Healing Process of Old Mandibular Condylar Head Fractures: A Report of Two Cases

A condylar head fracture in the mandible is often misdiagnosed as a contusion of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Moreover, they are often overlooked by general practitioners as the fragments are small, making them difficult to identify. This report describes 2 cases of old mandibular condylar head fractures: one involving an 84-year-old woman referred to our dental office with suspected medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw; and another involving a 23-year-old man who visited with the chief complaint of slight pain in the left TMJ. An old condylar head fracture with dislocation or displacement was coincidentally found on panoramic radiographs obtained during dental treatment in both cases. No disturbances in mouth opening or masticatory forces were observed in either case. Analysis of injury status and imaging with X-rays and computed tomography revealed that the relationship between the dislocated/displaced condylar head and the mandibular fossa changed as the bone structure and muscle positions stabilized.