Condylar fracture of the mandible is one of the most common fracture patterns among mandibular fracture types. Between 2006 and 2017, 105 patients（133 sides）were treated using an internal dynamic distraction device at our center. Among them, there were 3 patients with unintentional inappropriate fixation of the plate to the temporal bone anterior to the ear canal. We retrospectively reviewed the postoperative course, imaging findings, and complications, and analyzed the contributing factors leading to incorrect fixation. In all 3 patients, the plates were fixed at the same incorrect position. One postulation was that the operative surgeon had proceeded towards the dorsal direction, leading to the erroneous posterior fixation of the plate. This may have been due to the surgeons being overly cautious to avoid damaging the temporal branch of the facial nerve. Moreover, the position of the hands of the operative surgeons and the narrow operative field may both have led to such an error. In addition, the similarity of the bony structure around the temporomandibular joint may have been misleading and caused misidentification of the fixation point. Although the fixation plates were improperly placed, no adverse events developed and good results were obtained. In conclusion, this method is highly efficient for the management of condylar fracture of the mandible. However, surgeons should have detailed knowledge of the anatomy and perform the procedure carefully.
