ABSTRACT
Objective@#The present study examined the effects of surgical and conservative treatment on the curative effect of patients with condylar fracture to determine the best treatment scheme and indication. @* Methods @#A total of 339 clinical cases of condylar fracture were selected, and pain severity, degree of mouth opening, angle of condylar fracture (calculated as the difference in the angle of the condylar between the fractured side and uninjured side) and the height of the mandibular ramus (calculated as the difference in the height of the mandibular ramus between the fractured side and uninjured side) of patients at admission were measured and analyzed. The effects of surgical treatment (rigid internal fixation) and conservative treatment (functional therapy) were evaluated and compared 6 months after treatment. @*Results @#Among the patients with a condylar fracture displacement angle ≥ 11.50°, Significantly more (χ2= 26.38, P < 0.05) patients exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [69.4% (118/170)] than those after conservative treatment [35.4% (29/82)]. Among the patients with a condylar fracture displacement angle < 11.50°, there was not a significant difference (χ2= 0.55, P > 0.05) between the numbers of patients who exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [52.4% (22/42)] and conservative treatment [44.4% (20/45)]. Among the patients with mandibular ramus height ≥ 4.19 mm, significantly more (χ2= 20.35, P < 0.05) patients exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [64.7% (112/173)] compared with those after conservative treatment [35.6% (32/90)]. Among the patients with mandibular ramus height < 4.19 mm, there was not a significant difference (χ2= 0.21, P > 0.05) between the numbers of patients who exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [46.7% (14/30)] and conservative treatment [41.3% (19/46)]. @*Conclusion@# Patients with a displacement angle of condyle fracture greater than 11.50° and a mandibular ramus height less than 4.19 mm exhibit the greatest pain and a better effect from surgical treatment than those from conservative treatment.