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The purpose of this study is to reveal the factors leading to the problem of unilateral condylar fractures and suggest a treatment guideline of treatment for good prognosis in surgical treatment. The factors can be age, sex, fracture site, degree of displacement, posterior occlusion loss, post-operative alteration of condylar head position, post-operative condylar head resorption, and maxillomandibular fixation period. One hundred and eleven patients with unilateral condylar fractures, who were treated by surgical method from 1990 Feb. to 2000 Feb., were studied. Minimum follow-up period was 6 months. The results were as follows ; 1. In the age group of 41~60, females had significantly higher complication rate than males, therefore we must be careful about treatment of female in this age group. 2. In level I fractures of the mandibular condyle, because there were abundant complications when the patients were treated with fragment removal, conservative treatment is recommended over the surgical approach. 3. There were no differences in the complication rate, in the level II, III fractures. but were severe complications in the cases of patients treated by Dr.Nam’s method or fragment removal. Therefore, open reduction and internal fixation is recommended over Dr.Nam’s method or fragment removal. 4. In level IV fractures, open reduction and internal fixation is recommended. 5. Although there was a higher complication rate depending on the degree of deviation, there was no correlation between the degree of deviation and development of complications in each level of fracture. 6. Because the complication rate was higher in cases of condylar resorption, vertical dimension loss, and alteration of condylar head position, we must make an effort to prevent such complications during treatment.
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