Mandibular Condyle Fracture- Effect of Treatment on Occlusal Relationship

The incidence of fractures involving the mandibular condyle are stated by most authors to be the second-most common type of fracture of the mandible with male-female ratio 2:1. Condylar fracture may results in restricted mouth opening, restricted movement of the jaw and malocclusion, Mal-occlusion following condylar trauma may result from alteration in the condylar growth center or union of the fractured segments in a position other than that existing prior to injury. Therefore, the aim of the treatment should be to achieve normal static and dynamic occlusal relationships after treatment . The purpose of this study was to see the improvements in the occlusal relationships after the treatment of the fractured mandibular condyle. Two different treatment modalities surgical and nonsurgical were used to assess their impact on occlusion. The study followed a prospective comparative design and was carried out at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan on sixty patients with uni-lateral condylar fractures. Thirty patients were treated by nonsurgical method and thirty by surgical method. At different intervals of their post-operative visits, patients were evaluated in terms of occlusion to assess the difference between the two groups. Patients treated by nonsurgical method, i.e., closed reduction had greater percentage of malocclusions (44%) at the final post operative visit i.e. one year, as compared with patients treated by surgical treatment (8.3%) p=0.005.. Based on this study, more consistent occlusion can be expected when fractures of the condyle are treated by the open reduction and internal fixation technique