Condylar fractures during growth: Follow-up of 16 patients

Fractures of the mandibular condyle represent 20% to 35% of all mandibular fractures. There are several clinical variants of this type of fracture tha t give rise to different problems in relation to their classification and t reatment. A sample of 16 patients (of a total of 280 patients examined and treated from 1985 through 1995) with mono- and bilateral, displaced and dec omposed, condylar fractures that occurred during growth were examined by th e authors, who assessed, by a 2-year followup, the relevant clinical, funct ional, and instrumental parameters. On the basis of the data gathered by th is study, a plan was drawn up for treating these patients that takes into a ccount the different situations, such as either a nonsurgical or surgical t reatment (by the use of condylectomy or external rigid fixation), and point s out the advantages and disadvantages of each method.