Page 127 - Open versus closed Mandibular condyle fractures

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Chapter 4.2 Open versus Closed
Thus, open treatment did not seem to have extra benefits over closed treatment. The development of rigid fixation permitted open reduction and stable internal fixation of mandibular condyle fractures, without the need for post-operative MMF, which made early functional rehabilitation possible.
In the literature, there are reports describing masticatory function as an outcome measure after the treatment of condylar fractures. These studies mostly focus on particular elements, e.g., bite force, chewing cycles, or (distribution of ) masticatory muscle activity.25-28 Though, it is said that masticatory performance is the outcome of complex simultaneous interrelationships in which, among others, the bite force and the height of mastication cycles are confirmed as key predictors.2,29-32 The Mixing Ability Test (MAT), which is a clinically validated, relatively simple and inexpensive test, can be used to objectively measure the masticatory performance of patients recovering from a mandibular condyle fracture.1,2
Till now, no study has focused on this mixing ability in relation to mandibular (condyle) fractures; the mixing ability which is the actual masticatory performance, i.e., the ability to mix a food bolus.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate objectively measured masticatory performance in patients treated for a unilateral condylar fracture and to assess whether it has a relationship with patients’ self-reported mandibular function (mandibular functional impairment). The influence of demographic and clinical parameters (i.e., maximum mouth opening, dental state, and self-perceived occlusion) on objective masticatory performance was also investigated. A cross- sectional study was performed to compare open and closed treatment modalities.
METHODS
Patients
Patients with unilateral condylar fractures who were treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Academic Medical Center (AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) between August 2008 and March 2016, were recruited for this study.