• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.270-276
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• 2001

The treatment of mandibular subcondylar fractures is a matter of controversy. The majority of mandibular subcondylar fracture are treated by closed reduction, but the displaced or dislocated mandibular subcondylar fractures may be treated by open reduction. The characteristics of open reduction are the anatomical reduction, the functional restoration, the rapid function, the maintenance of vertical ramus dimension, the better appearance and the less resultant TMJ problem etc. When an open reduction is considered, the wire, miniplate, lag screw and Kirschner wire are available with internal fixation. Of these, Kirschner wire is a simple method relatively and correct positioning of the wire achieves rigid fixation. But many open reduction methods for mandibular subcondylar fractures require extraoral approach. The extraoral approach has some problems, the facial scar and the risk of facial nerve injury. On the other hand, the intraoral approach eliminates the potency of the facial scar and the facial nerve injury, but is difficult to access the operation site. Since the intraoral approach was first described by Silverman (1925), the intraoral approach to the mandibular condyle has been developed with modifications. The purpose of this article is to describe the intraoral technique with the Kirschner wire on mandibular subcondylar fractures. Conclusion : The intraoral reduction with Kirschner wire on mandubular subcondylar fractures avoids the facial scar and facial nerve injury and is simple method to the extraoral approach. And it has minimal morbidity and better esthetics.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was the long-term clinical and radiological evaluation of conservatively treated condylar fractures in children. This study was therefore undertaken to analyze the long-term effects of treating condylar fractures in children with conservative therapy in order to resolve the controversial question of whether complete remodeling occurs in this age or, if not, whether it is more likely to be associated with certain types of fracture or with other factors. This study was based on a series of 11 consecutive children and adolescents, aged between 3 and 15 years, with fractures of the condylar process who had been treated with conservative therapy at the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Inha University Hospital, Inchon, Korea. All patients underwent a clinical investigation with special emphasis on Temporomandibular joint function and facial asymmetry. The patients also underwent a radiologic investigation, focusing on fracture remodeling and symmetry of mandible. It consists of panoramic radiograph, PA & lateral cephalogram and 3-D CT. No patient described impaired temporomandibular joint(TMJ) function or pain on the affected side. 2 of 8 (25%) unilateral and 1 bilateral fractures show slight facial asymmetry. Despite apparently excellent recovery of function, there were marked remodeling changes evident on the CT scan. Such changes are not usually evident on panoramic radiograph. Radiologic investigation showed incomplete remodelling(54.5%) and asymmetry of the mandible (27.3%) in some patients. Conservative treatment of condyle fracture in children results in satisfactory long-term outcome of jaw function despite a relative high frequency of radiologically noted aberrations.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.448-456
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• 2011

Introduction: Condylar fractures are common in the maxillofacial region, comprising 29-40 percent of all mandibular fractures, accounting for about 20-62 percent). Previous studies reported that pediatric condylar fractures can cause disorders in facial growth and function, and the treatment methods have been controversial. Recently, conservative treatment has shown good results in skeletal growth and functional recovery but the conservative treatment of pediatric condylar fractures has shown unpredictable and undesirable results in some cases, such as facial asymmetry and temporomandibular joint disorder. This study examined the specific age groups and specific mandibular condylar fracture type in growing children treated conservatively in the past. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients (10 men and 8 women) who received conservative treatment for unilateral condylar fractures in Dankook University Dental Hospital between 2000 to 2007 were followed up for a mean period of 7.2 years. Results: In the survey of 18 pediatric patients who received conservative treatment for condylar fractures, the incidence of temporomandibular dysfunction and growth disturbance was 45% and 35%, respectively. Conclusion: In all complications, the symptoms observed most frequently was mouth opening displacement of the mandible exceeding 2 mm. The other complications of functional and growth disturbance included facial asymmetry concentrated along specific condylar types. Complications including facial asymmetry and functional and growth disturbances showed an increasing tendency according to the specific fracture types. Functional and growth disturbances in the undisplaced condylar fracture type showed a lower incidence(P <0.05). Functional and growth disturbances differed according to the fracture type, which has poor relationship with articular fossa and condyle(P <0.05). Functional and growth disturbance in the cases of the high-level condylar fracture type showed a higher incidence(P <0.05). The functional and growth disturbances of the fracture types were similar in the fragment-contact and non-contact groups(P >0.05).

