title: Early complete bone union after condylar fracture in a child.
abstract: A 3-year-old boy had unilateral intracapsular condylar fracture due to a fall. Short duration of immobilization using a facial band was performed for 5 days without any surgical intervention. The patient had full recovery in mouth opening with no deviation or asymmetry of the mandible. Posttraumatic 6 weeks later, the patient's computed tomogram revealed complete reduction of fracture, and bone union had occurred. In condylar fractures of children, treatment protocols with short duration of immobilization and early active exercise can obtain complete bone union, contrary to the previously described deformity or remodeling process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. younhwank@daum.net
authors.forename: Youn Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seungki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Jeong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D001458:Bandages; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed