Eight patients with unilateral condylar fractures of the mandible who were treated at our clinic by Martin-Eckelt lag screw osteosynthesis are described.
The patients were aged 14 to 78 years. There were 4 males and 4 females. Four patients had fractures of the base of the condylar process, and four had fractures of the condylar neck. Two patients had no dislocation, four had dislocation, and two had luxation. Clinical examinations 6 months after primary operation showed that mouth opening was not less than 40mm in any patient. Radiographic examinations revealed a correct position and normal form of the condylar head in six patients, but resorption of the condylar head was found in two patients. These two patients required extirpation of condylar head for reduction. Since the use of a lag screw decreases the supply of nutrients from the bone marrow of mandibular ramus to the condylar head, the condylar head should not be removed from the surrounding soft tissue during operation.