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. 2025 Jul 1;30(4):e536-e542.
doi: 10.4317/medoral.27079.

Outcomes of removing the fracture fragments in the treatment of intracapsular condylar fractures in children

J Dai  1 , C Gong, D Diarra, Z Li
Affiliations

Outcomes of removing the fracture fragments in the treatment of intracapsular condylar fractures in children

J Dai et al. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. .

Abstract

Background: Treatment methods for mandibular condylar fractures in children can be broadly divided into closed treatment and open treatment (open reduction and internal fixation). The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of removing the fracture fragments when treating intracapsular condylar fractures in children.

Material and methods: A retrospective study was performed in patients aged ≤12 years with intracapsular condylar fractures treated with removal of the fracture fragments from June 2010 through June 2018. The preoperative and postoperative data of physical complaints, facial asymmetry, maximal interincisal distance, occlusal relationship and radiographic examinations were extracted from the patients' records. The collected preoperative and postoperative data were analysed.

Results: Thirteen intracapsular condylar fractures in nine cases were subjected to fracture fragments removal. In these patients, clinical and radiographic results at different follow-up periods displayed normal occlusion and satisfactory bone healing. New condyles were found to be regenerated, in the cases with follow-up period longer than 3 months.

Conclusions: Removal of fracture fragments proves to be effective in delivering satisfactory clinical results and permitting ongoing condyle remodelling and regeneration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A) The measurement methods of MRH in the spiral multi-slice CT image: a line parallel to the Frankfort horizontal (FH) plane through the point of the ante gonial notch; b, ramus height: distance from the most superior end of the condyle to line a; B) The measurement methods of APD and MLD of the condylar process based on axial plane image: a mediolateral diameter of the condylar process; b, anteroposterior diameter of the condylar process).
Figure 2
Figure 2
CT images of a case with severe dislocation of condylar fractures that underwent treatment of removing fracture fragments (left: before treatment; middle: 1 week after treatment; right: 6 months after treatment).
Figure 3
Figure 3
CT images of a case with comminution of condylar fractures that underwent surgery to remove fracture fragments (left: before surgery; middle: 1 week after surgery; right: 6 months after surgery).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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