A CASE REPORT OF LONGITUDINAL FRACTURE OF THE CONDYLAR HEAD IN 4-YEAR-OLD CHILD

• Published in: Pediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 113 - 116
• Main Authors: NUKATA, Junichiro, KANO, Yasuyuki, MICHIZAWA, Masahiro, SAKUDA, Masayoshi, FUJISHIRO, Hiromi, INATANI, Tadayuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: JAPANESE SOCIETY OF PEDIATRIC ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY 1993; 日本小児口腔外科学会
• Subjects: Computed tomography; Condylar head; Longitudinal fracture
• ISSN: 0917-5261; 1884-6661
• DOI: 10.11265/poms1991.3.113

A 4-year-old boy with a disturbance of mouth opening was referred to our clinic. Routine x-ray findings showed only mandibular symphyseal fracture. Computed tomography (CT) disclosed the longitudinal fracture of the left mandibular condyle and only slight dislocation of its segment. Restriction of mouth opening and pain at mouth opening disappeared before operation. At operation, the fractured symphysis was reduced and fixed by inner maxillary wiring but the condylar fracture was not treated. Mouth opening training was started from the day after operation. At present, he has no difficulty in mouth opening and has restored good occlusion. Since one of the primary growth centers is in the condyle itself, disturbance in this region is considered by many to lead to mandibular deformity. It also appears that children are more susceptible to ankylosis in instances of intracapusular fracture. Long follow-up is therefore required for children with condylar damage. In Japan, only 8 cases of longitudinal condylar fracture of the mandible have been reported. Recently, the number of case report has rapidly increased due to closer examination using CT. This may indicate that the incidence is actually higher than reported.