Technique for Open Reduction of Subcondylar Fractures Using Bended Iron Stick Scale

ABSTRACT

The methods of management for condylar fractures have been investigated and improved. The methods which have been used up to date are classified broadly into conservative and surgical treatment. Conservative treatment is chosen usually in the cases of children's or growing adolescent's fracture and non-displaced high leveled condylar fracture. But in the cases of displaced fracture, surgical reduction is to fit. The aim of surgical treatment is restore preexisting anatomical relationships by means of functionally stable rigid fixation. And rigid fixation will avoid uncomfortable IMF. Most miniplate fixations are accomplished through extraoral approaches. Extraoral approaches have the advantage of accurate reduction and fixation under a good visual field, but they have several disadvantages of facial nerve injury, facial scarring, and the possibility of necrotic bone change of fragment. Thus trocar assisted intraoral approach was introduced. But this method have disadvantage of uncertain fixation, because of visual field limitation and unaccurate reduction. To overcome this, we design a bended iron stick scale. The iron stick scale has 2 holes, 5 mm and 7 mm. apart from bending point for drilling. This hole was used for accuracy drilling. We treated 16 cases of displaced subcondylar fracture, using this method.