Purpose: This prospective study aimed to compare the intraoral placement of the pre-bent reconstruction plate with that inserted via the extraoral approach, to evaluate their impact on the three-dimensional (3D) position of the proximal segment
Patients and methods: Patients were divided into two equal groups. In group 1, the mandible was reconstructed with a pre-bent reconstruction plate via an intraoral approach. In group 2, an extraoral approach was used. The primary outcome variables were the need for intraoperative plate readjustment, the time needed for plate insertion, total operation time, difficulties encountered during surgery, and the postoperative stability of the proximal segment. Distances between corresponding anatomical landmarks on the mandibular angle and condyle as well as the intercondylar angle (ICA) and B`XC angle, were measured. The difference between the pre- and postoperative measurements was used to evaluate the reconstruction accuracy.
Results: Thirty patients were enrolled in this study. In group 1, four plates required minor readjustment. In group 2, only two cases required re-adaptation. The intraoral insertion of the pre-bent plates revealed a decrease in the linear measurements, resulting in mandibular compression. On contrary, the extraoral approach showed increase in the measurements, resulting in widening of the mandible. However, this width difference was statistically insignificant. Concerning the ICA and B`XC angle, no significant difference could be ascertained between the two groups.
Conclusion: Intraoral approach is more conservative procedure, thereby achieving the best esthetic outcomes and resulting in a more accurate 3D mandibular reconstruction.