[Clinical study of mandibular condyle injury]

Mandibular condyle fractures develop frequently and show the variable type of injury and complication. New opinions have emerged from recent investigation into condylar fractures. The author investigated 246 patients with condylar fractures who visited SNUDH from January 1980 to August, 1988, 8. with regard to clinical and treatment aspects, area and displacement of fractures, associated teeth injury and other body injury, complications. At last I have got the following results. 1. The incidence to condylar fractures in a series of 765 mandibular fractures may be as high as 32.2%. 2. The male patients are 3 times more than female patients. The highest frequency was recorded in the group 21-30 years of age. (34.1%). 3. Falls caused the greatest number of condylar fractures (45.2%) and next was in assult (25.6%), traffic accidents (22.4%). 4. Unilateral condylar fractures were present in 74.8%, giving a left: right ratio of 1.2:1. In cases of unilateral fracture, subcondylar fractures were by far the commonest (32.9%) but in cases of bilateral fracture, condylar neck fractures were by far the commonest. In children under 15 years of age, condylar neck fractures were more common but in patients over 16 years of age, subcondylar fractures were common. 5. Anteromedial fracture dislocations were by far the commonest (20.3%). In children under 15 years of age, fracture deviations were common but in patients over 16 years of age, fracture displacements were common. 6. 44.7% of patients with condylar fractures sustained the teeth injuries. Teeth fractures were by far the commonest. 7. Single condylar fractures showed a frequency of 30.5%. Of the concomitant fractures elsewhere in the mandible, symphysis fractures were by far the commonest (54.1%). 8. Associated other body injuries showed a frequency of 28.0%. Of them, head injuries were by far the commonest. 9. The mean interval from injury to treatment was 14.3 days. Of the treatment of condylar fractures, open reduction was by far the commonest (70.3%). Closed reduction comprised 19.9% and functional therapy comprised 8.5%. 10. In 67 patients with possible follow up period, the following complications were developed, two ankylosis, anterior open bite, mouth opening limitation, mouth opening deviation.