title: Nonsurgical management of condylar fractures in children: A 15-year clinical retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the 15 years of experience after closed treatment of condylar fractures in children, by evaluating the short- and long-term results and propose treatment modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrieved for all young patients with condylar fractures who were treated from 2000 to 2014. Gender, age of patient, date of injury, type of fracture, treatment provided, and follow-up were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 84 patients (mean age: 8.9 years) with 106 condylar fracture sites were included in the study. In 80 cases (95.2%), treatment was nonsurgical, with or without intermaxillary fixation, followed by kinesiotherapy. An intraocclusal block was additionally placed in 19 cases. Open reduction was selected in 4 cases. All condylar fractures healed without functional or esthetic complications, with the exception of 2 patients (2/80, 2.5%). Therefore, in late follow-up, no subjective symptoms were recorded, and a functional well-contoured condylar process was observed in all X-rays. Slight asymptomatic mandibular deviation was recorded in wide mouth opening in 29.1% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative treatment of condylar fractures is the treatment of choice in children. However, the child's age, adequacy of function of the mandible, degree of displacement or dislocation of the condylar fragment, and need for active kinesiotherapy should be considered in all cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "P. and A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Greece; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Professor I. Iatrou), Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: lygidakis-nadia@ath.forthnet.gr.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theologie-Lygidakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "P. and A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chatzidimitriou
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "P. and A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Greece; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Professor I. Iatrou), Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tzerbos
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "P. and A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gouzioti
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "P. and A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Greece; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Professor I. Iatrou), Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iatrou
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Children; Condylar fractures; Conservative treatment; Outcome