title: Anatomical and Functional Recovery of Intracapsular Fractures of the Mandibular Condyle: Analysis of 124 Cases after Closed Treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of intracapsular fracture lines of the mandibular condyle on the anatomical and functional recovery after non-surgical closed treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and radiological follow-up of 124 patients with intracapsular fractures of the mandibular condyle was performed after closed treatment between 2005 and 2012. The intracapsular fractures were classified into three categories: type A (medial condylar pole fracture), type B (lateral condylar pole fracture with loss of vertical height) and type M (multiple fragments or comminuted fracture).
  
  
  RESULTS
  By radiological finding, fracture types B and M lost up to 24% vertical height of the mandibular condyle compared to the height on the opposite side. In Type M, moderate to severe dysfunction was observed in 33% of the cases. Bilateral fractures were significantly associated with the risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction in fracture types A and B. Bilateral fracture and TMJ dysfunction were not statistically significantly associated in type M fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the mandibular intracapsular condylar fractures recovered acceptably after conservative non-surgical treatment with functional rehabilitation, even with some anatomical shortening of the condylar height. The poor functional recovery encountered in type M fractures, especially in cases with additional fracture sites and bilateral fractures, points up the limitation of closed treatment in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University.
authors.forename: Jong-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University.
authors.forename: Eun-Gyu
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University.
authors.forename: Guk-Jin
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University.
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University.
authors.forename: Jin-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University.
authors.forename: Tae-Geon
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University.
authors.forename: Jun-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Paeng
keywords: Mandibular condyle; Mandibular fracture; Temporomandibular joint disorders