Novel Endoscopic-Assisted Long Plate Approach for Mandibular Condylar Fracture Reconstruction-A Preliminary Study

Mandibular condylar fractures can lead to facial asymmetry, malocclusion, and temporomandibular joint instability. To minimize the risk of these issues, endoscopic-assisted reduction techniques were developed. Nevertheless, the confined working space inherent in endoscopic procedures poses challenges, especially in cases with unstable fracture sites, movable plates, and screws. To solve this dilemma, we developed a novel surgical technique using long plate for condylar fracture fixation. "Long Plate Technique" involves a long plate being stabilized via the submandibular incision site, with screws inserted through the trocar to affix the titanium plate onto the superior condylar segment from the tragus incision site. A total of 98 patients were included in this study. The overall average operation time was 365 min. Specifically, the average operation time for the group treated with closed reduction and intermaxillary fixation was 250 min, for Group B cases treated with short plate open reduction and intermaxillary fixation was 429 min, and for Group C treated with long plate open reduction and intermaxillary fixation was 413 min. The utilization of the Long Plate Technique provides a secure and efficient operation technique that can lessen the stress on surgeons during the operation.