Ventral approach to the rostral mandible

With the patient in dorsal recumbency, the head is supported with a soft pad and the neck extended. The mandible is palpated, and the incision is planned just medial to the mandibular body. A skin incision is performed with a scalpel blade along the ventral margins of the rostral mandible midline.

The use of electrocautery should be avoided.

The approach should not be directly over the traumatic wound to avoid unnecessary trauma to the injured area. 

The exposure should be of sufficient size, so that the surgeon can inspect the wound and reduce the fracture without additional trauma to soft tissue.

It is important to avoid damaging the mucogingival junction during soft tissues manipulation to prevent perforation into the oral cavity.

Closure is done in two layers.

Closure of the first layer is done with absorbable sutures such as 4.0 polyglactin 910 poliglecaprone 25. The skin is closed with monofilament nonabsorbable sutures in a simple-interrupted fashion.