Long term results from the treatment of sub-condylar region fractures of the mandible

The Sub-condylar region is a common place for mandible fractures and these fractures can be managed by open reduction and internal fixation techniques, or only inter-maxillary fixations. The aim was to reveal the effects of healing of these fractures on clinical and radiologic findings. This is a clinical study including 15 patients. All patients had unilateral sub-condylar fractures and patients who had bilateral sub-condylar fractures, intra-articular fractures, or displaced mandible fractures that were located on another subpart were excluded. Clinical assessments include occlusion, maximum mouth opening at an interincisal distance, deviation of the mandible with mouth opening, and general oral and health assessment index. Radiologic assessments include the heights of the condyles and rami + condyles, and the distances between the mandible anguli and cranial base. Statistical tests have been performed. The patients’ ages ranged between 9 and 70 years (mean:28.1±15.4). Follow-up period ranged between 6 and 74 months (mean: 28.3±27.2). 13 patients had normal occlusions. The mean maximum mouth opening was 4.3±0.69 centimeters. 11 patients had a mean mandibular deviation of 0.26±0.27 centimeters with mouth opening. Clinical effects of the fracture and healing period can be accepted as quite satisfying in both clinical and radiologic means with either treatment options including open reduction internal fixations and IMF/Arch-Bar-only techniques. Long-term results of sub-condylar region fractures are quite acceptable with a high level of quality of life.