"Bat Wing Surgical Approach for the Temporomandibular Joint".

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery presents challenges due to the proximity of neurovascular structures like the facial nerve.
• Traditional TMJ surgical approaches include retroauricular, preauricular, endoaural, and submandibular methods.
• The 'Bat Wing' approach, introduced in 1993, offers a distinct alternative for TMJ interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the 'Bat Wing' approach for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery.
• To assess the advantages of the 'Bat Wing' approach in providing surgical access and minimizing risks.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of twenty TMJ surgeries performed using the 'Bat Wing' approach over 18 months.
• Data collected from the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery National Medical Center XXI Century.

Main Results:

• The 'Bat Wing' approach provided a wide surgical field with optimal visibility.
• The technique successfully avoided sectioning of the external auditory canal.
• No instances of facial nerve damage were reported in the cases reviewed.

Conclusions:

• The 'Bat Wing' approach is a viable and effective surgical alternative for TMJ interventions.
• This technique ensures safe exposure, good visibility, and adequate access to the surgical site.
• It meets the objectives of TMJ surgery by minimizing risks to critical structures.