Abstract:

Objective:This study aim at comparing anatomical and functional recovery from surgical and non-surgical treatmentof condy- lar process fractures.Methods: Totally Forty-nine patients, 22 treated by performing operation, and 27 using non-surgical meth- ods, were included in this study. Displaced angle of condylar, maximal mouth opening, lateral deviation on opening and mastica- tory function were analyzed using radiological and clinical examinations 6 weeks and 1 year after treatment.Results: Patients treat- ed by surgical method had significantly greaterinitial displaced angle of condyles than did the group treated non-surgically, butpa- tients treated non-surgically had significantly greaterdisplaced angle of condylar and lateral deviation on opening than did the group treated surgically 6 weeks and 1 year after the therapy finished. Patients treated surgically had significantly greater masticatory function than did the group treated non-surgically 6 weeks and 1 year after treatment. Six weeks later, patients treated surgically had significantly greater maximal mouth opening than did the group treated non-surgically.Conclusion:Surgical treatment may be helpful in anatomical and functional recovery of mandibular condyles for patients with displaced condylar process fractures.

Key words: condylar process fracture, surgical treatment, non-surgical treatment