Minimal Incision Approach for Condyle Fracture Treatment

Surgical treatment of condylar neck fractures requires an extraoral approach when, due to the degree of difficulty of the fracture, an intraoral approach or an endoscopically supported treatment is not possible. In contrast to the cosmetically more favorable oral approach, extraoral approaches offer a better overview of the operating field and thus an easier fracture repositioning and osteosynthetic treatment. In 2007, Marti et al. described a minimal pre- and retroauricular incision with no extension to the hair-bearing skin and which aimed to improve the parotidectomy approach.

We present two cases in which minimal incision was used as a surgical approach for treatment of the condylar neck.

Using the minimal incision, we were able to access the condylar neck. This type of approach as well as having the advantages of an open approach makes it possible to conceal the scar in the periauricular region and reduce the likelihood of salivary fistula.