Condyle Fractures: Impact of Surgical and Conservative Approaches on Oral Health

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of oral health on the quality of life of patients who underwent conservative or surgical treatment for mandibular condylar fracture. A retrospective study was conducted, and 24 patients with condylar fracture were selected and underwent surgical or conservative treatment. Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was utilized to evaluate the patients. The angles of condylar fracture were measured in panoramic and Towne radiographs using the ImageJ software, and the results were compared to the results of the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Condylar fractures had a negative impact on the patients' quality of life in pretreatment assessment. After conservative and surgical treatments, the condylar fracture had a low impact on the patients' quality of life. Greater fracture alignment was obtained in patients treated by open reduction. A low level of correlation was observed between fracture alignment and changes in OHIP-14 of the patients studied. In conclusion, the study showed a significant improvement in the quality of life in the post-treatment period of the sample assessed. However, in patients selected for this study, no difference was found in the quality of life between the surgically and conservatively treated groups. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Abrahão Cavalcante Gomes de Souza Carvalho, DDS, MSc, Department of Oral Surgery, UNICHRISTUS, João Adolfo Gurgel Street, 133, Cocó, Fortaleza, Ceará 60.192-345, Brazil; E-mail: abrahao_cav@yahoo.com.br Received 8 January, 2018 Accepted 21 June, 2018 The authors report no conflicts of interest. © 2018 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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