• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2012

In the treatment of mandibular condyle fracture, conservative treatment using closed reduction or surgical treatment using open reduction can be used. Management of mandibular condylar fractures remains a source of ongoing controversy in oral and maxillofacial trauma. For each type of condylar fracture,the treatment method must be chosen taking into consideration the presence of teeth, fracture height, patient'sadaptation, patient's masticatory system, disturbance of occlusal function, and deviation of the mandible. In the past, closed reduction with concomitant active physical therapy conducted after intermaxillary fixation during the recovery period had been mainly used, but in recent years, open treatment of condylar fractures with rigid internal fixation has become more common. The objective of this review was to evaluate the main variables that determine the choice of an open or closed method for treatment of condylar fractures, identifying their indications, advantages, and disadvantages, and to appraise the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions that are used in the management of fractures of the mandibular condyle.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.291-300
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• 2012

The incidence of condylar fractures is high,but the management of fractures of the mandibular condyle continues to be controversial. Historically, maxillomandibular fixation, external fixation, and surgical splints with internal fixation systems were the techniques commonly used in the treatment of the fractured mandible. Condylar fractures can be extracapsular or intracapsular, undisplaced, deviated, displaced, or dislocated. Treatment depends on the age of the patient, the co-existence of other mandibular or maxillary fractures, whether the condylar fracture is unilateral or bilateral, the level and displacement of the fracture, the state of dentition and dental occlusion, and the surgeonnds on the age of the patient, the co-existence of othefrom which it is difficult to recover aesthetically and functionally;an appropriate treatment is required to reconstruct the shape and achieve the function ofthe uninjured status. To do this, accurate diagnosis, appropriate reduction and rigid fixation, and complication prevention are required. In particular, as mandibular condyle fracture may cause long-term complications such as malocclusion, particularly open bite, reduced posterior facial height, and facial asymmetry in addition to chronic pain and mobility limitation, great caution should be taken. Accordingly, the authors review a general overview of condyle fracture.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.259-265
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of intracapsular fracture lines of the mandibular condyle on the anatomical and functional recovery after non-surgical closed treatment. Methods: Clinical and radiological follow-up of 124 patients with intracapsular fractures of the mandibular condyle was performed after closed treatment between 2005 and 2012. The intracapsular fractures were classified into three categories: type A (medial condylar pole fracture), type B (lateral condylar pole fracture with loss of vertical height) and type M (multiple fragments or comminuted fracture). Results: By radiological finding, fracture types B and M lost up to 24% vertical height of the mandibular condyle compared to the height on the opposite side. In Type M, moderate to severe dysfunction was observed in 33% of the cases. Bilateral fractures were significantly associated with the risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction in fracture types A and B. Bilateral fracture and TMJ dysfunction were not statistically significantly associated in type M fractures. Conclusion: Most of the mandibular intracapsular condylar fractures recovered acceptably after conservative non-surgical treatment with functional rehabilitation, even with some anatomical shortening of the condylar height. The poor functional recovery encountered in type M fractures, especially in cases with additional fracture sites and bilateral fractures, points up the limitation of closed treatment in such cases.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.388-397
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• 2008

The present study was performed to evaluate the function of the mandible according to the pattern of fracture and treatment methods of condylar fractures of the mandible and help operators in making a treatment plan. Sixty patients (average follow-up period was $7.8{\pm}9.4$ months) who were treated for condylar fracture from June, 2002 to May, 2006 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital were reviewed. The common causes of the condylar fracture were traffic accident and fall-down (35.0%). In concomitant injuries, laceration was 46.7% and the fracture of the mandibular symphysis was highest incidence (60.0%). The common site of the fracture was the condylar head (47.8%), followed by subcondyle (36.2%) and condylar neck (15.9%). Under 15 years old patients, the closed reduction was performed in 87.5% out of the patients. All of the condylar fragments were fixed to the mandible with titanium miniplates in cases of open reduction. The mean period of intermaxillary fixation (IMF) was $14.2{\pm}6.5$ days in closed reduction and $10.0{\pm}4.2$ days in open reduction. The old patient with bilateral condylar head fractures, who were treated by closed reduction with IMF for 3 weeks, showed the limitation of mandibular movements. But, there was no significant different results between open reduction and closed reduction with the respect of the Helkimo's mandibular mobility index and clinical dysfunction index (DI). Complications, such as fibrous ankylosis and resorption of the mandibular condyle, were not observed in all patients. These results suggest that the good results can be obtained by closed reduction with proper IMF periods and functional exercise in most condylar fractures of the mandible except severely displaced extracapsular fractures.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2004

