Abstract: PURPOSE： To investigate the clinical outcomes of transoral internal fixation for subcondylar fracture. METHODS: From October 2017 to June 2019, seven patients with subcondyle fracture were treated with transoral internal fixation, ten patients with subcondyle fracture were treated with retromandibular internal fixation. Operation time, effect of internal fixation, oral function, facial scar and incidence of facial nerve injury were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The operation time was 2 hours in transoral group and 2.5 hours in retromandibular group. Internal fixation of transoral group almost used single miniplate and double miniplates were used in retromandibular group. Infection rate was 28% in transoral group and none in retromandibular group. Limitation of mouth opening and poor occlusal relationship often occured in transoral group, which needed intermaxillary traction for 1-2 weeks, and oral function returned to normal after 3 months. Oral function returned faster after operation in retromandibular group. Almost no scar left on the face in transoral group and the scar was more obvious in retromandibular group. No facial nerve injury occurred in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transoral interal fixation is a better approach for subcondylar fracture, which almost has no scar left on the face, but has high risk of infection, poor operation field, poor fixation stability, more operation trauma, needs intermaxillary traction and oral function recovery needs longer time.

Key words: Subcondylar fractures, Transoral internal fixation, Retromandibular internal fixation