Usefulness of endoscopy in craniofacial trauma

To determine the extent of endoscopy utilized in craniofacial trauma, a questionnaire was mailed to 400 surgeons in the United States. A 40% response was obtained; 21.3% of the surgeons stated that they had used endoscopy to treat facial fractures; 33% of them had been in practice for 6 to 10 years, and 47% of those who had used endoscopy in craniofacial trauma were in full-time private practice. In facial fractures, endoscopes were used primarily to treat Le Fort fractures (55.9%), followed by zygomatic arch fractures (52.9%). Lack of accompanying instrumentation, such as appropriate drills, to use with the endoscope via small openings was cited as a significant problem; 46% of the respondents were unable to resolve it. Most respondents (55.6%) felt that if proper accompanying instrumentation were to be developed, endoscopes would become an integral component in the management of craniofacial trauma.