RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The Risdon modified approach, for mandibular surgery, is well adapted to treatment of low subcondylar fractures. According to our experience, this approach with a low rate of complications should also be considered for non-traumatic ramus surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty Risdon modified approaches were used in 11 patients for non-traumatic indications (seven bilateral osteotomies, four unilateral osteotomies, one biopsy, one bone graft). One patient was operated twice with the same approach. RESULTS: In all cases, the planned surgery could be performed using this approach. The only complication was a case of temporary paresis of the facial nerve's mandibular branch. The scar was always considered as quite acceptable. DISCUSSION: As for traumatology, the Risdon modified approach is an improvement for ramus non-traumatic surgery. It has a very low rate of complications, especially for the facial nerve. The intraoral approach avoids scarring, but the resulting exposure is insufficient and requires using a transcutaneous device or endoscopy. In orthognathic surgery, the wide exposure of the lateral aspect of the ramus, the corpus, and the basilar edge, facilitates important mandibular advancement.