title: An epidemiological study of patterns of condylar fractures in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out how the site and type of condylar fracture are affected by its aetiology and the age and sex of the patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral centre, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiographs of 101 children (aged 15 years or less) with 119 condylar fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Site of fracture and degree of displacement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26 of the 119 fractures were intracapsular (22%) and 93 (78%) extracapsular. Only among patients less than 6 years of age was there a preponderance of intracapsular fractures (7/12 fractures in 10 patients, 58%). In the older children 78% (83/107) were in the condylar neck. There were few subcondylar fractures (5/119, 4%). Only 6 fractures were displaced (5%). Dislocation of the condyle from the glenoid fossa was common in all age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The site of condylar fracture is age related, but not associated with sex or aetiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorén
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hallikainen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nurminen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology