Does endoscopic assisted open reduction and internal fixation of condylar fractures result in lesser pain and edema than conventional retromandibular approach?

Background: endoscopic assisted open reduction and internal fixation (EAORIF) viatransoral incision was introduced as alternative to the traditional retromandibular approach with least intra, early and long term complications. The intraoperative and long term complications such facial nerve injury and facial scar respectively was proved to be less likely with EAORIF. However, the early complications in terms of edema and pain were not compared. Aim: The current study aimed to compare EAORIF versus conventional ORIF regarding early postoperative complications interms of pain and edema. Methodology: 12 patients suffering unilateral extracapsular condylar fractures were included in our study. Patients were divided in to two groups according to surgical approach used for ORIF (group 1: retromandibular approach. Group 2: EAORIF via transoral incision). Postoperatively pain and edema were evaluated through 2 weeks then compared among two groups. Results: Most patients of both groups suffered moderate edema as well as pain that relived gradually through 2 weeks without statistical significant difference between the treatment groups. Conclusion: EAORIF via transoral incision did not have an advantage over the retromandibular approach in minimizing edema or pain following open treatment of condylar fractures.