A retrospective clinical study of condylar fractures of the mandible in a 4-year period

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+/-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+/-6.5 days in closed reduction and 10.0+/-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.

The effect of lip adhesion on rotation-advancement repair in unilateral complete cleft lip

The present study was carried out to evaluate the postoperative results of Millard rotation-advancement repair (MR) and lip adhesion followed by Millard rotation-advancement repair (LAMR) in unilateral complete cleft lip. Twenty patients with unilateral complete cleft lip underwent MR or LAMR at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Chonnam University Hospital over a period of 6 years (January 1994 to December 1999) were analyzed. The surgical results following the operation were assessed on the basis of scoring, vertical lip length, and scar hypertrophy. The mean score was better in LAMR group (74.74+/-1.09, n=13) than in MR group (66.50+/-1.14, n=7) for both lip and nose segments. Scar hypertrophy developed in MR group with 28.6% and in LAMR group with 23.1%. No significant difference was noted in the ratio of lip length between LAMR and MR groups (0.84+/-0.08 and 0.73+/-0.10). These results suggest that LAMR is better than MR in repairing the unilateral complete cleft lip.

Correction of cleft lip nasal deformities with l-shaped iliac bone graft