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.631-635
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• 2007

Purpose: The classic technique for open reduction of subcondylar fractures is the submandibular approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical result of retromandibular approach to displaced subcondylar fractures. Material and methods: During a period of 24months we perfomed a prospective study with a retromandibular approach in 23 patients with displaced subcondylar fractures. In this article we describe clinical result in 23 patients with follow ups for 3 months after surgery. Preoperatively all patients had malocclusion and radiology demonstrated displacement. Result: The retromandibularl approach for ORIF was good in all case. Mouth opening(M/O) was 49mm. Occlusion was good too. Permanent facial nerve palsy was not detected. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the retromandibular approach is a safe technique for subcondylar fractures.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.283-294
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• 1992

Functional recovery associated with mouth opening after mandibular condyle fracture was a contradictory result of many authors. The treatment goal of condyle fracture has been not only the good reduction and fixation but also the rapid functional recovery with mouth opening capacity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mouth opening capacity after surgical or non-surgical treatment of condyle fracture according to the site, level, maxillomandibular fixation(MMF) and operation method based on 39 patents with condyle fracture who were admitted to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital from May.1, 1990 to Aug.31, 1992. The results were as follows. 1. The most common fracture site was level IV (17 cases : 42.2%) and level I (14 cases : 36.8%), level II (5 cases: 13.2%) and level III(3 cases : 7.9%) were in decreasing order of frequency. Compound fracture with symphysis was more frequent (69.2%) than simple fracture(30.8%). 2. The mouth opening capacity was increased in the level I compared with level IV. 3. The mouth opening capacity was increased in the group of segment removal. 4. The mouth opening capacity was increased in the MMF period was decreased. 5. Better mouth opening capacity was recorded in the physical therapy group of more than 3-4 weeks of treatment period.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 1992

The author investigated the 162 patients with the condylar fractres of the mandible who were admitted in Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Chosun Dental School from January 1985 to September 1992 clinically, including fracture incidennce, age and sex of the patients, causes of injures, associated injures, treatments and complications and obtained the following results. 1. Of the 449 patients with mandibular fractures, 162patients suffered condylar fractures(36.1%). 2. Of the 162 patients, males with condylar fractures were 128 patients, by a ratio of 3.8 : 1. 3. The most frequently affected age group was the third decade(32.7%). 4. Falls were ranked as the predominant cause(50.6%), followed by traffic accident(27.8%) and violence (16.0%). 5. The incidence of single condylar fractures was 28% and symphysis fractures were the most commomest of the concomittant injuries(60%). 6. The subcondylar fractures occurred most frequently(41.6%) and anteromedial displacement of the condylar fragments occurred most frequently(45.4%) 7. Of the all condylar fracture patients, children under 15 of age comprized 31 patients(19.1%) and condylar head fractures occurred most frequently at those children. 8. Of the managetments in condylar fractures, open reduction was 52.5% and remainder were closed reduction(47.5%). 9. Complications ensured such as TMJ ankylosis, limitation of mouth opening and mandibular movements, TMJ dysfunction, and anterior open bite.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2012

Purpose: This study considered the effects and proper treatments of mandibular condyle fractures by comparing clinical differences and complications according to analysis and treatment plan. Methods: From September 2007 to August 2010, patients who were diagnosed with condylar fracture and monitored for more than 3 months were selected. Cases were divided in a reductive manner and evaluated by type and period of intermaxillary fixation (IMF), status of occlusion and trismus according to the Spiessle/Schroll method. A total 50 patients were examined. Results: The number of the unilateral condyle fractures was 45 and 30 patients had multiple fractures. Type of fracture was categorized by the Spiessle/Schroll method. There were 21 patients with type I, 11 patients with type II, 3 patients with type 3, 10 patients with type V and 5 patients with type VI; there were no patients with a type IV fracture. 11 patients were operated on with open reduction. Among them, 9 patients were type II and 2 patients were type I. For type I patients, an intra-oral approach was conducted with an endoscope and trocar. For 3 of the type II patients, an retromandibular approach was conducted and for the rest of the type II patients, the same approach as type I was used. The periods of IMF were 2.36 weeks (mean) in open reduction group and 2.9 weeks (mean) in closed reduction group and the total mean period is 2.78 weeks. All patients had stable occlusion after removing the IMF. Trismus occurred in 1 patient for open reduction and 5 patients for closed reduction. Facial nerve palsy was observed in one patient postoperatively that resolved after 6 months. Conclusion: In this study, similar prognosis was shown after an open and closed reduction was conducted. Therefore, treatments need to be planned depending on the degree of condyle fracture and the amount of displacement. Additionally, the period of IMF could be shortened with open reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2004

