1996 Volume 42 Issue 6 Pages 581-586
The condylar process of the mandible is one of the most common sites involved inmaxillofacial fractures. Recently, many cases of condylar fractures were reported in which open reduction was the procedure of choice. However, there has been controversy concerning the indications of surgical and nonsurgical treatment for fractures of the condylar process. In our department, closed reduction is generally used to manage condylar fractures since various complications may occur after open reduction of the temporomandibular region. To evaluate the clinical results of nonsurgical treatment, patients with condylar fractures treated between 1984 and 1995 were reviewed.
During the study period, 203 fractures were found in 156 patients with a mean age of 29.7 years. Males outnumbered females by two-fold. Traffic accidents were the major cause of injury; about half of the patients had been involved in such accidents. The overwhelming majority of cases (151 cases, 96.8%) were nonsurgically treated, primarily by maxillomandibular fixation followed by functional rehabilitation (100 cases).
Ninty-two patients were recalled after more than 6 months. There was no functional problem in 86.2% of the fractures with no or slight displacement, whereas some problems occurred in patients with dislocation of the condylar head from the glenoid fossa. As comparedwith adult patients, those aged under 20 years, even with severe dislocation, showed relatively good results not only functionally but also morphologically. However, most remaining problems were not severe, and only a few patients experienced difficulties in their daily lives.
