Biportal transparotid dissection in the retromandibular approach for condylar fracture osteosynthesis: Efficacy of a novel technique

Abstract

Facial nerve injury is a primary complication of open surgical management of condylar fractures. A new modification of the retromandibular transparotid approach, the "biportal transparotid dissection" (BTD), was developed to reduce these injuries in accidental nerve exposure. Prospective cohort study. Tertiary referral center. Patients managed by retromandibular transparotid approach for condylar fractures at Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Mansoura University were included between November 2015 and August 2019 with exclusion of cases managed endoscopically or by a closed approach. Three groups were identified: Group A included patients undergoing the BTD technique, which entails transparotid dissection above and below exposed nerve branches and minimal nerve retraction; Group B included patients undergoing traditional dissection and nerve retraction away from the surgical field; and Group C included patients with unidentified facial nerve branches. The function of facial nerve branches was documented postoperatively. Fifty-seven fractures were included in the study. Facial nerve branches' injury occurred in 13 cases (22.8%): two (of ten) in Group A (20%), seven (of ten) in Group B (70%) and four (of 37) in Group C (10.81%). Compared to patients with non-exposed branches, Groups A and B were found to have 2.06 (p = 0.447) and 19.25 (p = 0.001) greater odds of nerve injury, respectively. The results showed significant faster nerve recovery in the BTD group compared to traditional dissection (mean 5 versus 9 weeks) (p = 0.015). Although avoiding facial nerve exposure minimizes injury the most, BTD approach reduces exposed nerve injury compared to the traditional method.