Association between magnetic resonance imaging, temporo-mandibular joint scanographic findings and clinical manifestations of joint pain and sounds in temporo-mandibular disorders

Exploring the association between magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], temporomandibular joint [TMJ] scanography and clinical manifestations of joint pain and sounds in patients with temporomandibular [TM] disorder. This study included 62 TM joints with internal derangement. Sagittal scanography and MRI of these TMJs were obtained and reported blindly by the consensus of two radiologists. No significant association was observed between clinical and scanographic findings with MRI. The abnormal range of motion had significant relationship with pain [P=0.017] and sound [P=0.046]. There was a strong association between sound and condylar flattening [P=0.007]. It was demonstrated that joint pain and sounds were predictors of the abnormal range of motion in TMJ scanography. Sound could be heard more often in patients with condylar flattening, and TMJ scanographic findings as well as joint pain and sounds had limited value in the diagnosis of disk position or effusion

[Prevalence of condylar fractures in patients referred to oral and maxillofacial department at Dr. Shariati hospital, Tehran 1994-2004]

This is an epidemiological study of patterns of condylar fractures. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and etiology of condylar fractures. In this retrospective study, data were obtained by means of special questionnaire regarding age, gender, anatomic site, pattern, causes of injury, treatment modalities and complications. During an 11 years period [1994-2004] 475 patients represented 134 condylar fractures [28.2%] admitted to Dr. Shariati Hospital of Tehran-Iran. Of the 134 patients, 105 [78%] were men and 29 [22%] were women [ratio 3.6:1]. Patients' age at the time of injury ranged from 2 to 75 years, with a mean age 24.7 years. The highest incidence was seen in the third decade of life [27.6%]. The predominant causative factors in this study was motor vehicle accident [42%] followed by falls and assaults. Most patients [88.8%] were treated by close reduction surgery. The seasonal distribution showed that summer accounted a highest percentage [31%] of all fractures. The condylar fractures included 28.2 percentages of all mandibular fractures in this study. The most common part of condylar fractures was subcondylar site [76.1%]. The most common causes were traffic accidents [42.2%]. The most common treatment method was close reduction [88.2%]. The most common fixation method was maxillomandibular fixation [MMF]. Fracture rate in men was more than women [78.4% Vs. 21.6%]. The most important associated complications with condylar fractures was ankylosis [2.98%]