Residual and late complications of conservative

management of condylar fracture

Hassan El-Abdin, BDS, FDSRCPS
College of Dentistry, Kihg Saud University, P.O.Box 60169, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia.

Due to the increased incidence of road traffic accidents, fractures of the facial skeleton are on the rise with condylar fracture being almost 50% in some societies. The latter is usually treated either surgically or conservatively. Advocates of the conservative approach believe that the only indication for surgical intervention is displacement of the fractured condyle with a magnitude and direction such that occlusion is impossible and function is deranged. This paper presents findings in eight patients with history of fractured condyle, who were managed conservatively but presented later with serious and late complications.

Saudi Dental Journal 1989;1(1):14-17.