Could titanium screws be an appropriate disc stabilization technique in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy?

Multiple techniques for disc fixation through temporomandibular joint arthroscopy have been described. They can be classified as non-rigid, semi-rigid, and rigid. They all offer different advantages and disadvantages, and some have greater difficulties than others. Currently, multiple modifications to the basic techniques have been described in order to facilitate the technique since disc fixation corresponds to one of the procedures that most require skill. However, each technique requires extensive evaluation and monitoring in order to avoid complications and find the benefits of each technique. For this reason, the objective of this letter to the editor is to discuss two situations observed in the previously described fixation technique with osteosynthesis screws. The first issue is the fixation mechanism, and the second is the fixation time. This is in order to continue searching for the truth among all to achieve the best results and the benefit of patients.

Comparison of the TMJ arthroscopy discopexy techniques: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This article aims to analyze which of the main arthroscopic discopexy techniques has the best results and if there are differences between the techniques for both pain and maxillary intercuspid opening. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA statement. An electronic search was performed with no publication date restriction in PubMed, Ovid and Embase. The PICO criteria: (P) Patients: With temporomandibular internal disorders with discopexy indication. (I) Intervention: Temporomandibular joint arthroscopic discopexy. (C) Comparison: Arthroscopic discopexy among different techniques classified as non-rigid, semi-rigid and rigid. (O) Outcomes: Impact in clinical conditions such as pain and maximum mouth opening. The inclusion criteria were Patients with temporomandibular internal disorders with discopexy indication performed with different techniques classified as non-rigid, semi-rigid and rigid. The outcomes evaluated were pain and maximum mouth opening. Case series, cohort studies, quasi-experimental studies, and randomized clinical trials with at least 3 months of follow-up were included. The exclusion criteria considered were patients with related concomitant surgeries, patients with associated neoplastic disease or connective tissue disease. A total of 1515 joints where 1400 discopexies were performed including 849 females and 204 males. The most common diagnostic was Wilkes stage III in 257 joints. For pain and oral opening, the semi-rigid technique shows the best results median (MD) 4.84 (CI 2.52-7.16; p = 0.001, I2:100%), MD -2.78 (CI -4.34, -1.21; p = 0.001, I2:99%), respectively. The rigid technique has the greatest probability for complications MD 0.14 CI 95% (0.00, -0.28). Although the semi-rigid technique showed better results, there is no statistically significant difference. However, due to the heterogeneity of the studies, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Comparison of the Clinical Effectiveness of Intra-Articular Injection with Different Substances After TMJ Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This systematic review aims to describe the clinical outcomes after TMJ arthroscopy followed by intra articular infiltration with different substances. Materials and Methods: A literature search was carried out, the variables were Arthroscopy with different substances, pain and maximal mouth opening. The inclusion criteria were articles that reported infiltration of different substances after arthroscopy. Case series, observational studies, and randomized clinical trials were included. Exclusion criteria were studies that included arthrocentesis, animal studies, connective tissue disease, patients with previous surgeries. Results: Of the 5 studies finally included, the population studied were 346 subjects, of which 315 were female. The mean age was 34.7 (16-77). Regarding diagnoses, Wilkes III and Wilkes IV were taken into account. The most commonly used substance was sodium hyaluronate/hyaluronic acid in 4 of the 5 studies. Conclusion: Multiple substances have been infiltrated within the temporomandibular joint, with sodium hyaluronate/hyaluronic acid being the most studied. However, the benefit of substances like ATM artroscopia adyuvantes has not been clearly established. It is recommended in future studies that the substances and results be evaluated in the same way to obtain more homogeneous studies.

Needle Therapy: A Minimally Invasive Therapeutic Concept as Part of Temporomandibular Single-Portal Arthroscopy.

The transition from a single portal to a double portal can be complex, necessitating time and training to minimize complications that rely on the operator's skill. Needle therapy is a simple method for treating symptoms that has several benefits. Consequently, this innovative strategy aims to introduce an intermediate technique that enables surgeons to perform therapeutic procedures during single-port arthroscopy.

A New Technique for Arthroscopic Discectomy of the Temporomandibular Joint Disc Perforation: A Technical Note.

Disc perforation represents the result of the degenerative process in joint structures that may lead to pain, joint noise, restricted mouth opening, osteoarthritis, and even dentofacial anomalies. Even though discectomy has proven benefits, with promising outcomes reported, it is mainly described using an open approach. While some arthroscopic techniques have been published, they are limited to managing perforation, edge widening, and inflammation treatment and do not describe complete disc removal. We describe a novel step-by-step arthroscopic discectomy technique utilizing two operative cannulas that completely remove nonfunctional cartilaginous tissue.

Diagnosis and management of temporomandibular joint synovial chondromatosis: A systematic review.

