[TMJ reconstruction of the intracapsular condylar vertical fracture]

According to literature, it is difficult to make an early correct diagnosis and treatment of the intracapsular condylar vertical fracture. The author recently suggested a new method to diagnose and treat this kind of fracture with an optimal result. The diagnostic and treatment procedures are: 1. To take a condylo-pterygo-maxillo-oblique tomography which can clearly demonstrate the position of the bone fragment. 2. To remove the bone fragment by submandibular incision with an oblique osteotomy of the posterior part of the ramus. Therefore the secondary injury to the disk and the superior cavity could be avoided that is essential for TMJ reconstruction. 3. To reconstruct the TMJ after condyloplasty under the centric relation. Eight cases were successfully treated by this method. In this paper the details of the operation are described and discussed.