[Late results of conservative condylar fracture treatment]

116 patients with healed condylar fractures were investigated between a half and six years after the occurrence. 20 of them had pain in the joint, 19 of them showed a deviation of the mandible when opening the mouth. The margin distance of the incisors were 40.8 mm, in 5 cases less than 30 mm. The X-ray showed in 31 cases a dislocation of the fragments, in 6 cases a resorption of the proc. articularis. There was no correlation between pain, deviation, dislocation and the margin distance of the incisors. It is concluded that the anatomic exactly reposition of the fragments is not necessary for the undisturbed function of the temporomandibular joint.