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Background: The fracture of mandibular symphysis combined with bilateral condylar fractures often leads to changes in the width of the mandible, which significantly widens the face of the child. Therefore, it is necessary to reposition the mandible through accurate adduction., Methods: To ensure that the mandible can be accurately repositioned, a 3D printed occlusal splint was used. Bilateral maxillomandibular fixation screws were implanted. The 3D printed occlusal splint was located on the maxillary dentition and fixed to the maxillomandibular fixation screws with wire loops. The reference basis for adduction is to make the mandibular dentition located in the occlusal splint. The absorbable plate was contoured according to the restored model and fixed at the fracture site. The 3D printed occlusal splint was retained in the maxillary dentition for two months., Results and Discussion: Postoperative computed tomography showed that the mandible had been adducted according to the preoperative design. Two months of follow-up showed that the child's facial development, mouth opening type, occlusion, and range of motion were good. It is especially suitable for children with mandibular symphyseal fractures accompanied by bilateral condylar fractures., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Objective: This study was performed to explore bone remodelling in children with intracapsular condylar fractures after the condylar fracture fragments were fixed using long screws and to offer possible explanations about the underlying mechanism., Patient and Methods: Records of children (less than 12 y old) who sustained intracapsular condylar fractures and fixed with long screws from May 2012 to January 2015 were retrieved. Age, gender, dates of injury, admission, and discharge, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of fracture, other mandibular fractures, treatment methods, and time of review were recorded and analyzed. Image dates of pretreatments and posttreatments, including the date of review, were also recorded., Results: A total of 8 patients completed their follow-up, and all patients (n=5) who were followed up after more than 3 months showed serious resorption of the condylar head. The condylar head resorbed until the height (or articular surface) dropped and aligned with the surface of the screw. The shortest time of absorption, as shown by the computed tomography scan was 106 days, and the longest time was 171 days (average time of 141.8 d)., Conclusions: Intracapsular condyle fractures in children should be managed conservatively as much as possible. However, if the height of the fracture fragments drops remarkably, open reduction and rigid internal fixation become possible choices., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Background: Mandibular subcondylar fractures can be fixed with 2 titanium plates or 2 resorbable plates. However, when a wider resorbable plate is used, there might be insufficient space on subcondylar region. The authors have tested the back of the condyle as an alternative location for the wide resorbable plate., Methods: The fractured condyle was accessed through the preauricular approach. The first resorbable plate (4 hole plate, extended; 2 mm Inion OTPSTM) was contoured around the posterior edge of the mandibular ramus. The upper and lower parts of the very resorbable plate were twisted into 2 different planes. The upper part was adapted and then fixed on the back of the condylar neck. And the lower part was fixed on the lateral surface of the posterior edge of the mandibular ramus. The second plate (4 hole plate; 2 mm Inion OTPSTM) was put below the mandibular notch as usual., Results and Discussion: Postoperative computed tomography confirmed a stable anatomical reduction of condyle. One-year follow-up showed good fracture healing. The authors believe that the back of the condyle is particularly suitable for wider resorbable plate. And this alternative site on the back of the condyle is also feasible in cases where the conventional site is not available., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

This study aimed to explore and impart understanding of bone remodelling in children with intracapsular fractures treated conservatively. Records of children (less than 12 years), who sustained intracapsular fractures and treated conservatively, were retrieved consecutively for the period of March 2011 to February 2016. Data about age, gender, date of injury, dates of admission and discharge, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of fracture, other mandibular fractures, treatment methods and time of review were recorded and analysed. Image dates of pre- and post-treatments, including date of review, were also recorded. A total of 22 patients complete their follow-up and show bone remodelling process. During their follow-up, all the displaced condylar fragments fused with the ramus stump at the displaced position. Regardless of the type of conservative procedure, both treatments cannot promote the spontaneous fracture reduction in patients with intracapsular condylar fractures. During follow-up, the absorption of the lateral process of the condyle after the closed treatment becomes close to the 'horizontal absorption', until the height (or articular surface) of the lateral condylar process dropped and aligned to the articular surface of the medial process. In children with intracapsular condylar fractures, the fracture fragment of the condyle determines the ramus height of the mandible. Closed treatment cannot restore the fracture fragment. If the height of the fracture fragments dropped remarkably, then open reduction and rigid internal fixation become more suitable., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study aimed to explore bone remodeling after condylar fracture fragments have been removed from patients with intracapsular condylar fractures. it also evaluated whether condyle fracture removal can be used alternatively when the authors treat patients with comminuted or small pieces of fracture or in extremely difficult operations., Methods: Records of patients who sustained intracapsular condylar fractures and treated by removal of fragments for the period of February 2013 to September 2019 were retrieved. Data about age, gender, date of injury, dates of admission and discharge, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of fracture, other mandibular fracture, treatment