Intracranial Approach for Retrieval of the Condylar Head After Avulsion into the Middle Cranial Fossa.

BACKGROUND: Dislocation of the mandibular condyle into the middle cranial fossa is a rare injury that can be seen after facial trauma. Early identification of condyle dislocation into the middle cranial fossa was difficult until the development of computed tomography, and diagnosis was often significantly delayed after the initial trauma.

CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a rare case of a young woman who presents after a mechanical fall resulting in facial trauma with an avulsion condyle fracture with dislocation of the mandibular condyle into the middle cranial fossa.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this complete avulsion of the condyle into the middle cranial fossa requiring an intracranial approach for condylectomy is extremely rare. We discuss the surgical management options for reduction and fixation accomplished in a multidisciplinary approach involving neurosurgery and oral maxillofacial surgery.