Extra-oral, Non-mucosal Approach for Oncologic Resections of the Mandible: A Case Series.

INTRODUCTION

Malignant tumors afflicting the sub-condylar area and ascending ramus of the mandible without mucosal involvement are extremely rare. Traditional approaches such as lip-split-cheek flap and Visor flap would prove sub-optimal and excessive for such limited lesions and entail salivary contamination and mental nerve sacrifice. To circumvent these limitations, we developed a surgical approach that achieves wide, extra-oral exposure to the condyle and ascending ramus and permits controlled resection, affording protection to the facial nerve branches and mental nerve, while avoiding salivary contamination.

CASE REPORT

The main features of the approach include a pre-auricular skin crease incision extendable both ways, trans-parotid dissection with protection of facial nerve branches, and controlled bony resection. In all cases, monobloc resection was possible with preservation of the uninvolved facial nerve branches, avoidance of salivary contamination, and prompt healing.

CONCLUSION

An extra-oral non-mucosal surgical approach is described for highly selected cases of mandibular resection.