methods and time of review were recorded and analyzed. Image dates of pre- and post-treatment (including the time of review) were also recorded., Results: The data of a total of 103 patients ranging from 5 to 84 years old were retrieved during this study. A total of 135 sides of condylar fragments were removed. Almost all of the patients with comminuted condyle head fracture or type A fracture presented apparent shortening of the ramus height, and none of them showed osteogenesis (or new bone formation) during their follow-up. Present study only observed osteogenesis in few patients who sustained type B/C intracapsular condylar fractures during their follow-up. The younger the patient was, the longer the follow-up time was, and the higher the possibility of new bone formation was. No correlation was found between the amount of osteogenesis and follow-up time, the amount of osteogenesis was generally small, and no patient could form a new condyle head similar to the normal (or original) condyle head. Condylar hypertrophy only occurred in children. Four patients developed temporomandibular joint ankylosis., Conclusions: Removal of fracture fragments is an alternative treatment option for patients who sustained comminuted or small pieces of fracture or in extremely difficult operations., (Copyright © 2022 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Objective: This study aims to reveal the reconstruction process in pediatric patients with extracapsular condylar fractures after conservative treatment. We clarify that the "upright" position (or "recontouring" or favorable prognosis) of condyles is not a result of the anatomical reduction of the deviated condylar processes but originates from the remodeling of the skeleton. We also explore the related mechanism., Methods: The sample consisted of 27 pediatric patients aged less than 12 years who presented with extracapsular condylar fractures and were treated conservatively within an 8-year period (June 2011-April 2019). Data on the age, gender, date of injury, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of mandibular condylar fracture and associated injuries and treatment methods of the patients were obtained. The process of bone remodeling in condyles was also recorded and analyzed., Results: The 27 children in this study sustained 33 extracapsular condylar fractures over the 8-year period of record retrieval. Amongst these fractures, 8 (24.2%) and 25 (75.8%) were condylar neck and condylar base fractures, respectively. Deviation and green-stick fractures were the predominant types and accounted for over 3 quarters of the condylar neck and base fractures (28, 84.8%), followed by dislocation fracture (3, 9.1%), displacement fracture (1, 3.0%), and non-displaced fracture (1, 3.0%). The period of follow-up ranged from 2 days to 257 days (average, 58.78 days). Only 1 patient with bilateral extracapsular condylar fractures showed vertically reconstructed condyles, which indicates an upright position of the condylar processes. One patient showed less angulation after treatment than before treatment, 1 patient revealed greater angulation after treatment than before treatment and all other patients (20 patients) showed the same angulation pre- and post-treatment. Both patients with only extracapsular condylar fractures showed no obvious deviations in dentition and facial asymmetry after their injury and treatment. The shortest and longest times observed for bone remodeling were 33 and 256 days, respectively. Children whose condylar head remained completely or at least partly inside the glenoid fossa showed satisfactory remodeling results during follow-up. Computed tomography scan during follow-up generally showed bone regeneration in the lateral condyle articular surface and the medial portion of the ascending ramus and bone resorption in the displaced direction (ie, the medial condyle head became sharp). Condylar heads displaced completely outside of the glenoid fossa showed serious shortening of the ascending ramus, and no obvious bone remodeling was observed. Only 1 patient with bilateral extracapsular condylar fractures showed a normal contour (ie, a vertically reconstructed condyle reflecting the upright position of the condylar processes) after 8 months., Conclusion: Stress stimulation originating from the glenoid fossa and ascending ramus of the mandible is a prerequisite for good condylar reconstruction. Conservative treatment could be carried out if the condylar head remains completely or at least partly inside the glenoid fossa. When the condylar head is dislocated completely outside the glenoid fossa, the glenoid-condylar relationship ceases to exist, joint function is lost and the height of the ascending ramus is significantly reduced. In this case, open reduction may be suitable., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Objective: This study aimed to assess whether ramus height is restored in children with extracapsular condylar fractures treated by conservative or surgery procedures., Methods: The sample consisted of 35 children (collected consecutively) less than 12 years old who presented with extracapsular condylar fractures and treated within an 8-year period (June 2011 to April 2019). Data on the age, gender, date of injury, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of mandibular condylar fracture, associated injuries and treatment methods were recorded and analyzed. Ramus height restoration is the main evaluation indicator during the follow-up period., Results: Within the 8-year record retrieval, the 35 children sustained 41 extracapsular condylar fractures. For the sample size, 10 (24.4%) and 31 (75.6%) had condylar neck and base fractures, respectively. Deviation and green-stick fracture were the predominant types in condylar neck and base fractures, accounting for more than 3 quarters (31, 75.6%). The majority (33, 80.5%) of patients were treated with nonsurgical treatment, and 8 (19.5%) were treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). During the follow-up period (1-1419 days, average time of 110.6 days), only 1 patient (with bilateral extracapsular condylar fractures) had their ramus height restored (follow-up period, 256 days). Most members of the ORIF group (5 of 8, 62.5%) postoperatively showed bended ramus (deviated angularly/fragment angulation)., Conclusion: Conservative treatment could hardly restore the ramus height of children with extracapsular condylar fractures. Anatomically or