• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.161-168
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Surgical approaches to the condylar neck and subcondyle area can cause some morbidity such as, facial nerve injury, time-consuming nature and external scar etc. So many surgeons hesitate using open reduction and internal fixation for the treatment of subcondylar fractures. We report open reduction and internal fixation of subcondylar fractures in 13 adult patients via transmasseteric approach. Methods: From 2007 to 2009, 13 adults with subcondylar fracture of mandible were treated with open reduction and internal fixation via transmasseteric approach. A preauricular incision was extended downwards in a curvilinear fashion in the cervicomastoid skin crease. Skin flap was elevated above the SMAS layer. Masseter muscle was splitted at the anteroinferior edge of the parotid gland. After the fracture was reduced, fixed with appropriate plates and screws. All operation were performed under general anesthesia. Results: Mean follow-up period was 13.3 months. There were no signs and symptoms of facial nerve injury, difficulty in mouth opening, or malocclusion. Dissection time was roughly within 30 minutes. Conclusion: Transmasseteric open reduction and internal fixation of mandible subcondylar fracture can be performed with excellent visualization, and inconspicuous scar. It also offers swift access to the subcondylar area while substatially reducing the risk to the facial nerve and eliminating the complications associated with transparotid approaches.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 1989

The therapeutic methods and follow - up prognosis of subcondylar fractures in adults have always been sources of controversy. To improve the therepeutic results in subcondylar fractures with displacement, and especially, the bicondylar ones, the auther employ the surgical reduction using of sagittal split and oblique subcondylar osteotomy. This report is illustrated by six clinical cases.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 2001

The treatment of mandibular subcondylar fractures is a matter of controversy. The majority of mandibular subcondylar fracture are treated by closed reduction, but the displaced or dislocated mandibular subcondylar fractures may be treated by open reduction. The characteristics of open reduction are the anatomical reduction, the functional restoration, the rapid function, the maintenance of vertical ramus dimension, the better appearance and the less resultant TMJ problem etc. When an open reduction is considered, the wire, miniplate, lag screw and Kirschner wire are available with internal fixation. Of these, Kirschner wire is a simple method relatively and correct positioning of the wire achieves rigid fixation. But many open reduction methods for mandibular subcondylar fractures require extraoral approach. The extraoral approach has some problems, the facial scar and the risk of facial nerve injury. On the other hand, the intraoral approach eliminates the potency of the facial scar and the facial nerve injury, but is difficult to access the operation site. Since the intraoral approach was first described by Silverman (1925), the intraoral approach to the mandibular condyle has been developed with modifications. The purpose of this article is to describe the intraoral technique with the Kirschner wire on mandibular subcondylar fractures. Conclusion : The intraoral reduction with Kirschner wire on mandubular subcondylar fractures avoids the facial scar and facial nerve injury and is simple method to the extraoral approach. And it has minimal morbidity and better esthetics.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.735-742
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The management of fractures of mandibular subcondyle continues to be controversial between open and closed treatment. The purpose of this article is to explain the endoscopic assisted open reduction and internal fixation and minimize the controversy. Methods: Nine patients of mandibular subcondylar fracture were reduced and fixed by using intraoral endoscopic - assisted open reduction and internal fixation and were followed up for 14 ~ 24 months after surgery. Results: Eight patients of mandibular subcondylar fracture had been treated without significant complications. One patient, whose malocclusion had been remained, was recovered normal occlusion by maxillomandibular fixation using intermaxillary screws for 3 weeks. Conclusion: The advantages of endoscopic - assisted open reduction and internal fixation are direct visualization, accurate fracture repair, minimized scar, decreased morbidity. And maxillomandibular fixation is not needed when it is done by accurate reduction and rigid fixation with one miniplate in the region of subcondylar fracture. With the above consideration, endoscopic - assisted open reduction and internal fixation can be considered as one of the best treament for subcondylar fracture of the mandible.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.157-161
• /
• 2018

A sialocele is a subcutaneous cavity containing saliva, most often caused by facial trauma or iatrogenic complications. In subcondylar fractures, most surgeons are conscious of facial nerve injury; however, they usually pay little attention to the parotid duct injury. We report the case of a 41-year-old man with a sialocele, approximately $5{\times}3cm$ in size, which developed 1 week after subcondylar fracture reduction. The sialocele became progressively enlarged despite conservative management. Computed tomography showed a thin-walled cyst between the body and tail of the parotid gland. Fluid leakage outside the cyst was noted where the skin was thin. Sialography showed a cutting edge of the inferior interlobular major duct before forming the common major duct that seemed to be injured during the subcondylar fracture reduction process. We decided on prompt surgical treatment, and the sialocele was completely excised. A duct from the parotid tail, secreting salivary secretion into the cyst, was ligated. Botulinum toxin was administrated to block the salivary secretion and preventing recurrence. Treatment was successful. In addition, we found that parotid major ducts are enveloped by the deep lobe and extensive dissection during the subcondylar fracture reduction may cause parotid major duct injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.739-743
• /
• 2005

