Three-dimensional mandibular motion after closed and open reduction of unilateral mandibular condylar process fractures

ObjectiveTo detect the changes in 3D mandibular motion after two types of condylar fracture therapies.Materials and methodsUsing a 3D motion analyzer, free mandibular border movements were recorded in 21 patients successfully treated for unilateral fractures of the mandibular condylar process (nine patients: open reduction, rigid internal fixation, and functional treatment; 12 patients: closed reduction and functional treatment; follow-up: 6–66 months), and in 25 control subjects.ResultsNo differences were found among the groups at maximum mouth opening (MO), protrusion and in lateral excursions. During opening, the patients had a larger maximal deviation to the fractured side than the controls (controls 2.3 mm, open treatment 3.9 mm, closed treatment 4.2 mm; Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.014; closed treatment vs. controls, p = 0.004), with a larger coronal plane angle (controls 2.4°, open treatment 3.6°, closed treatment 4.4°; p = 0.016; closed treatment vs. controls, p = 0.013). In the closed treatment patients, a longer follow-up was related to increased maximum MO (p = 0.04), sagittal plane angle (p = 0.03), and reduced lateral mandibular deviation during MO (p = 0.03).ConclusionMandibular condylar fractures can recover good function; some kinematic variables of mandibular motion were more similar to the norm in the open treatment patients than in closed treatment patients.