hospital Freiburg. Four of 8 condylar fractures were dislocated, and 6 of the 8 patients had additional mandibular fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anatomic reduction was achieved in all patients without facial nerve damage. There were no signs of bony resorption and good temporomandibular joint function 18 months after surgery. In 4 patients, the transoral management of condylar fractures was facilitated by angulated drills and screw drivers. Transbuccal stab incisions were not needed in these 4 patients. In all 8 patients, visible scars were avoided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endoscopic-assisted transoral approach proved to be a reliable surgical method for condylar fractures when dislocation with lateral override was present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany. schoen@zmk2.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schön
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schramm
authors.forename: Nils-Claudius
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gellrich
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmelzeisen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000145:classification; D001863:Bone Screws; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008904:Miniaturization; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome