Condylar fracture due to sports trauma associated with a solitary bone cyst: a case report

Lucas Moura Sousa; Thales Fabro Vanzela Sverzut; Marcelo Santos Bahia; Jessica Luana dos Santos; Jorge Esquiche Leon; Alexandre Elias Trivellato; Cássio Edvard Sverzut

doi:10.4322/bds.2026.e4990

Authors

Lucas Moura Sousa Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial e Periodontia. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6213-7243
Thales Fabro Vanzela Sverzut Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial e Periodontia. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1571-5184
Marcelo Santos Bahia Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial e Periodontia. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6714-4680
Jessica Luana dos Santos Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4721-2292
Jorge Esquiche Leon Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Estomatologia, Saúde Coletiva e Odontologia Legal. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9668-5870
Alexandre Elias Trivellato Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial e Periodontia. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7856-2228
Cássio Edvard Sverzut Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial e Periodontia. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1629-3197

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/bds.2026.e4990

Abstract

Background: This paper presents a rare case of a 16-year-old male patient, referring pain and restricted mouth-opening following facial trauma while playing soccer. The computed tomography scan revealed hypodense lesions involving the mandibular condyle and the subcondylar region along the fracture line. Objective: The primary objective was to treat the condylar fracture, associating it to the surgical removal of the lesion and primary reconstruction with autogenous bone graft harvested from the anterior iliac crest. This study aims to determine how predictable this treatment is and while also evaluating bone remodeling. Case report: The lesion was surgically removed and part of the ascending ramus of the mandible, which includes the condyle, was replaced with a free bone graft harvested from the anterior iliac crest. Results: Analysis under the microscope confirmed the clinical hypothesis of a solitary bone cyst, as the lesion consisted of an empty cavity. A 2-year follow-up showed a satisfactory outcome, with no signs of lesion recurrence or other complaints. Conclusion: Although rarely found in the condyle, when present solitary bone cyst render patients susceptible to pathologic fractures. Requiring careful treatment planning to establish ideal rehabilitation for patients.

KEYWORDS

Bone grafting; Iliac crest; Mandibular condyle; Mandibular fracture; Solitary bone cyst.