Experience with the transparotid approach via a mini-preauricular incision for surgical management of condylar neck fractures

Introduction The aim of this study was to describe our experiences of a mini-preauricular transparotid approach for direct reduction and plating of condylar neck fractures. Materials and methods A retrospective study was conducted on 58 patients from 2009 to 2011 with 69 condylar neck fractures in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The fractures were treated surgically either with a 2-cm mini-preauricular and transparotid approach in 29 patients with 36 fractures, or via endoscope-assisted intraoral, or facelift or retromandibular approaches in a control group of 29 patients with 32 fractures. The postoperative hospital stay, occlusion status, mouth opening and facial nerve and parotid gland related complications were compared between the two groups. Results In both groups around 90% of patients had good restoration of preinjury occlusion. Postoperative mouth opening was 39.8 mm and 39.9 mm in the mini-preauricular approach and the other approaches group, respectively. Facial symmetry was achieved in all of the patients. There was no incidence of facial nerve palsy, infection or hemorrhage in the mini-preauricular group. One patient in the control group had a persistent weakness due to frontal nerve palsy. Conclusion Based on the results, the mini-preauricular approach can be an alternative, safe and effective method in the management of condylar neck and high subcondylar fractures.