Combined Transoral and Transmandibular Approach: Labiomandibular Approach with or Without Glossotomy

Abstract

The emergence of the transoral approach provided exposure to a previously inaccessible region. Although this allowed proper decompression and treatment of a variety of CVJ pathology, the approach was still limited in its exposure below the C2–3 interspace and above the 1/3 inferior aspect of the clivus. Combining the standard transoral approach with previously described techniques of craniofacial osteotomies that split the mandible and divided the tongue enhance access inferiorly to the C4–5. We consider these to be “extended transoral approaches.”