title: Trans-tragal incision for improved exposure of diacapitular and condylar neck fractures.
abstract: The authors present a modification of the preauricular approach that improves the exposure of the condyle whilst reducing diacapitular and condylar neck fractures. The incision is a combination of the hockey-stick and endaural incisions. Its inferior part runs within the ear on the posterior face of the tragus; the tragal cartilage is transected together with the retrotragal skin and included in the anterior skin flap. Between May 2009 and December 2010, 16 patients with diacapitular or condylar neck fractures were treated with this approach. All patients showed good occlusion postoperatively and satisfactory aesthetic results. No infection or cartilage necrosis was observed in this series. This approach improves the exposure of the condylar head during the reduction of diacapitular and condylar neck fractures, ensuring easier internal fixation and good cosmetic results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria. pauromau@tiscali.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feichtinger
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Reinbacher
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ivancic
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kärcher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D004431:Ear, External; D004954:Esthetics; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000601:surgery; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000601:surgery; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult