title: [Transmasseter approach to mid-and-low condylar fractures by mini-retromandibular access].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore a new access for internal rigid fixation of mandibular mid-and-low condylar fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 patients of unilateral mid-and-low condylar fractures were treated with a 2cm mini-retromandibular approach. The subcutaneous tissues superficial to the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) were dissected forward that parallel to the masseter muscle fiber bundles, aiming to the fracture. After exposing the fracture, the fracture segments were reduced and fixed under sufficient exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correct anatomic reduction and occlusion were achieved in all cases. Additionally, all patients showed normal articular function and the surgical scars were barely visible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transmasseter approach by retromandibular access is one of the feasible methods for curing mid-and-low condylar fracture, which minimizeing the risk of facial nerve injury and reducing the visible scars.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Foshan 528000, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guo-Guang
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xu-Xuan
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jun-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jian-Ya
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008335:Mandibular Condyle; D008337:Mandibular Fractures; D008406:Masseter Muscle; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome