Serious Condylar Head Absorption in Children With Intracapsular Condylar Fractures Treated Operatively With Long...

This study was performed to explore bone remodelling in children with intracapsular condylar fractures after the condylar fracture fragments were fixed using long screws and to offer possible explanations about the underlying mechanism.

Records of children (less than 12 y old) who sustained intracapsular condylar fractures and fixed with long screws from May 2012 to January 2015 were retrieved. Age, gender, dates of injury, admission, and discharge, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of fracture, other mandibular fractures, treatment methods, and time of review were recorded and analyzed. Image dates of pretreatments and posttreatments, including the date of review, were also recorded.

A total of 8 patients completed their follow-up, and all patients (n=5) who were followed up after more than 3 months showed serious resorption of the condylar head. The condylar head resorbed until the height (or articular surface) dropped and aligned with the surface of the screw. The shortest time of absorption, as shown by the computed tomography scan was 106 days, and the longest time was 171 days (average time of 141.8 d).

Intracapsular condyle fractures in children should be managed conservatively as much as possible. However, if the height of the fracture fragments drops remarkably, open reduction and rigid internal fixation become possible choices.