The aim of this study was to systematically review the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular joint synovial chondromatosis (TMJ-SC). Using a systematic study design based on the PRISMA guideline, the researchers implemented and analyzed a cohort of relevant publications indexed by PubMed, Embase, Medline, and LILACS between January 1990 and December 2022. The outcomes of interest were demographics of the primary studies, and Clinical, radiological, and therapeutic data associated with TMJ-SC. The study samples included 8 studies presenting 121 TMJ-SC cases (73.6% female; 100% unilateral; 53.7% left-sided; mean age, 43.3 ± SD 5,80 [range, 21-81]. Non-specific symptoms were mostly reported, including TMJ pain, noise and local inflammation, and/or malocclusion. Radiographically, loose bodies, masses with low-signal foci, and calcification were common charateristics. Until now, there has been no internationally accepted consensus on diagnosis and management of TMJ-SC. Arthroscopic surgery should be performed on masses confined to the superior TMJ space, while open arthroplasty is indicated in cases with the extra-articular extension. A combination of both treatment methods may be necessary, when the lesion locates extending beyond the medial groove of the condyle.

External Jugular Thrombosis: A Previously Unreported Complication of Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy.

Temporomandibular joint intra-articular disorders are commonly managed using arthroscopic-assisted procedures. Arthroscopic procedures are minimally invasive, generally successful, and report a low frequency of complications. Vascular complications are particularly uncommon. This case report summarizes the diagnosis and management of jugular vein thrombosis following temporomandibular joint arthroscopy.

Correlation Between Demographic Variables and Complications in Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis.

PURPOSE: This retrospective cross-sectional, observational study aims to determine the correlation between demographic variables and nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The inclusion criteria were nonsyndromic craniosynostosis and the exclusion criteria were patients who did not have complete records. RESULTS: The sample included 49 patients and mainly women. Patients with more than 4 days in the intensive care unit were related with more complications. Intracranial Hypertension was seen predominantly in patients between 6 and 8 months P =0007. CONCLUSION: Some variables can modificate complications risk but future studies are needed to further investigate the influence of such variables on craniofacial care.

Intraoperative complications in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy: A retrospective observational analysis of 899 arthroscopies.

This study aims to describe intraoperative complications in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy in patients with Wilkes stage II, III y IV. An analytic observational retrospective study. Inclusion criteria were patients who had no improvement with conservative treatment diagnosed as Wilkes II stage to Wilkes stage IV, and no previous TMJ surgery. Exclusion criteria were disc perforation observed by arthroscopy. Data collected from 458 patients (899 arthroscopies). Of this population, 772 (85.8%) arthroscopies correspond to women, and 127 men (14.1%). Of the sample evaluated, 368 (40.9%) were arthroscopic without discopexy, and 531 (59%) were arthroscopic with discopexy using resorbable pins. In total, 330 complications (36.7%) were found, of which 293 (32.5%) were implicated with iatrogenic damage to the anatomy, and 36 (4%) were associated with some instrument failure. Of this total number of complications, 191 (51.9%) of 386 corresponded to the arthroscopy without discopexy group and 138 (25.9%) of 531 corresponded to the arthroscopy with discopexy group. These study data suggest that the main complications were irrigation fluid extravasation (p = 0.000), and intra-articular bleeding (p = 0.001) followed by pin problems (p = 0.001) in cases of arthroscopies with discopexy. Within the limitations of the study it seems that the learning curve has an important influence on the occurrence of complications. At the beginning of the learning curve, complications are more related to anatomy. Afterwards, the rate of complications decreases but they are more related to the instruments used in advanced techniques. Therefore, proper training and a wide learning curve can reduce the risk of complications and if any occur, more timely management could be given.

Clinical outcomes of operative arthroscopy and temporomandibular medical infiltration with platelet-rich fibrin in upper and lower articular space.

This study aims to describe the short-term therapeutic results of patients treated with operative arthroscopy and medical infiltration with platelet-rich fibrin in upper and lower articular space. The study design is descriptive observational with retrospective case series of patients with Wilkes II and III. These patients were managed with operative arthroscopy viscosupplementation with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and were followed up for up to 8 months to evaluate their response to treatment. 17 patients were included in the study. In the pre-surgical assessment (T1) mean VAS was 7.1 and MID was 22.2 mm. Eight months later (T4) a relevant improvement in both mentioned variables MID 38.2 ± 4.1 and VAS 1.1 ± 0.2 was observed. Regarding the reduction of pain, a significant improvement in symptoms were found, this being 84.6% ± 3.5% and in mandibular mobility satisfactory results were also obtained, improving in 41.7% ± 20.9%. Within the limitations of the study temporomandibular joint arthroscopy and medical infiltration platelet-rich fibrin viscosupplementation is a procedure of limited invasiveness that shows promising results.

Technological Integration of Virtual Surgical Planning, Surgical Navigation, Endoscopic Support and Patient-Specific Implant in Orbital Trauma.

