Closed treatment of condylar fractures by intermaxillary fixation with thermoforming plates

We report a new intermaxillary fixation (IMF) method for condylar fractures using a thermoforming plate. Fifteen cases of condylar fracture were selected and thermoforming plates were applied. The patient’s recover was uneventful in all 15 cases, and the period of IMF ranged from 7 to 17 days, (mean 12) for the following 7 days IMF was used only at night together with functional jaw training during the day. The outcome was good. IMF using a thermoforming plate may be a useful technique for selected condylar fractures.