Fractures of the mandibular condyle: A comparison of patients, fractures and treatment characteristics between Groningen (The Netherlands) and Dresden (Germany).

PURPOSE: To explore differences in patient, fracture, accident and treatment characteristics between patients treated for a mandibular condyle fracture in the University Centres of Dresden and Groningen, as an explanation for differences treatment results.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Patients' fracture, accident and treatment characteristics were obtained from the medical records of Dresden and Groningen from January 1, 2008, to August 31, 2011, and were analysed using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

In Dresden, compared to Groningen, patients were generally older (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02; 1.05, per year), were more often male (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.48; 4.34) and more often had intracapsular (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.67; 5.22) and low condylar (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.14; 3.04) fractures. In Groningen 98% of patients received closed treatment and in Dresden 42%.

CONCLUSION

Significant differences in patients and fractures and treatments were found between both Centres. These differences can partly be explained by the demographics of the cities and differences in imaging techniques (e.g., computed tomography, Orthopantomogram, Towne projection) applied to identify fractures. This study illustrates that differences in diagnosis, treatment and outcome are not only related to the health care system but also to differences in patient characteristics between centres.