A new surgical approach to treat medial or low condylar fractures: the minor parotid anterior approach

A new surgical approach, denoted as the minor parotid anterior approach, was designed to treat medial or low mandibular condylar fractures.Sixty patients (72 sides) with medial or low condylar fractures were treated surgically. Thirty-six patients (42 sides) were treated with the minor parotid anterior approach, and 24 patients (30 sides) were treated with a retromandibular approach. Data on the surgical procedures and complications were recorded. The follow-up period was 3 to 12 months.Four patients suffered facial nerve injury in the group treated with the retromandibular approach. No cases of facial nerve injury occurred in the minor parotid anterior approach group.The minor parotid anterior approach avoided facial nerve injury, resulted in less visible facial scarring, and required less manipulation time. Therefore, the minor parotid anterior approach is worth application in the clinical setting.