OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the surgical and non-surgical treatment of condylar fracture using Meta-analysis system.

METHODSThe key words: mandible, condyle, fracture and treatment/therapy were adopted to search for the objective articles from following Data-base: Medline, Embase, CCTR and CNKI. The available data were statistically dealt with by software package (RevMan 4.1).

RESULTSIn 172 associated articles, only 10 (5.8%) fulfilled the entrance criteria, involving 711 cases. A total of 307 patients underwent surgical treatment due to severely displacement or dislocation of fragment, 239 of the m (78.0%) being subcondylar fracture. A total of 404 patients received non-surgical management, 278 of them (68.7%) being lower level fracture without significant displacement. Surgical treatment outbalanced non-surgical approach in rehabilitation of occlusional relationship and an adverse outcome was noted in term of maximum mouth opening, but the re was no significant difference in postoperative joint pain.

CONCLUSIONSSeverely displaced and dislocated condylar fracture is indicated for surgical treatment.