• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.281-283
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• 2012

The mandibular condyle is a region that plays a key role in the opening and closing of the mouth, and because fracture causes functional and aesthetic problems such as facial asymmetry, it is very important to perform accurate reduction. Traditionally, there has been disagreement on how to manage fracture of the mandibular condyle. This review explores the misunderstanding of mandibular condyle fracture treatment and modern-day treatment strategies.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.53-57
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of dental students in detection of mandibular condyle fractures and the effectiveness of reference panoramic images. Materials and Methods : Forty-six undergraduates evaluated 25 panoramic radiographs for condylar fractures and the data were analyzed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. After a month, they were divided into two homogeneous groups based on the first results and re-evaluated the images with (group A) or without (group B) reference images. Eight reference images included indications showing either typical condylar fractures or anatomic structures which could be confused with fractures. Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis of the difference between the first and the second evaluations for each group, and student�fs t-test was used between the two groups in the second evaluation. The intra- and inter-observer agreements were evaluated with Kappa statistics. Results : Intra- and inter-observer agreements were substantial (k=0.66) and moderate (k=0.53), respectively. The area under the ROC curve (Az) in the first evaluation was 0.802. In the second evaluation, it was increased to 0.823 for group A and 0.814 for group B. The difference between the first and second evaluations for group A was statistically significant (p<0.05), however there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the second evaluation. Conclusion : Providing reference images to less experienced clinicians would be a good way to improve the diagnostic ability in detecting condylar fracture.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

Purpose: To classify and evaluate the mandibular fractures. Materials and Methods : The author classified the mandibular fractures of 284 patients who were referred to the Chonbuk National University Dental Hospital during the period from March 2004 to June 2007. This study was based on the conventional radiographs as well as computed tomographs which were pertained to the 284 patients who have had the mandibular fractures including the facial bone fractures. And mandibular fractures were classified with respect to gender, age, site and type of the fractures. Results: More frequently affected gender with mandibular fracture was male with the ratio of 3.3:1. The most frequently affected age with mandibular fracture was third decade (38%), followed by fourth decade (16%), second decade (15%), fifth decade (11 %), sixth decade (7%), seventh decade (5%), eighth decade (4%), first decade (4%), and ninth decade (0.3%). The most frequent type of mandibular fracture was single fracture (58%), followed by double fracture (39%), triple fracture (3%). The most common site of mandibular fracture was mandibular condyle as 113 cases (27.7%) and the next was mandibular symphysis as 109 cases (26.7%), mandibular angle as 103 cases (25.3%), mandibular body as 83 cases (20.3%) in order. The sum of fracture sites were 408 sites and there were 1.4 fracture sites per one patient. The number of mandible fractures accompanied with facial bone fractures were 41 cases (14.4%). Conclusion: The results showed the most frequent type and common site of mandibular fracture was single fracture and mandibular condyle respectively. (Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2009; 39: 93-8)

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.359-369
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• 2008

Purpose: Fractures of the mandibular condyle accounts for 15% to 30% of all the mandibular fractures and lots of complications are reported. Among these complications, condylar resorption is the most important one to be taken into account. The purpose of this study is evaluating condylar resorption pattern in relation to extracorporeal fixation technique. Patients & methods: Thirty four patients with 42 mandibular condylar fractures were retrospectively examined with an average follow-up of 18.5 months (6-66 months). Male/female ratio is 27 males (7 bilateral cases) and 7 females (1 bilateral case). Applicated surgical techniques were extracorporeal fixation via submandibular approach and extracorporeal fixation via intraoral approach. We compared radiographic views of post-operative periods with that of most long term follow up in 34 operated sites respectively. Result: There were 2 generalized condylar resorption sites and 3 partial resorption sites with clinical implications. Others (29 joints) showed good healing or satisfactory adaptive state of temporomandibular joints clinically. Radiologically, signs of partial condylar resorption and/or osteoarthrosis were diagnosed in 11 patients. But, 8 out of the 11 patients didn't show significant clinical symptoms, which means successful adaptive remodeling of the surgically located condylar head. Conclusion: From the above results, intentional ramal osteotomy, temporary detachment of the fractured condyle and extracorporeal fixation technique seems to be effective and useful in those cases of condylar fractures in which reduction of the dislocated condyle is very difficult or virtually impossible.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.472-477
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• 2005

