ABSTRACT
This is an epidemiological study of patterns of condylar fractures. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and etiology of condylar fractures. In this retrospective study, data were obtained by means of special questionnaire regarding age, gender, anatomic site, pattern, causes of injury, treatment modalities and complications. During an 11 years period [1994-2004] 475 patients represented 134 condylar fractures [28.2%] admitted to Dr. Shariati Hospital of Tehran-Iran. Of the 134 patients, 105 [78%] were men and 29 [22%] were women [ratio 3.6:1]. Patients' age at the time of injury ranged from 2 to 75 years, with a mean age 24.7 years. The highest incidence was seen in the third decade of life [27.6%]. The predominant causative factors in this study was motor vehicle accident [42%] followed by falls and assaults. Most patients [88.8%] were treated by close reduction surgery. The seasonal distribution showed that summer accounted a highest percentage [31%] of all fractures. The condylar fractures included 28.2 percentages of all mandibular fractures in this study. The most common part of condylar fractures was subcondylar site [76.1%]. The most common causes were traffic accidents [42.2%]. The most common treatment method was close reduction [88.2%]. The most common fixation method was maxillomandibular fixation [MMF]. Fracture rate in men was more than women [78.4% Vs. 21.6%]. The most important associated complications with condylar fractures was ankylosis [2.98%]