Complications in intraoral versus external approach for surgical treatment of Eagle syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective The surgical treatment of Eagle syndrome involves an intra- or extraoral approach. This systematic review set out to consolidate current knowledge on the prevalence of complications associated with intraoral and external approaches. Methods Seven main electronic and two gray literature databases were searched. Studies were blindly selected by two reviewers based on pre-defined eligibility criteria. Studies evaluating any type of complication in the treatment of Eagle syndrome were considered eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for studies reporting prevalence data, case reports, and case series. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Software version 3.0 - Biostat, Englewood, NJ, USA) was used to perform all meta-analyses. Results Out of 1728 articles found on all databases, 36 were included for qualitative analysis. Twenty were included for quantitative analysis and meta-analysis. Conclusion In this study, the highest rate of complications was found in the intraoral approach.