Fracture of mandible can be classified according to its anatomical location, in which condylar fracture is the most common one overall and is missed on clinical examination. Due to the unique geometry of the mandible and temporomandibular joint, without treatment the fractures can result in marked pain, dysfunction, and deformity. The condylar fracture may be further classified depending on the sides involved: unilateral/bilateral, depending on the height of fracture: intracapsular (within the head of condyle), extracapsular - head and neck (high condyle fracture), and subcondylar (low condyle fracture), and depending on displacement: nondisplaced, displaced (anteromedially, medially, and lateral), and dislocated. The clinical features include swelling and tenderness over the temporomandibular joint region, restricted mouth opening, and anterior open bite. A 34-year-old male patient reported to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Madha Dental College and Hospital; suffered fall trauma resulting in bilateral condyle fracture, dentoalveolar fracture in mandible with restricted mouth opening, and anterior open bite. KEY WORDS: Approaches, condylar fracture, preauricular incision, retromandibular incision In mandibular fractures, the condylar fracture accounts for 25-50% of overall fractures. Condylar fractures are fractures of either the condyle or the most superior part of the condylar neck are confined to the intra capsular fracture and the fractures through the neck of the condyle, extra capsular fracture. The fractured segment can be nondisplaced, displaced (antero medially/ laterally) and dislocated from the disk. There are two principal therapeutic approaches to these fractures; functional and surgical. The surgical methods include open reduction and osteosynthesis with miniplates, wires or lag screws where as functional methods include intermaxillary wiring fixation. There are various approaches to the condyle as explained in the literatures. Each approach has it own advantage and disadvantage. This article reports a case of difficulties encountered in preauricular approach over retromandibular approach in condylar fracture.
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