Long-term Complications of Isolated and Combined Condylar Fractures: A Retrospective Study

Fractures of the mandibular condyle are a common injury in maxillofacial trauma. Both conservative treatment (i.e., analgesic therapy and soft diet) and intermaxillary fixation (IMF) or open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) have satisfactory and functional outcomes, though severe late-onset complications have been reported.

We compared the long-term complications of patients with condylar fractures treated conservatively, with IMF, or with combined ORIF and IMF.

We retrospectively analyzed all patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral condylar fracture, isolated or combined with a fracture of the mandibular body, admitted to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at UZ Leuven between January 2013 and January 2020. We collected data on age, gender, side of condylar fracture, presence of associated fracture of the mandibular body, referrals, initial treatment, long-term complications and secondary treatment. Long-term complications were defined as sequelae still present 6 weeks after initial treatment.

Among 192 patients, 68.8% had unilateral and 31.2% bilateral condylar fractures; an associated fracture of the mandibular body was seen in 45.8%, 31% received conservative treatment, 51% IMF only, and 18% combined ORIF and IMF. Forty-eight percent of all patients suffered from 1 or more long-term complications, most frequently malocclusion (24%), reduced mouth opening (15.1%), nerve disturbances (13.5%), pain (8.9%), and facial asymmetry (2.6%). Surgery as a secondary treatment was necessary in 25% of all cases.

The presence of bilateral condylar fractures or associated fracture of the mandibular body is a risk factor for developing long-term complications. Most patients with long-term complications were initially treated with combined ORIF and IMF, but long-term complications after initial conservative or IMF treatment were treated with secondary surgery.