[Clinical evaluation of open and close treatment in pediatric condylar fractures].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of open and close treatment of condylar fractures of mandible in children.

METHODS

A total of 78 cases (105 mandibular condylar fractures) were included in this study. All patients (younger than 12 years at the time of injury were followed up for at least 3 years. According to the classification of the condylar fractures, open or close treatment was chosen. Clinical outcomes were classified as favorable or unfavorable depending on the mouth opening, pattern of mouth opening, occlusion, facial symmetry. Condylar remodeling was defined as complete, moderate, or poor based on the radiographic findings. Depending on the classification, 14 sides of type I, 48 sides of type II and 43 sides of type III were included in this study.

RESULTS

Open treatment was chosen in 51 sides and close treatment was chosen in 54 sides. Most of the patients acquired satisfactory clinical outcomes. Better radiologic remodeling of the condylar process was found in the patients treated by open treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Favorable long-term clinical outcomes were obtained in both open and close treatment of mandibular condylar fractures. A better morphological remodeling of condylar process was found in patients with open treatment.