• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.521-528
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• 2010

Purpose: Anatomical reduction of the fractured condylar process is an important prerequisite for re-establishing function. The authors reported about effectiveness of transoral approach for mandibular subcondyle fracture using trochar device in cases that the fracture line is below the reference line, the perpendicular line of the longitudinal axis of condylar process passing the lowest point of sigmoid notch. As a serial study, we report the open reduction via preauricular approach for mandibular condyle fracture, in cases that the fracture line is above the reference line. Patients and Methods: Sixteen condylar fractures of 15 adult patients were divided two groups and treated by open reduction via preauricular approach (8 cases) or by closed reduction (8 cases). The degree of maximal mouth opening, occlusion, anatomical reduction, condylar resorption and complications were assessed and evaluated for the two groups. Results: The open reduction of condyle via preauricular approach leads to good results without permanent complications. Anatomical reduction of open reduction group and maximal mouth opening range of the closed reduction group is significantly better than the other group. No significant differences were found in the condylar resorption and the occlusion. Conclusion: The preauricular approach was useful to reduce and fix the condylar fragment, in cases that the fracture line is above the reference line.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.33 no.6
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• pp.625-630
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• 2007

Fractures of the mandibular condyle are account for between 26% and 57% of all mandibular fractures. Clinicians should decide how to treat the fractured condyle with many factors considered. Many surgical methods have been developed to reduction of fractured condyle and it' s internal fixation. In open reduction of fractured condylar neck and subcondyle, retromandibular approach offers a safe and effective approach for direct fixation due to easy access and low surgical morbidity.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2006

There are several manners for surgical approaches to the mandibular condyle. With the retromandiular approach, the condyle and fracture are exposed directly and allow for good inspection and reduction. The retromandibular scar is very well camouflaged and practically invisible. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical results of retromandibular approach for the reduction and fixation of fractured mandibular condyles. We described postoperative complications such as temporary facial nerve weakness involving the marginal mandibular branch, mouth opening limitation and malocclusion in 13 patients with mandubular condylar fractures; 11 subcondylar fractures and 2 condylar neck fractures. The follow-up period was longer than 6 months in all patients. The retromandibular approach was successful in all subcondylar fracture cases. 2 patients with condylar neck fracture had mouth opening limitation and temporary marginal nerve palsy longer than 3 months. But there were no cases of permanent nerve injury and malocclusion. Our findings indicate that retromandibular approach is an easy and safe technique for subcondylar fracture but not for condylar neck fracture.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.476-479
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• 2021

For treatment of mandibular condyle fracture, this article introduces the surgical protocol of intraoral reinsertion after extracorporeal fixation. This efficient, anatomically acceptable, extraoral scar-free, and relatively uncomplicated approach for condylar fracture can be compared with conventional extraoral fixation through various approaches. Clinical step-by-step procedures with a scientific basis were described in this technical strategy note.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2008

Various surgical approaches in the mandibular condyle fracture have been reported and many advantages of intraoral reduction were also introduced. But there are still controversies about surgical method of condylar fractures up to date. To establish the surgical approach protocol of condylar fracture, from May 2001 to December 2004, total 65 patients with 74 fractures of the mandibular condyle were reviewed during 2 years, retrospectively. All cases were classified according to the treatment considering factors, such as the level of fracture, degree and direction of displacement of fractured segment, patient’s age and gender, surgical approach methods, and their complications. Especially, advantages and surgical limitations of extraoral surgical approach, such as direct reduction and fixation via submandibular approach, Nam’s method, and endaural approach, were compared with those of intraoral surgical approach, such as direct intraoral reduction with transbuccal fixation or right angle driver system, and intraoral reinsertional approach after extraoral fixation of fractured fragment. The guidelines of surgical approach of condylar fracture based on our clilnical retrospective experiences and literature reviews can be suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.303-308
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• 2022

Objectives: Selection of treatment methods for mandibular condylar fractures remains controversial. In this study, we investigated treatment methods for condylar fractures to determine the indications for open or closed reduction. Patients and Methods: Patients >12 years of age treated for mandibular condylar fractures with a follow-up period of ≥3 months were included in this study. The medical records of enrolled patients were reviewed for sex, age, fracture site, treatment method (open or closed reconstruction), postoperative intermaxillary fixation period, operation time, and complications. Radiological analysis of fracture fragment displacement and changes in ramal height difference was performed using computed tomography and panoramic radiography. Results: A total of 198 patients was investigated, 48.0% (n=95) of whom underwent closed reduction and 52.0% (n=103) underwent open reduction. There was no significant correlation between reduction method and patient sex, age, or follow-up period. No statistically significant difference between the incidence of complications and treatment method was observed. None of the patients underwent open reduction of condylar head fracture. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that open reduction was significantly more frequent in patients with subcondylar fracture compared to in those with a fracture in the condylar head area. There was no statistically significant correlation between the groups and fracture fragment displacement. However, there was a significant difference between the treatment groups in amount of change in ramal height difference between the fractured and the non-fractured sides during treatment. Conclusion: No significant clinical differences were found between the open and closed reduction methods in patients with mandibular condylar fractures. According to fracture site, closed reduction was preferred for condyle head fractures. There was no significant relationship between fracture fragment displacement and treatment method.

• 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.