Subcondylar fractures have generally been treated by intermaxillary fixation except in cases where there is an absolute indication for open reduction. The reason behind a less aggressive surgical approach lies on the inherent difficulties in manipulating fragments in such a small area at the risk of damaging facial nerves or vessels such as the internal maxillary artery. However, long-term follow-up studies showed that conservative treatment of subcondylar fractures results in disturbances of occlusal function, deviation of the mandible, internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint, and ankylosis of the joint. We carried out open reduction of dislocated subcondylar fractures in 14 patients from 2000 to 2004 by a retromandibular approach. After the reduction of fractured bone, two H-shaped miniplates with 6 holes were fixed with screws at the anterior and posterior surfaces of the subcondyle. The retromandibular approach allowed good access and easy manipulation of the subcondyle. Immediate relief from malocclusion and correction of mandibular midline shifting were observed in all patients. Late temporomandibular dysfunction and ankylosis were not observed. Open reduction with plate osteosynthesis made it possible to avoid IMF in 7 of the 14 patients. The present study shows that open reduction through this retromandibular approach can produce good outcome in adult patients with subcondylar fracture.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.284-290
• /
• 2012

Open reduction and anatomic reduction can create better function for the temporomandibular joint, compared with closed treatment in mandible fracture surgery. Therefore, the double miniplate fixation technique via mini-retromandibular incision was used in order to make the most stable fixation when performing subcondylar fracture surgery. Those approaches provide good visualization of the subcondyle from the posterior edge of the ramus, allow the surgeon to work perpendicularly to the fracture, and enable direct fracture management. Understanding the biomechanical load in the fixation of subcondylar fractures is also necessary in order to optimize fixation methods. Therefore, we measured the biomechanical loads of four different plate fixation techniques in the experimental model regarding mandibular subcondylar fractures. It was found that the loads measured in the two-plate fixation group with one dynamic compression plate (DCP) and one adaption plate showed the highest deformation and failure loads among the four fixation groups. The loads measured in the one DCP plate fixation group showed higher deformation and failure loads than the loads measured in the two adaption plate fixation group. Therefore, we conclude that the selection of the high profile plate (DCP) is also important in order to create a stable load in the subcondylar fracture.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.644-648
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical cases of subcondylar fracture with intraoral approach. Material and Method: Fifteen patients with unilateral subcondylar fracture were treated in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University between 2006 and 2007. Each patients was examined by computed tomography(CT) and panorama. 3D-CT taken when fractured segment was displaced and comminuted. Patients was done intermaxillary fixation to occlusal stability and prevent displacement of fractured segment before general operation. Open reduction and internal fixation(ORIF) accomplished under general anesthesia and used to intraoral approach. We examinated the state of occlusion, maximum opening. Evaluation of the state of occlusion was divided in patient`s subjective evaluation that compare pre-traumatic occlusion with postoperative occlusion, and estimator`s objective evaluation that use articulating paper. Examination was done at 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6 month postoperative by follow up. Result: The ORIF through intraoral approach was good in all patients. In the state of occlusion, all patients recovered pre-traumatic occlusion in 6 month postoperation. Maximum opening was gradually increased. In 3 month postoperative, maximum opening was excessed 40mm. Conclusion: Our study indicate that the intraoral approach is a good technique for subcondylar fracture. Intraoral approach prevent complication that facial nerve damage, scar formation caused by extraoral approach. So, we recommend intraoral approach when subcondylar fracture.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.631-635
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The classic technique for open reduction of subcondylar fractures is the submandibular approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical result of retromandibular approach to displaced subcondylar fractures. Material and methods: During a period of 24months we perfomed a prospective study with a retromandibular approach in 23 patients with displaced subcondylar fractures. In this article we describe clinical result in 23 patients with follow ups for 3 months after surgery. Preoperatively all patients had malocclusion and radiology demonstrated displacement. Result: The retromandibularl approach for ORIF was good in all case. Mouth opening(M/O) was 49mm. Occlusion was good too. Permanent facial nerve palsy was not detected. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the retromandibular approach is a safe technique for subcondylar fractures.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.283-288
• /
• 2006

There are several manners for surgical approaches to the mandibular condyle. With the retromandiular approach, the condyle and fracture are exposed directly and allow for good inspection and reduction. The retromandibular scar is very well camouflaged and practically invisible. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical results of retromandibular approach for the reduction and fixation of fractured mandibular condyles. We described postoperative complications such as temporary facial nerve weakness involving the marginal mandibular branch, mouth opening limitation and malocclusion in 13 patients with mandubular condylar fractures; 11 subcondylar fractures and 2 condylar neck fractures. The follow-up period was longer than 6 months in all patients. The retromandibular approach was successful in all subcondylar fracture cases. 2 patients with condylar neck fracture had mouth opening limitation and temporary marginal nerve palsy longer than 3 months. But there were no cases of permanent nerve injury and malocclusion. Our findings indicate that retromandibular approach is an easy and safe technique for subcondylar fracture but not for condylar neck fracture.