Abstract
The choice of surgical or non-surgical treatment of mandibular condylar fractures
remains controversial. Earlier trials documented multiple complications of surgical
treatment and recommended a non-surgical approach, while more recent trials have shown
superior outcomes of surgical compared with non-surgical treatment in some cases.
In this paper we systematically review the systematic reviews on the topic that were
published before January 2019 and which followed the PRISMA statement, and propose
an algorithm for the management of these fractures. Two systematic reviews met the
inclusion criteria of the current review, both of which showed better outcome from
surgical than non-surgical treatment. We propose an algorithm based on the feasibility
of fixation, ability to restore joint and occlusal function, and ensure adequate healing,
and consider patient-associated factors that facilitate decision-making.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 31, 2020
Accepted:
March 14,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
