Abstract
We investigated clinical characteristics and treatment outcome in 92 patients with condylar fracture of the mandible in our clinic from April 1992 to March 2002. The following results were obtained:
1. Condylar fracture occurred in 47.4% of the mandibular fractures and the ratio of males to females was 1.3: 1. The largest group of patients was the teenage group (28.3%).
2. The most frequent causes of condylar fracture were falling down (50.0%) and most patients (93.5%) visited our clinic within two weeks after injury.
3. Sixty-eight cases were unilateral (73.9%) and 51 cases (55.4%) were combined with other facial bone fractures.
4. Fracture with displacement and dislocation occurred most frequently in the condylar super neck region.
5. Sixteen cases (17.4%) were treated with surgical procedures, and 76 cases (82.6%) were treated with conservative procedures.
6. As for prognosis in 67 cases, 48 cases (71.6%) were completely healed, but 5 cases (7.5%) had functional problems.
7. Better clinical outcome was obtained in patients with unilateral fracture, under twenty years old, without severe displacement or/and dislocation.
