A transparotid transcutaneous approach for internal rigid fixation in condylar fractures.

Closed versus open reduction in condyle fractures is a dilemma that may torment the plastic surgeon. Although at present it is accepted that there are fractures that must be open reduced as when the middle cranial fossa or temporal fossa are involucrated, foreign body are in the joint capsule, lateral extracapsular deviation of condylar deviation, and open fractures. Risdon or retromandibular approaches are used for the treatment of fractures in the condyle neck and superior third of the lower ramus.When both approaches are used the correct placement of screws is very difficult for the following reasons: 1. Both drill and screwdrivers must be placed in an oblique direction to the bone surface; as a result, screws do not press the plate toward the bone and therefore a deficient stabilization results; 2. A distraction of too much soft tissue entrapped between the skin and mandibular bone is necessary for a good visual to surgical field and 3. The parotid tissue, the masseter muscle, and the facial nerve must be strongly distracted facilitating the nerve injury.A transcutaneous transparotid approach is the most appropriate for screws placement. By means of transbuccal set it is possible to reach the mandibular bone going through both the parotid tissue and the masseter muscle avoiding the injury the branches of the facial nerve.A case report illustrates the practical application of the above technique and it shows that as the lesion of branches of the facial nerve can be avoided.