**12. Fixation**

Fixation is the surgical procedure that is done to stabilize and join the ends of fractured bones by mechanical devices such as metal plates, pins, rods, wires, or screws (**Figure 11**).

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**Figure 12.**

*Zone of tension and compression.*

**Figure 11.** *Miniplate fixation.*

*Diagnosis and Management of Mandibular Condyle Fractures*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93795*

*Diagnosis and Management of Mandibular Condyle Fractures DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93795*

**Figure 11.** *Miniplate fixation.*

*Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery*

3.Endaural and modifications

6.Rhytidectomy (Face-Lift)

7.Intraoral approach

*Approaches to condylar fracture.*

listed below.

**Figure 10.**

extension

approach

**11. Reduction**

**12. Fixation**

screws (**Figure 11**).

4.Submandibular (Risdon) (**Figure 10**)

5.Retromandibular or post ramal (**Figure 10**)

Approach is based on the level of fracture [17].

bone clamps, forceps, screw and wire and towel clips [13].

The approaches for different levels of fractures with minimal complications are

• Condylar head fracture—pre-auricular approach or retroauricular approach

• Condylar neck fracture—retromandibular approach with preauricular

• Condylar base fracture—submandibular, retromandibular and intra-oral

Reduction is the procedure done for restoring the functional alignment of the fractured bone fragments. Reduction is done to bring the fractured fragments together close to their previous anatomical position so that healing is proper and rapid. Once access is gained to the surgical site reduction is done with the help of

Fixation is the surgical procedure that is done to stabilize and join the ends of fractured bones by mechanical devices such as metal plates, pins, rods, wires, or

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**Figure 12.** *Zone of tension and compression.*

**Figure 13.** *Ideal line of osteosynthesis.*

## **12.1 Ideal lines of osteosynthesis**

The condyles are subjected to major stress during mastication. Meyers gave the ideal lines of osteosynthesis for the mandibular condyle through his research works as follows:


The long axis of the condylar neck acts as a beam which is subjected to flexion in the sagittal plane. All these biomechanical properties must be taken into consideration while fixation of the fracture pertained to the region (**Figures 12** and **13**) [18].
