[Tension bolt osteosynthesis for fractures of the mandibular condyle].

182 patients were treated with our method of tension bolt osteosynthesis between 1980 and 1989. Follow-ups of 103 patients with severe displacement and dislocation fractures showed the results to be clearly better than those of conservative functional treatment. Compared with other surgical procedures this method has the advantage that it does not require the joint area to be exposed again for removal of the osteosynthesis material. Slight displacement, diacapitular fractures and fractures in children still require conservative functional treatment.