Uni- or bilateral mandibular hypoplasia can be associated with various syndromes or is acquired after early traumatic or inflammatory disease in the temporomandibular joint(TMJ). Early treatment is necessary to avoid consequent impairment of midfacial growth. The standard treatment of these malformations consists of the application of bone grafts which can lead to unpredictable growth, but the new procedure of bone lengthening which was presented by McCarthy et al. represents a limited surgical intervention and therefore open up a new perspective of treatment, especially in younger children with severe deformities. Patients with hemifacial microsomia and facial asymmetry have a vertically short maxilla, a tilted occlusal plane, and a short mandible. A 14-years-old boy with facial asymmetry, who was fractured on both condyle and mandibular symphysis before 8 years ago, was treated by mandibular ramus lengthening, symphysial widening and surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion with corticotomy. After allowing 1 week for the healing of the periosteum, the distraction was performed at the rate of 0.5-1.0mm per day for 7 days on maxilla and 14 days on mandible. The device was maintained on maxilla and mandible for 12 weeks following distraction. The difference in ramus and mandibular transverse deficiency were corrected and facial asymmetry was improved with complex distraction osteogenesis.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.447-457
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• 1995

The subjects of this study consisted of 75 patients with 83 condylar fractures, who were admitted to Chonbuk National University Hospital from Jan. 1988 to Oct. 1995. The purpose of this study was to compare the imagings of conventional radiograms with those of computed tomograms and to aid in the diagnosis of condylar fractures. Also the author evaluated the usefulness of 3-dimensional reconstructive imaging in condylar fractures. The obtained results were as follows: 1. The condylar fractures were observed mainly between 2nd and 4th decades, but there was no significant difference of incidence between decades. The incidence of condyalr fractures by fracture site was subcondyalr(44.6％), condylar head(36.1％), condylar neck(19.3％) in orders. 12 of 30 condylar head fractures were sagittal splitting fractures. 2. According to the relationship of condylar head to articular fossa, the incidence of condylar fractures was higher in Type II and Type m. And the incidence of subcondylar fractures was higher in Type I classified by Mclennan. But there was no significant difference of incidence between Types. 3. The more the fracture fragments were displaced, the easier the fracture patterns were detected in conventional radiograms. The computed tomograms were also useful in the diagnosis of sagittal splitting fractures which were displaced mesially. 4. The 3-dimensional reconstructive imaging were useful in the evaluation of the fracture patterns, but they were not useful when the size of fragment and the degree of displacement were small.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.471-482
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• 1995

Bony remodeling pattern of condyle fractures in children are different from in adult for growing of condyle, also might affect treatment and prognosis of the condyle fracture. Subjects of this clinical and radiologic study were 26 temporomandibular joints diagnosed as condyle fracture in 23 patients under 15 years old age. They were treated with conservative method at Dental Hospital of Yonsei University from Jan., 1986 to Oct., 1994. Bony remodeling related with fracture pattern was evaluated. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The ratio of male to female in patients with condyle fracture was 1 : 0.9 and the difference of sex ratio was not noted. Comparing with preschool-age group and school-age group, age frequency was higher in preschool-age group(83％). 2. Fallen down(54％) was the most frequent cause of condyle fractures. Traffic accident and slip down were followed. 3. The most common clinical sign of condyle fractures was tenderness to paipation09 cases). Mouth opening limitation07 cases), swelling(7 cases), malocclusion(3 cases) were next in order. 4. According to sites of condyle fractures, unilateral fractures were in 20 patients and bilateral fractures in 3 patients, therefore total 23 patients-26 cases of condyle fracture were observed. According to fracture distribution, condyle fractures were in 10 patients(44％). Condyle fractures with symphysis fracture(9 patients, 39％), condyle fractures with ascending ramus fracture(2 patients, 9％), condyle fracture with mandibular body fracture(1 patient, 4％), and condyle fractures with mandibular angle fracture(1 patient, 4％) were followed. 5. In displacement pattern of fractured fragment of mandibular condyle, dispiacement(17 cases, 66％) was most common. Dislocation(5 cases, 19％) and deviation (4 cases, 15％) were next in order. 6. During the observation period of fractured condyles, remodeling patterns of fracture sites related with articular fossa were observed with usual condylar shape in 23 cases and with prominently different shape in 3 cases.