The transcervical incision for use in oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of the transcervical approach to treat various mandibular problems.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients (37 males and 25 females; age range, 15 to 80 years; mean age, 45.1 years) were treated via the transcervical approach. Twenty-eight patients (45.1%) had multiple mandibular fractures, 23 (31.7%) had tumor resections and selective neck dissections with microsurgical reconstruction, 7 (11.3%) had severe micrognathia and temporomandibular joint ankylosis, and 4 (6.4%) had mandibular atrophy requiring grafting. The patients were followed up to 15 years. The rates of complications due to surgery were evaluated.

RESULTS

The most common complication was dysesthesia at the C2-4 distribution in 54 patients (87.1%), which was usually transient. Nine patients (12.9%) had permanent damage to the inferior alveolar nerve (V3) unilaterally due to segmental mandibulectomy. Other less common complications were transient dysesthesia at the V3 distribution and transient weakness of the lip commissure unilaterally. Hypertrophic scars, seroma formation, soft tissue infection, and orocervical fistula formation were rare. Most of the patients (96.8%) were satisfied with the amount of scarring.

CONCLUSIONS

The transcervical approach provides broad exposure of the mandible and neck structures with excellent access to the operative field and a minimal rate of complications.