totally restoring the ramus height is difficult even with the surgical treatment of ORIF; however, surgical treatment of ORIF can substantially restore the ramus height for dislocated fractures or seriously displaced fractures., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Objective: This study aimed to explore and make an understanding of absorption existed in children with intracapsular fractures., Methods: The sample was composed of all children (less than 12 years) who presented with intracapsular fractures within a 5-year period (January 2011 to April 2016). Data about age, gender, date of injury, dates of admission and discharge, transfer and/or referral by other clinics or local facilities, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of fracture, associated injuries, centimeter of mouth opening, treatment methods, image date of pre- and post-treatment (including time of review), position of condylar head in pre-treatment or post-treatment, and absorption of condylar head in pre-treatment or post-treatment were recorded and analyzed. Data analysis included the Chi-Square test, the Fisher exact test, and the t-test. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to control the confounding variables. Probabilities of p less than 0.05 were considered statistically significantly different., Results: In the 5 years records retrieved during this study, 93 children patients sustained a total of 140 condylar head fractures. Statistical analysis revealed that abduction of condylar process in post-treatment was highly related to the condylar absorption. Patients associated with other mandibular fractures were highly related to abduction of condylar process. Patients with condylar head fractures, the closer to the medial of the condylar process, the higher the risk of abduction of the condyle. No matter what kind of treatment method is used, it is very difficult to reverse the abduction of condylar process in children patients with intracapsular fractures efficaciously., Conclusion: Abduction of condylar process in post-treatment was highly related to the condylar absorption. Patients associated with other mandibular fractures were highly related to abduction of condylar process. Children patients who presented with condylar head fractures, the closer to the medial of the condylar process the higher the risk of abduction of the condyle. Neither surgery nor conservative treatment can recover the abduction of condylar process efficaciously., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the demographic characteristics of mandibular condylar fractures between children and adolescents., Methods: The sample was composed of all children (less than 12 years) and adolescents (between 13 and 18 years old) who presented with mandibular condylar fractures within a 5-year period (January 2011 to April 2016). The age, gender, time of injury, mechanism of trauma, location and pattern of fracture, associated injuries and treatment methods were recorded and analysed. Data analysis included chi-square test and Fisher exact test. Differences at p less than 0.05 were considered significant., Results: A total of 111 children and 39 adolescent patients with condylar fractures were registered and compared. More children than adolescents were involved in falls from a height (p = 0.007), but nearly no relationship was observed between the trauma aetiology and type of condylar fracture in the two patient groups. Condylar head fractures occurred most frequently in the children and adolescents, especially in the children (p < 0.05). Condylar neck fractures were more frequently observed in the adolescent patients (p < 0.001) than in the children. Green-stick fractures occurred only in the child patients (p = 0.005). The patients who fractured other sites of the mandible tended to show a decreased frequency of dislocation (condylar head was out of the glenoid fossa) (p = 0.024). Symphysis/para-symphysis fractures were highly common in the children who sustained unilateral condylar fractures, compared to adolescents (p < 0.05). The patients with bilateral condylar fractures were more frequently associated with other mandibular fractures (children, p = 0.001; adolescents, p = 0.011), especially the fracture of the mandibular body or symphysis. The children who sustained extracapsular fractures were more prone to fractures of other mandibular sites (p = 0.009), especially fracture of the symphysis/para-symphysis (p = 0.014). Intracapsular fractures in children were treated non-surgically more frequently than surgically (p < 0.001). The extracapsular fractures (mild and serious fractures) in children were also treated non-surgically more frequently (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The trauma mechanisms, incidence, pattern and treatment of condylar fractures in children substantially differ from those in adolescents. This study was conducted to enable the understanding of the differences in condylar fractures between children and adolescents. Accordingly, preventive measures and treatment plans in children or adolescents should be applied differently., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to identify and distinguish various factors that may influence the clinical symptoms (limited mouth opening and malocclusion) in patients with maxillofacial fractures. From January 2000 to December 2009, 963 patients with maxillofacial fractures were enrolled in this statistical study to aid in evaluating the association between various risk factors and clinical symptoms. Patients with fractured posterior mandibles tended to experience serious limitation in mouth opening. Patients who sustained coronoid fractures have the highest risk of serious limitation in mouth opening (OR = 9.849), followed by arch fractures, maxilla fractures, condylar fractures, zygomatic complex fractures and symphysis fractures. Meanwhile, the combined fracture of zygomatic arch and condylar process results in normal or mild mouth opening. High risks of sustaining malocclusion are preceded by the fracture of nasal bone (OR = 3.067), mandible, condylar neck/base, combined fracture of zygomatic arch and condylar process, mandibular body, bilateral condylar, dental trauma, mandibular ramus, symphysis, mandibular angle and mid-facial. Patients who experienced serious limitation in mouth opening are treated with surgery more frequently (OR = 2.118). No relationship exists between the treatment options and the patients with malocclusion.

