title: Treatment of condylar fractures with an intraoral approach using an angulated screwdriver: results of a multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This multicentre study aimed to investigate long-term radiographic and functional results following the treatment of condylar fractures using an angulated screwdriver system and open rigid internal fixation with an intraoral surgical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients with a total of 32 condylar fractures were evaluated. The patients were investigated prospectively based on the following variables: age, sex, aetiology, side, location and classification of the fracture, degree of displacement, associated fractures, surgical approach, oral health status, type of osteosynthesis plate, duration of surgery, mouth-opening, complications, and duration of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fractures were classified as subcondylar (n = 25) or condylar neck (n = 7). Mean patient age was 36.38 ± 16.60 years. The median duration of postoperative follow-up was 24.39 ± 13.94 months. No joint noise, weakness of the facial nerve, joint pain, or muscle pain was observed. An additional retromandibular approach was necessary to enable the treatment of one subcondylar fracture with medial displacement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subcondylar or condylar neck fractures with medial or lateral displacement can be treated using an intraoral approach with satisfactory results with the advantages of the absence of visible scarring, the avoidance of facial nerve injury, and the ability to obtain rapid access to the fracture.
authors.affiliation: University of Pernambuco - School of Dentistry (FOP/UPE), Camaragibe, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: avajgel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vajgel
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry (FORP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago de Santana
authors.initials: Tde S
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: University of Pernambuco - School of Dentistry (FOP/UPE), Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor Batista
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Maurício de Nassau University, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: David Moraes
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: University of Pernambuco - School of Dentistry (FOP/UPE), Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Rodrigues
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Laureano Filho
authors.affiliation: University of Pernambuco - School of Dentistry (FOP/UPE), Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo José de Holanda
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.affiliation: Cirurgia Buco-maxilo-facial Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio Monteiro
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School of Araraquara/UNESP, Araraquara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valfrido A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Pereira Filho
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Faculty of Medicine University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Faculty of Medicine University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juergens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000145:classification; D001863:Bone Screws; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D009909:Oral Health; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Intraoral approach; Mandibular condyle; Open treatment