This study investigated the mandibular fractures that were treated at the Seoul National University Boramae Hospital in order to analyze the characteristics of mandibular fractures and the relationship between the causes and injury patterns. A total of 141 patients with mandibular fractures who were treated between 1996 and 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. The male to female ratio in the patient group was 5.13:1, and the mean age was 33.7 years. The most common etiologic factor was assaults (45.4%), and which was followed by activities associated with daily-life (40.4%) includeding falls, stumbling, collisions, and traffic accidents (11.3%). Single fracture sites were present in 75 patients (53.2%), two or more fracture sites were observed in other patients, and a total of 211 fracture sites were observed. The mandibular angle fractures (46.7%) was the most common in case of single fractures, and symphysis and angle fractures (45.4%) was most common in multiple fractures. Through out overall fracture sites, the most common fracture site was the symphysis (41.2%), followed by the angle (32.2%) and condyle (18.5%). Among assault and falls-related injuries, the common involving sites were the symphysis, and followed by the body and condyle. In case of traffic accidents, the symphysis fracture was the most common, and which was followed by the condyle and angle fractures. This study documented the characteristics of the mandibular fractures. The results demonstrate that preventive measures according to these characteristics will need to be implemented in order to minimize the risk of maxillofacial injuries.

• 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.40 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the results of extracorporeal fixation in patients with mandibular condylar fractures and compare them with the clinical results of conservative treatment. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 92 patients (73 male [M] : 19 female [F], age 13-69 years, mean 33.1 years) treated for condylar fractures at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Sun Dental Hospital (Daejeon, Korea) from 2007 to 2012 were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: group A (23 patients; M : F=18 : 5, age 21-69 years, mean 32.6 years), treated with extracorporeal fixation; group B (30 patients; M : F=24 : 6, age 16-57 years, mean 21.1 years), treated by conventional open reduction; and group C (39 patients; M : F=31 : 8, age 16-63 years, mean 34.4 years), treated with the conservative method ('closed' reduction). Clinical and radiographic findings were evaluated and analyzed statistically. Results: Occurrence of postoperative condylar resorption correlated with certain locations and types of fracture. In this study, patients in group A (treated with extracorporeal fixation) did not demonstrate significant postoperative complications such as malocclusion, mandibular hypomobility, temporomandibular disorder, or complete resorption of condyle fragments. Conclusion: In superiorly located mandibular condyle fractures, exact reconstruction of condylar structure with the conventional open reduction technique can be difficult due to the limited surgical and visual fields. In such cases, extracorporeal fixation of the condyle using vertical ramus osteotomy may be a better choice of treatment because it results in anatomically accurate reconstruction and low risk of complications.

• 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).

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.566-573
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• 2012

Purpose : This study evaluated the impact of the presence and aspect of mandibular third molars to the mandible angle fracture or condyle fractures in Korean. Materials and Methods : A retrospective study was designed for patients attending the division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kang-dong sacred heart hospital for treatment of mandibular fracture from January 2006 to September 2010. The primary variable was the presence of mandibular third molar and the secondary variable was the aspects of third molar impaction. Mandibular third molars were classified by the impaction depth and the available space as Pell & Gregory system. Outcome variables were the presence of mandibular angle fracture or condyle fracture. Also the source of trauma, age, sex were studied. Hospital charts, radiographs were used for study. Statistic analysis was done with descriptive statistics, the X2-test, linear-by-linear association. P value under 0.05 was considered significant statistically. Results : The number of involved patients was 86. The ratio of male to female patients was about 9:1 for angle fracture and 7:3 for condyle fracture. The most common source of trauma was assault for angle fracture and fall down for condyle fracture. The presence of mandibular third molar increased frequency of angle fracture and decreased condyle fracture with larger impaction depth. But available space of mandibular third molar did not show high association with angle or condyle fractures. Conclusion: Preventive extraction of mandibular third molar is recommended for patients with high risk of angle fracture. Male patients at their third decade or martial artists, police officer could be the case. But it is not recommended for patients with low risk of angle fracture and high risk of condyle fracture relatively. Elder female patients without any symptom on their third molar could be the case.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.38
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• pp.24.1-24.7
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• 2016

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the structural changes of temporomandibular joint immediately after condylar fractures with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Method: We evaluated 34 subjects of condylar fractures with MRI. The position, shape, and signal intensity of the condyle, disc, and retrodiscal tissue were analyzed with MR images. Results: Immediately after trauma, the disc was displaced with the fractured segment in almost all cases. And, the changes of signal intensity at the retrodiscal tissue were found but less related to the degree of fracture displacement. And, the high signals were observed almost at all fractured joint spaces and even at some contralateral joints. Conclusions: The displaced disc as well as the increased signal intensity of the joint space, condylar head, and retrodiscal tissue demands more attention to prevent the possible sequela of joint.