Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of surgical treatment of adult mandibular condylar fractures (including intracapsular fracture). Methods Thirty-two patients (33 sides) with condylar fractures underwent open reduction and rigid fixation. Six patients with intracapsular condylar fractures were treated with two 18- mm positional screws through a preauricular approach. Six patients (7 sides) with condylar neck fractures were rigidly fixed by 1 mini- plate via a retromandibular transparotid approach. Twenty patients with subcondylar fractures were operated and fixed by two titanium plates using an angular approach. Results The mean follow-up period was 13.5 months, and the mean maximum mouth opening was 37.5 mm by the last visit. All patients acquired good occlusal relationship and mandibular symmetry. Seven patients (21.9%) experienced transient palsy of the branches of the facial nerve, and recovered completely after three months. One patient developed a salivary fistula, and healed after two weeks of gauze compression. No permanent deficit of any facial nerve branch was observed. No patient showed condylar head resorption. Conclusion Appropriate surgical approaches and fixation methods for different types of condylar fractures are the key factors to achieve reliable clinical results.

Key words: mandibular fractures, condylar fractures, adult, open reduction and internal fixation, surgical approach, complications