Zigzag Temporal Incision With Preauricular Incision Extension as a Variant Approach to the Temporomandibular Joint

Surgical visibility of the joint is often compromised by the efforts to protect the facial nerve and its branches. Several approaches to the temporomandibular joint have been proposed over the years and perhaps the standard and most commonly used incision is the preauricular which is then extended with coronal incision to improve visibility and safety during surgery. The authors present a new modification based on the achievement of an aesthetically acceptable and inconspicuous scar in the temporal area. This is achieved by using a preauricular incision extended with a zigzag incision as a routine approach to the temporomandibular joint instead of the straight coronal incision. The zigzag incision is proposed for cosmetic purposes and results in a natural separation of the hair.