Mouth opening estimation for evaluation of closed treatment of unilateral mandibular subcondylar fractures in adults

Abstract EN

Background: the incidence of condylar fracture is high, the choice of closed treatment versus surgical treatment remains a controversial issue.

Each method has advantages and disadvantages.

The current study was designed to evaluate the outcome of closed treatment of unilateral subcondylar fractures in terms of the degree of mouth opening.

Patients and methods: 18 adult patients with fresh unilateral mandibular subcondylar fractures were treated by closed method and followed up for I, 3 and 6 months after completion of treatment to record the degree of mouth opening.' resuits: the most common cause of subcondylar fractures was alleged assaults (50%) then road traffic accidents (39%) then falls and sport injury (11%).

After one month follow up 17 patients recorded more than 30 mm mouth opening, after 3 months follow up 16 patients recorded more than 35mm, after 6 months follow up 15 patients recorded more than 40 mm with a mean of 42.5mm.

Conclusion: functional results with closed treatment of unilateral subcondylar fractures in terms of the degree of mouth opening are good making this method effective in management of such fractures.