OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL-FIXATION OF CONDYLAR FRACTURES VIA AN EXTENDED BICORONAL APPROACH WITH A MASSETERIC MYOTOMY

Although condylar fractures of the mandible may be treated by closed r eduction and appropriate physiotherapy, open reduction and internal fi xation is indicated in specific circumstances, We report 25 cases of a previously unreported method of exposure of condylar fractures using an extended bicoronal approach combined with myotomy of the masseter m uscle, Acceptable reduction and fixation was achieved in all cases wit h an early return to function, The incidence of complications was low, with three mild temporary facial palsies which had resolved by the si xth postoperative week and one haematoma beneath the bicoronal scalp f lap, A cosmetically acceptable scar was produced in all cases, The exc ellent surgical exposure and protection of the facial nerve, combined with cosmetically acceptable scars, commend the use of this technique.