This study aimed to identify and distinguish various factors that may influence the occurrence of mandibular coronoid fractures. From January 2000 to December 2009, a total of 1131 patients with maxillofacial fractures were enrolled in this statistical study to evaluate the association between mandibular coronoid fractures and other risk factors. Among these patients, 869 had mandibular fractures, and 25 sustained a total of 25 coronoid fractures. More than half (13 of 25 patients, 52%) of the coronoid fractures in these patients were caused by motor vehicle accidents. Among these coronoid fractures, seven were associated with other mandibular fractures, and 23 (92.0%) were related to midfacial fractures. The most common site of midfacial fracture was the zygomatic arch (20 patients, 80%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the most important influencing factor was the zygomatic arch fracture (odds ratio, 9.033; 95% confidence interval, 1.658, 49.218; p = 0.011). The majority of coronoid fracture fragments (19 of 25, 76%) were removed during operation. The most commonly used incision is hemicoronal or bicoronal approach (16 of 19, 84.2%).

As the mandible is susceptible to fracture, the aim of this study was to use multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify and distinguish various internal factors that may influence the location of mandibular fractures. The study included 1131 patients with maxillofacial fractures during the period from January 2000 to December 2009 to evaluate the association of mandibular fracture location (unilateral symphysis, body, angle, condylar, or bilateral condylar fractures) with various internal factors. Among the 1131 patients, 869 had mandibular fractures. Data on age, sex, soft tissue injuries, dental trauma, and maxillofacial fracture type were collected and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. In total, 387, 210, 139, 319, and 172 patients were diagnosed with unilateral symphysis, body, angle, unilateral, or bilateral condylar fractures, respectively. The dental trauma in patients with bilateral condylar fractures differed from that in patients with unilateral condylar fractures. Patients with mandibular fracture (unilateral symphysis, body, unilateral or bilateral condylar) possessed an approximately equal risk of soft tissue injuries in the mandible. Patients with either unilateral or bilateral condylar fractures were associated with a low risk of mandibular angle fracture (OR < 1). Similarly, patients with mandibular angle fracture were associated with a low risk of unilateral or bilateral condylar fractures (OR < 1). Moreover, patients with symphysis fracture were associated with a low risk of bilateral condylar fractures (90 of 387 [23.3%], OR 0.899). By contrast, patients with bilateral condylar fractures were associated with a high risk of symphysis fracture (90 of 172 [52.3%], OR 17.38). Patients with condylar fractures, particularly those with bilateral condylar fractures, were infrequently associated with secondary mandibular fractures. Mandibular fractures tended to have less of an association with midfacial fractures. The occurrence of mandibular fractures is strongly correlated with age, sex, soft tissue injuries, dental trauma, and the pattern and position of the maxillofacial fractures in patients.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the results in isolated mandibular angle fractures treated with resorbable plates and to summarize experiences of the application of resorbable plates., Patients and Methods: Ten patients (6 men and 4 women) with isolated displaced mandibular angle fracture were included in this case series. Open reduction by intraoral or extraoral approach was performed, and the fractures were fixed using single or dual resorbable plates. Postoperatively, follow-up was undertaken to evaluate the fracture healing and the degradation of resorbable plates., Results: All the fractures healed without complications during the follow-up period. No screw or plate fractured during the surgery, no dislocation of the fracture segment after the fixation by resorbable plates, and no foreign body reaction related with resorbable plates were observed., Conclusions: With proper indication, resorbable plates are suitable for the fixation of isolated mandibular angle fractures. Single or dual resorbable plates by intraoral or extraoral approach can be individualized on the basis of the patients' condition.