Long-Term Evaluations Of Pediatric Condyle Fracture Patients

Oh, Sung Hwan

Abstract

This study is to evaluate and compare the long-term functional and gnathological results between conservative and surgical treatment methods of the pediatric condyle fracture patients,and finally to find out that,which is most important and predictable factors in the constructing the treatment plan for the pediatric condylar fracture. In the period from 1985 to 1998, total 30 pediatric condylar fracture patients and 37 joints below 15 years old were follow up examined to the period of 13 years (mean 5.2 yrs) For the analysis of functional and gnathological disturbance after treatments, the FDI (Functional Disturbance Index) and GDI (Growth Disturbance Index) of patients were established and analyzed according to the ages, treatment methods, and types of fracture displacements. The functional and growth disturbances of patients were very little or ignorable in general when they are treated with conservative methods, but in early teens and late children, the development of disturbances were slightly increased even after conservative treatments. And there were distinct increase of it when fracture was developed in the condyle head surface or the fracture fragments was severely dislocated regardless of treatment methods. Additionally, in the surgical patients, mild functional and growth disturbances were developed at any ages and at any types of fracture displacements. The severity of injury around the condyle head and condyle surface is(traumatically or surgically)more important in determining the prognosis of conservative treatment of pediatric condyle fracture patients and the surgical treatmenr should not be operated if possible in pediatric patients.