Currently, we have different technologies and techniques that improve the results in orbital trauma. However, there are few studies that study the technological integration in orbital trauma and the synergism of all the techniques. For this reason, the objective of this case is to illustrate the management of orbital trauma by integrating endoscopic support, virtual surgical navigation, patient-specific implant, virtual surgical planning in the management of a sequel due to insufficient reconstruction of orbital volume.

Virtual Navigation Endoscopically Integrated Into Orbital Trauma.

ABSTRACT: Orbital reconstruction has traditionally been accomplished utilizing different techniques developed for this purpose and has been modified and improved throughout the years. However, there is a high rate of complications associated with eye globe positioning and/or migration of implants, which has created the need to continue to improve these techniques to decrease the frequency of complications. On the other hand, techniques that involve an endoscopic approach and technologies that use virtual surgical planning and three-dimensional model impressions are being used more often to decrease complication rates and seek better surgical outcomes. Combining these 2 methods results in endoscopically integrated virtual surgical navigation. When used for orbital reconstruction, it can be a great alternative and can be useful to decrease the risk of complications associated with this procedure. Therefore, this technical note aims to describe the integration of these 2 techniques into the same instrument to demonstrate the synergy of their benefits when used together.

Correlation between MRI-diagnosed joint effusion and demographic, clinical, imaging, and arthroscopic findings of the temporomandibular joint.

Our study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in cases of joint effusion and documented its relationship with clinical and arthroscopic findings. A cross-sectional study was carried out, using the following selection criteria: clinical, radiological, and MRI-based diagnosis of joint pathology; joint pain; and indication for minimally invasive management with arthroscopy. Arthroscopic analysis, included synovitis, adhesions, chondromalacia, and disc perforations. These variables were recorded and compared with MRI findings of effusion. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. In total, 44 temporomandibular joints were studied, of which 38 corresponded to women; 21 cases were diagnosed as Wilkes IV-V, with effusion found in all of them. The presence of effusion was significantly related to synovitis (p = 0.031) and adherences (p = 0.042). Pain was significantly related to the presence of effusion (p = 0.002), Wilkes advanced stages (p = 0.006), synovitis (p = 0.031), and adherences (p = 0.004). Regarding maximum mouth opening, there was no significant correlation with the variables studied, aside from gender and Wilkes classification. There was a significant correlation between the presence of joint effusion detected by MRI and clinical and arthroscopic findings. This suggests that effusion diagnosed by magnetic resonance has a significant value. Therefore, an adequate presurgical examination should be considered before submitting the patient to an invasive diagnostic procedure.

Endoscopic Approach for Insertion of Custom-Designed Facial Implants.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this article is to describe the combination of virtual planning used to produce a custom-made facial implant, along with the minimally invasive endoscopic approach used to place it, for the reconstruction of the frontal bone. This management reduces the sequelae that occur with the traditional incisions while restoring the proper contour of facial surfaces at the same time.

Postoperative Safety and Satisfaction in Patients With Microtia.

PURPOSE: The reconstructive approach for microtia should employ a surgical technique that reconstructs the atrial anatomy; therefore, multiple surgical techniques have been described, and these have undergone variations due to adaptation by different authors. This study aims to assess the postoperative safety and satisfaction of patients with microtia undergoing surgery with the ear reconstruction technique. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in patients undergoing ear reconstruction with costochondral grafts. The patients were treated in the craniomaxillofacial surgery services of hospitals in Mexico and Colombia from 2008 to 2018. All medical records from the entire study population were included, including complete photographic records and informed consents. A descriptive analysis was performed to characterize the clinical variables and complications. Bivariate analysis was performed using Fisher's exact χ2 test to explore the relationship between clinical and demographic variables with respect to complications. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients were followed for a period of 12 to 16 months. Only 10% of the sample presented some type of complication. A common complication was dehiscence of the atrial area (23 patients), as well as poor anatomical reproduction (7 patients) due to the collapse of the drainage tubes in the first postoperative phase. No connection was found between the presence of complications and side or type, and no congenital anomalies were found to be associated with microtia (P > .05). The helix and the antihelix were the anatomical areas with greater satisfaction scores. CONCLUSIONS: Costochondral cartilage is the gold standard reconstruction technique; the results of this study suggest a low complication rate and high scores of satisfaction after reconstruction. However, the technique requires constant adaptation to obtain better satisfaction results.

Endoscopic Support and Virtual Surgical Planning as an Alternative to Repair Orbital Wall Fractures.

The reconstruction of the orbit has been carried out throughout history using different techniques. However, the persistence of high rates of complications mainly associated with the position of the eyeball and the migration of reconstruction implants have generated the need and importance of continuing to study new techniques, including with the help of technology. Virtual planning combined with endoscopic access and 3D models could decrease the number of complications associated with the aforementioned problems. For this, the aim of this observational retrospective study is to show the authors' experience of 19 cases in different orbital fractures using endoscopic support and virtual planning as great alternative in orbital reconstruction.