Comparative study of intra-articular irrigation and corticosteroid injection versus closed reduction with intermaxillary fixation for the management of mandibular condyle fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of a modified conservative treatment protocol involving intra-articular irrigation and corticosteroid injection into the superior joint compartment (SJC) of patients with fresh mandibular condyle fractures. Study design A total of 26 consecutive unilateral fresh condylar fractures in 26 patients were divided into the intra-articular irrigation (IR) group (14 patients, 14 joints) and the conventional conservative treatment (CC) group (12 patients, 12 joints). In the IR group, the SJCs of the fractured joints were irrigated with saline solution and injected dexamethazone sodium, followed by conventional rehabilitation. In the CC group, patients were treated by closed reduction with intermaxillary fixation (IMF) for 2 weeks, followed by conventional rehabilitation. Clinical outcome at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after injury was determined by clinical examination of jaw motion, joint pain, and occlusal changes. The posttreatment results were compared with the pretreatment baseline data. Between-group differences in clinical parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant between-group differences in the range of mandibular motion at 1 month and 3 months after injury (1 month, P=.0022; 3 months, P=.0022). In the IR group, joint pain was well relieved from the early stage of treatment. Occlusal changes were found in 1 patient in the IR group and 4 patients in the CC group at 1 year after injury. CONCLUSIONS: The modified treatment protocol involving intra-articular irrigation and corticosteroid injection into the SJC is a more effective and quick-acting modality than conventional closed reduction with IMF for functional recovery and control of clinical symptoms of patients with unilateral fresh condylar fractures.

Simple disc reshaping surgery for internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: 5-year follow-up results.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of simple disc reshaping (SDR) surgery alone for treating dysfunctional internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with symptomatic unilateral anterior disc displacement with disc deformation were treated using reshaping of the inferior surface of the disc without disc repositioning. This was performed as an open-joint procedure. All patients were evaluated clinically for joint pain and jaw motion 5 years after surgery. Structural changes of the joint tissues such as disc displacement and deformation were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging. The postoperative results were compared with preoperative findings. RESULTS: Joint pain during mastication or opening was reported by all patients before surgery. In 10 of 11 patients (91%), the joint pain disappeared postoperatively. Preoperatively, all 11 patients had limitation of mouth opening: the mean opening was 24.9 mm (standard deviation [SD], 4.13 mm). Postoperatively, the mean opening increased to 43.0 mm (SD, 3.00 mm). Based on the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, all cases were diagnosed as anterior disc displacement without reduction and with disc deformation. Five years postoperatively, the disc configuration had maintained the reshaped status with decreased thickness of the deformed disc in 5 patients, and was changed to an almost normal biconcave shape in 3 patients. In the remaining 3 patients, the disc was unchanged from its preoperative condition. The position of the disc was unchanged in 8 patients, and in 3 patients disc position improved to near normal. CONCLUSION: The 5-year follow-up results suggest that SDR is a stable and favorable surgical procedure. Successful outcomes were attained in 91% of the patients.