Results
Only in 4 cases was it necessary to position an inter-maxillary blockage for seven days because of the contemporary presence of contralateral intracapsular condylar fracture treated with REF. Five patients requested an additional procedure with a pre-auricular cutaneous approach as described in the original technique proposed by. Out of the total number of patients, 28 reached an optimal result without the need for temporary immobilization of the temporal mandibular joint and pre-auricular cutaneous access, thanks to the decisive aid of the video-endoscope. Out of a total of 32 patients, 4 out of 5 who presented complications did not satisfactorily resolve their problem and of these, 2 underwent new operations to resolve their fractures. The main problems experienced by these 5 patients arose from an inadequate repositioning of the fractured piece with lateral/controlateral movements which were much reduced compared to normal. Nonetheless, the opening of the mouth was satisfactory and the patients' subjective symptoms did not include pain but only the sensation of a functional impediment in lateral movements; on opening the mouth was a persistent degree of both lateral and protrusive deviation.