The long-term result of condyle fracture in children

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was the long-term clinical and radiological evaluation of conservatively treated condylar fractures in children. This study was therefore undertaken to analyze the long-term effects of treating condylar fractures in children with conservative therapy in order to resolve the controversial question of whether complete remodeling occurs in this age or, if not, whether it is more likely to be associated with certain types of fracture or with other factors. This study was based on a series of 11 consecutive children and adolescents, aged between 3 and 15 years, with fractures of the condylar process who had been treated with conservative therapy at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Inha University Hospital, Inchon, Korea. All patients underwent a clinical investigation with special emphasis on Temporomandibular joint function and facial asymmetry. The patients also underwent a radiologic investigation, focusing on fracture remodeling and symmetry of mandible. It consists of panoramic radiograph, PA and lateral cephalogram and 3-D CT. No patient described impaired temporomandibular joint(TMJ) function or pain on the affected side. 2 of 8 (25%) unilateral and 1 bilateral fractures show slight facial asymmetry. Despite apparently excellent recovery of function, there were marked remodeling changes evident on the CT scan. Such changes are not usually evident on panoramic radiograph. Radiologic investigation showed incomplete remodelling(54.5%) and asymmetry of the mandible (27.3%) in some patients. Conservative treatment of condyle fracture in children results in satisfactory long-term outcome of jaw function despite a relative high frequency of radiologically noted aberrations.