Differential indications for the surgical management of fractures of the mandibular condyle

The frequency and importance of collum mandibulae fractures is indicated, especially in connection with the sequels of conservative-functional therapy, and the different classifications and types of fractures are described. The non-surgical approach is evaluated as a treatment. Its inconvenient and sometimes unsatisfactory results necessitate the surgical treatment of certain types of collum mandibulae fractures. Absolute en relative indications for osteosynthetic treatment of condylar fractures are noted, the proposed surgical technique is discussed. The importance of a universal preauricular incision continued in an incision for parotidectomy and resulting in a standard incision or a combined preauricular-submandibular incision, is pointed out. Surgical technique for intra and extra capsular collum fractures is illustrated. Our preference goes to functional stable osteosynthesis using titanium mini-plates and the often obligatory dissection of the facial nerve. The so called "condylar shave" or remodelling condylotomy in analogy with the DAUTREY-operation is a therapeutic contingency in case of bilateral collum mandibulae fractures with unilateral low condylar fracture where classical mini-plate osteosynthesis is done, and intracapsular multi-fractured condylar head on the other side where the condylar shave or rubble clearing is performed The attitude towards children is discussed. The result of this surgical technique is illustrated through the follow-up of 73 surgical treatments of collum fractures in 59 patients. We conclude that surgical osteosynthetic treatment of collum mandibulae fractures with a strict indication in case of dislocated and luxated fractures should be included in the therapeutic range of modern maxillo-facial traumatology.