Clinical Outcomes and Patient-Reported Satisfaction with Functional Orthodontic Treatment of Mandibular Condylar Process Fractures

Objectives: Mandibular condylar process fracture is the most common fracture of the mandible, with great medical relevance. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective exploratory observational study, we describe outcomes in 22 patients after unilateral or bilateral mandibular condylar process fracture. Owing to heterogeneous treatment allocation and the absence of a comparable control group, the findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating rather than causal. In addition to collecting descriptive data from digital patient records, a survey was conducted using standardized questionnaires on the underrepresented construct of oral health-related quality of life. Results: The patient sample comprised 22 individuals between the ages of 8 and 72 years after functional orthodontic or combined surgical–functional orthodontic treatment 2.5 years after sustaining a unilateral or bilateral mandibular condylar process fracture. In this cohort, children showed more favorable observed functional results than adults. Unilateral fractures were associated with better functional outcomes than bilateral fractures. Furthermore, midline shift was more common in unilateral fractures and was associated with functional limitations such as occlusal disorders. Conclusions: Both treatment approaches were associated with favorable functional and radiographic outcomes, particularly in children and after unilateral fractures, although these findings should be interpreted as descriptive and hypothesis-generating in light of the limited sample size.