The management of mandibular condylar fractures in children has long been a matter of controversy. The fracture, if not treated appropriately, may result in complications such as disturbance of mandibular growth and temporomandibular joint ankylosis. They are usually treated nonsurgically, which has been proved to be satisfactory in the long term results. Nineteen children with 25 condylar fractures experienced during their growth period (age at trauma from 10 months to 12 years, mean 7.0 years) were studied. All patients were treated by arch bars and intermaxillary fixation for $7{\sim}14$ days. They have been evaluated with clinical and radiographic examination. The maximum mouth opening and lateral movement of the mandible were within normal limits. There was no malocclusion or ankylosis. Beginning of remodelling was evident at postoperative $1{\sim}3$ months. Remodelling of the condyle was good in 21, while partial adjustment occured in the other 4 condyles. These results suggest that the conservative treatment of condylar fractures in growing children results in good functional results and good remodelling of the condyle.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.53-57
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of dental students in detection of mandibular condyle fractures and the effectiveness of reference panoramic images. Materials and Methods : Forty-six undergraduates evaluated 25 panoramic radiographs for condylar fractures and the data were analyzed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. After a month, they were divided into two homogeneous groups based on the first results and re-evaluated the images with (group A) or without (group B) reference images. Eight reference images included indications showing either typical condylar fractures or anatomic structures which could be confused with fractures. Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis of the difference between the first and the second evaluations for each group, and student�fs t-test was used between the two groups in the second evaluation. The intra- and inter-observer agreements were evaluated with Kappa statistics. Results : Intra- and inter-observer agreements were substantial (k=0.66) and moderate (k=0.53), respectively. The area under the ROC curve (Az) in the first evaluation was 0.802. In the second evaluation, it was increased to 0.823 for group A and 0.814 for group B. The difference between the first and second evaluations for group A was statistically significant (p<0.05), however there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the second evaluation. Conclusion : Providing reference images to less experienced clinicians would be a good way to improve the diagnostic ability in detecting condylar fracture.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the results of extracorporeal fixation in patients with mandibular condylar fractures and compare them with the clinical results of conservative treatment. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 92 patients (73 male [M] : 19 female [F], age 13-69 years, mean 33.1 years) treated for condylar fractures at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Sun Dental Hospital (Daejeon, Korea) from 2007 to 2012 were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: group A (23 patients; M : F=18 : 5, age 21-69 years, mean 32.6 years), treated with extracorporeal fixation; group B (30 patients; M : F=24 : 6, age 16-57 years, mean 21.1 years), treated by conventional open reduction; and group C (39 patients; M : F=31 : 8, age 16-63 years, mean 34.4 years), treated with the conservative method ('closed' reduction). Clinical and radiographic findings were evaluated and analyzed statistically. Results: Occurrence of postoperative condylar resorption correlated with certain locations and types of fracture. In this study, patients in group A (treated with extracorporeal fixation) did not demonstrate significant postoperative complications such as malocclusion, mandibular hypomobility, temporomandibular disorder, or complete resorption of condyle fragments. Conclusion: In superiorly located mandibular condyle fractures, exact reconstruction of condylar structure with the conventional open reduction technique can be difficult due to the limited surgical and visual fields. In such cases, extracorporeal fixation of the condyle using vertical ramus osteotomy may be a better choice of treatment because it results in anatomically accurate reconstruction and low risk of complications.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.488-492
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• 2010

This review evaluates the literature on the relationship between mandibular condylar process fracture and temporomadibular joint (TMJ). The topic of condylar fracture generated more discussion and controversy than any other field of maxillofacial trauma associated with TMJ. Disturbance of occlusal function, devia-tion of mandible, internal derangements of TMJ, and ankylosis of the joint with resultant inability to move the jaw are sequelae of condylar process fracture. Thus it is necessary to understand how the masticatory system adapts to the structural alterations that accompany fractures of the mandibular condyle. Treatment of condylar process fracture include two methods ; closed treatment and open treatment. If one chooses totreat closed, one must understand that adaptations in the musculature, skeleton, and dentition will be necessary. Open treatment of condylar process fractures probably requires fewer adaptations within the masticatory system to provide a favorable functional outcome. However, one must weigh the risk of open surgery against the possible improvement in outcome. The risks are not just surgical risk, but biological risk as well, such as disruption of the blood supply to the condyle. This review presents relevant aspects of change of TMJ associated with condylar process fracture.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.300-304
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• 1991

This is case report of open reduction of condylar fractures with or without discal injury. Many articles described open reduction and internal fixation of condylar fractures emphasize the method of bony reduction and fixation without mention of the position of the disc. So we like to present our cases of open reduction of condylar fractures in conjunction with reconstruction of the disc and associated structures. The pupose of this presentation is to emphasize several well - established principles of trauma management and management of temporomandibular joint injuries, such as 1) in situations of traumatic injury, anatomic restoration is the goal of treatment and, 2) anatomic alignment of the TMJ disc over the condyle is preferable to disc subluxation because the latter may lead to chronic pain, limitation of opening and degenerative arthritis. Although our case is small with short term follow up, we believe that open reduction and internal fixation of condylar fractures in conjunction with disc repair is a biologically sound approach to those fractures indicated for open surgery. Long term follow up will allow better judge the validity of this treatment approach to us.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.343-350
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to introduce a surgical technique that can maintain blood supply to prevent condylar resorption in the extracorporeal reduction of condylar fracture. Neither the medial pterygoid muscle on the ramal bone nor the lateral pterygoid muscle on the condylar fragment was detached after vertical ramal osteotomy. Thus, reduction was performed in the intracorporeal state. Therefore, blood supply was expected to be maintained to the fragments of both the condylar and ramal bones. On postoperative radiographs, the anatomical outline of the fractured condyle was well restored, and the occlusion was stable. In the unilateral case, there were no signs of mandibular condylar resorption until postoperative 3 weeks. In the 2 bilateral cases, condylar displacements with plate fractures and screw loosening were observed at postoperative 1 month or 5 months, but radiodensity at the displaced fracture site increased during the follow-up period. Finally, complete remodeling of the condylar fragments with restored anatomic appearance was observed on 8-month or 2-year follow-up radiographs. All cases exhibited good healing aspects with no signs or symptoms of mandibular condylar dysfunction during the postoperative remodeling period after intracorporeal reduction of condylar fracture.