title: [Mandibular condyle ectomy for the treatment of comminuted condylar fracture].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility and indication of condylectomy for treatment of comminuted fractures of the condyle above the neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients with condylar fractures, treated between September 2007 and September 2011 were reviewed respectively. Among them, 30 underwent open reduction and internal fixation, 15 underwent conservative therapy, and 16 patients (18 sides) who had comminuted fractures of the condyle above the neck underwent condylectomy. All the patients were followed up for 5 to 48 months after treatment to evaluate the outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 16 patients with condylectomy, poor wound healing due to rejection of hemostatic gauze was noted in 1 patient, occlusal deviation occurred in 1 patient, mild mouth opening limitation happened in 1 patient, and anterior open bite was present in 1 patient. The other patients recovered well, without apparent discomfort, malocclusion and facial asymmetry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients with finished maxillofacial growth, condylectomy is a feasible and effective way for management of comminuted fractures of the condyle above the neck. Postoperative occlusal deviation, open bite and limited mouth opening can be corrected with further expectant treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Lishui People's Hospital. Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China. linYan84819@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shi-long
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Jian-qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Tong-hai
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Wei-dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yin-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000151:congenital; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008310:Malocclusion; D008335:Mandibular Condyle; D008337:Mandibular Fractures; D012189:Retrospective Studies