A follow-up study on extracorporeal fixation of condylar fractures using vertical ramus osteotomy

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to report the results of extracorporeal fixation in patients with mandibular condylar fractures and compare them with the clinical results of conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 92 patients (73 male [M] : 19 female [F], age 13-69 years, mean 33.1 years) treated for condylar fractures at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Sun Dental Hospital (Daejeon, Korea) from 2007 to 2012 were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: group A (23 patients; M : F=18 : 5, age 21-69 years, mean 32.6 years), treated with extracorporeal fixation; group B (30 patients; M : F=24 : 6, age 16-57 years, mean 21.1 years), treated by conventional open reduction; and group C (39 patients; M : F=31 : 8, age 16-63 years, mean 34.4 years), treated with the conservative method ('closed' reduction). Clinical and radiographic findings were evaluated and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Occurrence of postoperative condylar resorption correlated with certain locations and types of fracture. In this study, patients in group A (treated with extracorporeal fixation) did not demonstrate significant postoperative complications such as malocclusion, mandibular hypomobility, temporomandibular disorder, or complete resorption of condyle fragments. CONCLUSION: In superiorly located mandibular condyle fractures, exact reconstruction of condylar structure with the conventional open reduction technique can be difficult due to the limited surgical and visual fields. In such cases, extracorporeal fixation of the condyle using vertical ramus osteotomy may be a better choice of treatment because it results in anatomically accurate reconstruction and low risk of complications.