Radiologic Analysis of Surgically Treated Fractures of the Condylar Process by an Endoscopic-Assisted Transoral Approach

Abstract

This study analyzed the radiologic outcomes of patients with unilateral mandibular condylar fractures treated with open reduction-internal fixation (ORIF) through a transoral approach. In this retrospective study, the radiologic images of 40 patients who underwent open reduction-internal fixation through a transoral approach were presented to 2 independent examiners. All patients underwent the surgical procedure between January 2015 and December 2016 at the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery at UniversitätsSpital Zürich and were included in a previous functional outcome study.The surgical results were analyzed and graded as poor, acceptable, or good. The examiners declared whether they would have made any intraoperative revisions if the radiologic information had been available. Finally, the examiners estimated the required duration of elastic intermaxillary fixation (IMF) from the radiologic images, which was compared with the actual duration. Fracture reduction was classified as good in 33 cases (82.5%), acceptable in 5 cases, and poor in 2 cases by one examiner and as good in 32 cases (80%), acceptable in 6 cases, and poor in 2 cases by the other examiner. The inter-rater reliability was determined to be good (Cohen κ=0.92). Correct osteosynthesis placement was found in 19 cases by one examiner and in 21 cases by the other examiner, with good inter-rater reliability (κ=0.8). Moderate inter-rater reliability (κ=0.4) was found for the required duration of elastic IMF. Furthermore, the estimated elastic IMF duration matched the actual duration in fewer than half of the cases. It is feasible to achieve reliably good radiologic results when operating on condylar process fractures by a transoral approach with endoscopic assistance and angled instruments. Intraoperative 3-dimensional imaging enables instant quality control and prompts surgical revision if needed.