Condylar fractures could be treated either surgically or non-surgically. Objectives: To assess the treatment outcome of condylar fractures treated with non-surgical (conservative) method. Methods: 45 patients, aged 7-56 years, with condylar fracture were treated at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery - Institute of Odonto-Stomatology, Ho Chi Minh City from January 2001 to December 2002. The treatment consisted of fracture reduction, 10-14 days intermaxillary fixation, followed by activation of mandibular movements. Patients were followed-up at 1 month, 2 months and 6 months post-treatment and maximum mouth opening, protrusion and lateral excursion were evaluated and recorded. All measurements were made using a ruler and data was analysed using one-way repeated measure ANOVA. Bone contiguity, bone resorption and callus formation were qualitatively evaluated on Towne's and panoramic films for each patient by visual examination. Clinical and radiologic assessments were done by independent examiners.
Results:
|
Mandibular movements |
1 month |
2 months |
6 months |
|
Maximum mouth opening (mm) |
31.5 (±8.0) |
41.5*(±5.9) |
45.5 (±4.9) |
|
Protrusion (mm) |
3.8 (±2.3) |
6.3*(±3.0) |
7.2* (±1.7) |
|
Excursion on fractured side (mm) |
6.8 (±3.1) |
8.4*(±2.6) |
10.1 (±3.3) |
|
Excursion on contralateral side (mm) |
4.4 (±2.3) |
6.6*(±3.2) |
8.0* (±2.4) |
* significantly different (p<0.05)
Patients exhibited significant improvement in mandibular movements at each recall appointments (p<0.05). Radiographic findings showed a combination of bone resorption and callus formation at 1 month and healing continued up to 6 months. Conclusions: It can be concluded that conservative method was effective for treating condylar fractures.