Clinical Application of Digital Joint Guide in the Fracture of the Condyle Neck

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to use a digital guide plate for joint positioning to assist the reduction of condylar neck fractures and evaluate the accuracy of the reduction after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 20 patients were selected from January 2016 to October 2020, and the reduction of the mandibular condyle neck fracture was designed virtual and digital based on the computed tomography data of the patients, based on the position of the condyle in the articular socket, the height of the ascending mandibular ramus, and the joints. The average value of the anterior space and the posterior space of the joint is these indicators, the position of the condyle is reconstructed, and the fracture reduction finger guide plate is designed. During the operation, the digital guide plate is used to assist the reduction of the condyle neck fracture. The postoperative follow-up was 4 to 12 months to check the accuracy of the reduction. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients, all fractures achieved complete bone healing, the patients' mouth opening was normal, no obvious complications were found, and none of the patients had facial paralysis. In the postoperative evaluation and preoperative virtual design plan, the chromatographic error was within 2 mm, and the magnetic resonance of the temporomandibular joint showed no displacement of the articular disc. CONCLUSION: The digital joint guide can reduce the fracture of the condyle neck while ensuring the position of the condyle in the joint socket, which is beneficial to reduce the occurrence of subsequent temporomandibular joint complications.