Abstract

ARDILA MEDINA, CarlosMartín  and  DUQUE SERNA, Francisco Levi. A retrospective study on etiology, type and treatment of mandibular condyle fractures. AMC [online]. 2014, vol.18, n.6, pp.621-632. ISSN 1025-0255.

Background: maxillofacial trauma affects a great number of people who suffer from different physical trauma. Objective: to determine the prevalence, types of fractures and forms of treatment of mandibular condyle fractures. Method: a retrospective study was conducted in the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the San Vicente de Paul University Hospital, Medellin, Colombia between the years 1998 and 2010. The sample was composed of 2679 patients with maxillofacial trauma. A complete medical history was made in which all the information related to the suffered trauma, as well as the family history and medicaments were annotated. A clinical and radiographic examination was also made. Results: of the total of patients with maxillofacial trauma, 542 presented mandibular condyle fractures. A greater number of fractures were observed in the left condyle, in men, and in the age group 21-30 years old. Fractures were more frequently caused by traffic accidents. A total of 322 condyle fractures were treated by means of closed reduction and 220 by means of open reduction. Conclusions: the results of the present study showed that traffic accidents were the main cause of condyle fractures being predominant in men between 21 and 30 years old. It is important to implement public policies regarding education in the area of traffic and means of transport that would increase the use of seat belts and reinforce the control of speed limits with the objective of decreasing facial lesions caused by traumas.

Keywords : MAXILLOFACIAL INJURIES [therapy]; SURGICAL PROCEDURES, OPERATIVE; MANDIBULAR CONDYLE [injuries]; ADULT; RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES.

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