Surgical treatment of paediatric fractures of the mandibular condyle: a systematic review of the literature.

This study aims to review surgical treatment in paediatric condylar fractures and describe different types of techniques performed, along with the results obtained from them. A retrospective review was conducted from records of paediatric patients (from one to 17 years old) who sustained fractures of the mandibular condyle and underwent surgical treatment from 2003 to 2023. The number of patients, age, location, and type of fracture, clinical and imaging examinations, treatment methods, intraoperative/postoperative complications, removal of osteosynthesis material, follow up and outcomes were recorded and analysed. A total of 68 patients with 79 fractures were identified. The most common fracture pattern was condylar neck fracture (61.1%). Of the 68 patients who underwent surgical treatment, one had a complication of minimal temporal paraesthesia and another patient had near-complete resorption of the condyle. A total of 55 patients (81%) reported normal dental occlusion, mouth opening (>35 mm), lateral excursions (7-8 mm), TMJ function, no pain, no deviation of the midline or the jaw, and no ankylosis. Thirteen patients (19%) developed an unsatisfactory result, nine patients (13%) had a jaw deviation on mouth opening, four patients (6%) had mandibular retrusion, and seven patients (10%) had signs of TMJ dysfunction. A total of 59 patients (87%) reported bone completely healed with no signs of bone abnormality; seven patients (10%) had shortening of the condylar neck and/or ramus. Surgical treatment can lead to good or excellent results for severely dislocated and displaced condylar fractures in children and can reduce the unsatisfactory results resulting from closed treatment.