[Temporary sagittal mandibulotomy as an approach to the pterygopalatine fossa, the parapharyngeal space and the oropharynx].

Standard procedures for temporary mandibulotomy are medial or the lateral osteotomy. Median mandibulotomy is associated with destruction of anatomical structures in the floor of the mouth and with lateral osteotomy no preservation of the nervus alveolaris inferior is possible. Therefore, a modification of mandibulotomy is described with wide-field exposure, minimal functional defects and reduction of osteotomy-related complications. The first osteotomy is carried out vertically before the foramen mentale on the buccal compacta of the mandible. A second vertical osteotomy is placed on the lingual compacta posterior to the musculus myohyoideus. Horizontal osteotomies on the alveolar ridge and the basal ridge of the mandible are connected with the vertical osteotomies. Using a chisel, the lingual and the buccal part of the mandible are split sagittally with preservation of the nervus alveolaris inferior located in the buccal fragment of the mandible. The two parts of the mandible are divided to provide access to the oropharynx. Surgical approach to the fossa pterygopalatina and the parapharyngeal space is reached with dissection of the mucosa along the ascending mandible, subluxation in the mandibular joint and reflection of the mandible cranially and posteriorly. The wide access offers a lot of advantages especially in combination with a microvascular flap reconstruction. Fixation of the mandible is carried out with two titanium miniplates at the anterior vertical osteotomy. The wide areas of the split bone marrow, resulting from sagittal splitting, achieved an exact adaptation of the mandibular parts and an easy and sure fixation via miniplates. Therefore, post-operative radiation therapy can be started two weeks after the operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)