An epidemiological study of patterns of condylar fractures in children.

Objective: To find out how the site and type of condylar fracture are affected by its aetiology and the age and sex of the patient.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Tertiary referral centre, Finland.
Material: Radiographs of 101 children (aged 15 years or less) with 119 condylar fractures.
Main Outcome Measures: Site of fracture and degree of displacement.
Results: A total of 26 of the 119 fractures were intracapsular (22%) and 93 (78%) extracapsular. Only among patients less than 6 years of age was there a preponderance of intracapsular fractures (7/12 fractures in 10 patients, 58%). In the older children 78% (83/107) were in the condylar neck. There were few subcondylar fractures (5/119, 4%). Only 6 fractures were displaced (5%). Dislocation of the condyle from the glenoid fossa was common in all age groups.
Conclusion: The site of condylar fracture is age related, but not associated with sex or aetiology.