Management of Condylar Fractures at the Sylvanus Olympio (SO) University Teaching Hospital in Lomé (Togo)

Introduction: Condylar fractures can cause serious functional and aesthetic sequelae if inadequately treated. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the management of these fractures in the Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Sylvanus Olympio University Teaching Hospital in Lomé. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study based on medical records of patients hospitalized for a fracture involving the mandibular condyle from January 2015 to December 2023. Results: We collected 49 cases of condylar fractures. The annual frequency was 6.77. The average age of the patients was 32.85 ± 13.25 years, with extremes of 7 years and 80 years. The sex ratio was 11.25. The main etiology was road traffic accidents (85.72%), predominantly involving motorcyclists at 92.84%. The average delay in consultation was 48 hours. Fractures associated condylar and symphyseal regions accounted for 75.52% of the fracture topography. Functional treatment was performed on all patients, surgical treatment on 34.69% of patients, orthopedic treatment on 28.57% of patients, and mixed treatment (orthopedic and surgery) on 12.24% of patients. Sequelae were found in 6.12% of patients. Conclusion: Condylar fractures concerned mainly young adult males. Their management is complex and controversial and should be performed early to avoid complications and sequelae. In Africa, their etiologies are primarily dominated by road traffic accidents, mostly involving two-wheeled vehicles. Emphasis must be placed on prevention, particularly the use of full-face helmets by all motorcyclists.