title: Maxillectomy through mandibulotomy--a retrospective clinical review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review retrospectively the benefits of using mandibulotomy as an access for tumors involving the maxilla and infratemporal fossa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four consecutive patients with tumors involving the maxilla and infratemporal fossa underwent maxillectomy through mandibular access osteotomy. Patient details and postoperative follow-up were reviewed and recorded. Postoperative complications such as neural morbidity and problems relevant to the procedure were evaluated. Ethical clearance from the medical practices board of the hospital was not required for this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All but 1 patient underwent en bloc resection of the maxillary tumor with a histologically negative margin. One patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma had a positive orbital margin. Residual mouth opening smaller than 2.5 cm was observed in 4 patients. Healing of the osteotomy site was satisfactory in 21 patients. Three patients had osteotomy-related complications that required secondary intervention. Neural morbidity was temporary and cosmetic outcome of the procedure was excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandibular access osteotomy is an acceptable approach to tumors involving the maxilla and infratemporal fossa. The advantages of wide exposure, minimal morbidity, and good cosmesis make it superior to the conventional panfacial approach. This article highlights the advantages of this procedure and discusses conventional approaches with review of the literature.
authors: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, India. snmaxfax@gmail.com
authors: Sanjiv
authors: S
authors: Nair
authors: K R
authors: KR
authors: Sridhar
authors: Anjan
authors: A
authors: Shah
authors: Balasubramaniam
authors: B
authors: Kumar
authors: Kishore
authors: K
authors: Nayak
authors: Pritam
authors: P
authors: Shetty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries; D014313:Trismus / Q000209:etiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult