Objective To compare the effectiveness of open reduction and conservative treatment for pediatric mandibular condylar fractures and to provide the evidence for the selection of cl inical therapy. Methods The cl inical data were retrospectively analyzed from 25 patients with the mandibular condylar fractures between January 1988 and December 2006. Of them, 8 patients (11 fractures) were treated with surgical treatment (surgical group) and 17 patients (22 fractures) withnon-surgical treatment (non-surgical group). In surgical group, there were 6 males (9 fractures) and 2 females (2 fractures) with an age range of 8-13 years; fracture was caused by tumbl ing in 7 cases and by traffic accident in 1 with an interval of 1-6 days between injury and hospital ization; and 5 cases were identified as unilateral condylar fractures (3 compl icated by mental fractures) and 3 cases as bilateral condylar fractures compl icated by mental fractures. In non-surgical group, there were 12 males (15 fractures) and 5 females (7 fractures) with an age range of 3-12 years; fracture was caused by fall ing from height in 4 cases, by tumbl ing in 10, and by traffic accident in 3 with an interval of 1-25 days between injury and hospital ization; and 12 cases were identified as unilateral condylar fractures (3 compl icated by mental fractures) and 5 cases as bilateral condylar fractures (1 compl icated by mental fracture). Results Incision healed by first intention in surgical group, and 25 cases were followed up 1-6 years with an average of 3.5 years. At 12 months after treatment, no temporomandibular joint pain, eating disorder, or l imited mandibular movement occurred in 2 groups. No significant difference was observed in opening mouth extent, protrusive and lateral movements between 2 groups at 6 and 12 months (P gt; 0.05). During centric occlusion, mental point located at the midl ine with symmetric face figure. Two patients in surgical group and 3 in non-surgical group had sl ight snap when opening their mouths. Mandible deviation was observed in 3 patients of 2 groups, respectively when gaping. The X-ray films showed heal ing of fracture and condylar remodel ing at 3-6 months. Mandibular ramus were symmetric in cephalometry. Conclusion Good effectiveness can be obtained by surgical or non-surgical treatment in pediatric mandibular condylar fractures. Considering the pediatric mandibular condyle having powerful heal ing and reconstructing potency and avoiding secondary injury on the temporomandibular joint from surgery, non-surgical treatment should be first selected for the pediatric mandibular condylar fractrues in patients under 7 years.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of mini titanium plate for the treatment of intracapsular condylar fractures-type A. MethodsBetween March 2013 and July 2015, 22 cases (26 sides) of intracapsular condylar fractures-type A were treated with mini titanium plate through anterior auricular approach. There were 13 males and 9 females, aged from 16 to 32 years (mean, 22.7 years). The disease causes were traffic accident injury in 17 cases, falling injury in 4 cases, and heavy impact injury in 1 case. Five cases had intracapsular condylar fractures-type A only, and the other cases were accompanied with fractures of mandible, maxillary, or other part of jaw. All patients had different degrees of limitation of opening mouth, occlusal disorder, and joint pain, and the maximum opening was 5-16 mm (mean, 8.6 mm). All patients received surgical treatment within 2 to 9 days after injury (mean, 4 days). The clinical dysfunction index (DI) of Helkimo index was used to evaluate the mandibular motor function postoperatively. According to the 4 basic criterion of cure about mandibular condylar fractures by the international consensus conference in 1999, and maximal mouth opening by HE Dongmei et al., the surgical treatment effectiveness was evaluated. ResultsAll wounds healed at stage I, with no infection or other complications. All 22 cases were followed up 5-8 months (mean, 6 months). At 1 week after operation, the coronal spiral CT and three-dimensional reconstruction showed that contraposition of fractures was good, and the condyles located in the articular fossa. At 6 months after operation, the maximum opening was 33-42 mm (mean, 35.7 mm). After operation, 3 cases showed the mandible deflected to the affected side when opening, and limited lateral motion. According to the DI evaluation method in Helkimo index, there were 7 sides of DI grade 0, 18 sides of DI grade I, and 1 side of DI grade II. Based on surgical treatment effect of intracapsular condylar fractures-type A, occlusion recovery was obtained in 19 cases (86.36%), maximum opening degree of≥35 mm in 20 cases (90.91%), no symptoms of joint injury in 19 cases (86.36%), and no serious postoperative complications in 22 cases (100%); 17 cases (77.27%) were in accordance with the above 4 items. ConclusionMini titanium plate is one of the most effective approaches to treat intracapsular condylar fractures-type A.