Treatment Of Condylar Head Fractures Research Articles

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Bone Remodeling After Closed Treatment for Mandibular Condylar Head Fracture.

Closed treatment of mandibular condylar fractures has been used for its indications based on the fracture site, fracture status, and patient age. Posttreatment mandibular condyle size is associated with mandibular function; however, a few studies have reported bone remodeling patterns and volume changes in the condyle and glenoid fossa after mandibular condylar head fractures (CHFs). Therefore, volumetric changes in the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa were analyzed in the present study, and bone remodeling patterns were evaluated after mandibular CHFs. The present study included 16 condyles from 12 patients who received closed treatment for CHF. After reconstruction of a 3-dimensional skull model, including the mandible, using computed tomography data taken immediately after injury and 6 months after treatment, volume changes in the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa were analyzed. The condylar volume increased by 0.32±0.66cm3 during the 6-month healing period without statistical significance (P=0.093). Regarding the glenoid fossa, the fossa showed a statistically significant volume increase of 0.41±0.59cm3 (P=0.021), and 12 glenoid fossae (75%) showed downward bone apposition; however, no change or only mild bone resorption was observed in 4 glenoid fossae (25%). The results of this study indicated that the volume changes in the mandibular condyle after closed treatment of a mandibular CHF are not significant, and the glenoid fossa adapts to the displaced mandibular condyle through downward growth accompanied by volume increase.

No Significant Bone Resorption after Open Treatment of Mandibular Condylar Head Fractures in the Medium-Term.

Open treatment of condylar head fractures (CHF) is considered controversial. In this retrospective cohort study our primary objective was therefore to assess bone resorption and remodeling as well as patients function after open treatment of CHF in a medium-term follow-up (15.1 ± 2.2 months). We included 18 patients with 25 CHF who underwent open reduction and internal fixation, between 2016 and 2021, in our analysis. The clinical data and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) datasets were analyzed. The condylar processes were segmented in the postoperative (T1) and follow-up (T2) CBCT scans. Volumetric and linear bone changes were the primary outcome variables, measured by using a sophisticated 3D-algorithm. The mean condylar head volume decreased non-significantly from 3022.01 ± 825.77 mm3 (T1) to 2878.8 ± 735.60 mm3 (T2; p = 0.52). Morphological alterations indicated remodeling and resorption. The pre-operative maximal interincisal opening (MIO) was 19.75 ± 3.07 mm and significantly improved to 40.47 ± 1.7 mm during follow-up (p = 0.0005). Low rates of postoperative complications were observed. Open reduction of CHF leads to good clinical outcomes and low rates of medium-term complications. This study underlines the feasibility and importance of open treatment of CHF and may help to spread its acceptance as the preferred treatment option.

Clinical outcomes of open treatment of old condylar head fractures in adults

The aim of this study was to classify the clinical feasibility and outcomes of open reduction treatment of old condylar head fractures (CHFs).This was a retrospective case series study of patients with old CHFs that were treated with open reduction and internal fixation, with anatomic reduction and sutured fixation of the articular disc. Preoperative and postoperative examinations were recorded and analyzed, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms, occlusion, maximum interincisal opening (MIO), and mandibular deviation. Computed tomography (CT) was used to assess condylar morphology and position.Eleven patients with old CHFs were included (nine unilateral and two bilateral). The mean period from condylar fracture to operation was 8.9 months (ranging from 6 to 14 months). The mean follow-up period after surgery was 16.1 months (ranging from 12 to 22 months). At the end of follow-up period, no malocclusion was found, and the MIO had expanded considerably to 37.4 ± 3.8 mm. Postoperative CT showed that all fragments were properly reduced and the condyles were in the normal position. All patients showed apparently improved TMJ function, occlusion, and facial appearance.Our results showed that open reduction treatment could be an effective method for the treatment of old CHFs.

Application of CAD/CAM technology for surgical treatment of condylar head fractures: A preliminary study

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to improve the accuracy and reliability of ORIF in patients with condylar head fractures (CHFs) by developing a design for patient specific fixators, navigation and repositioning guides, as well as the algorithms of their clinical application. Materials and methods14 patients with 16 CHFs were treated by ORIF with the use of CAD/CAM technology. After virtual reduction of the bony fragments, the appropriate length and diameter of the screws was chosen. In biomechanically unfavorable cases (type p) patient specific reinforcement plates were used together with the positional screws for reinforcement of the bone-fixator system. And in cases of severely comminuted fractures patient specific 3-D plate was applied. ResultsThe CT data, obtained immediately after the operation revealed the good anatomical reduction. Any deviations of the small fragments noted were near 1 mm in all cases. Postoperative clinical examination at 3 months follow up showed good occlusion and mouth opening not less than 3 cm in all patients. The lateral and anterior mobility of the mandible was restored with small limitations of protrusive mobility in 1 case. All the patients were satisfied with the outcomes. ConclusionsThe application of the CAD/CAM technologies and the new design of the surgical guides and patient specific reinforcement plates for CHFs helps to improve the accuracy and quality of fragments reduction and stability of fixation with minimal risks of intraoperative complications. Clinical relevanceCAD/CAM technologies improve the clinical effectiveness of treatment patients with the CHFs.

Comparison of temporomandibular joint function and morphology after surgical and non-surgical treatment in adult condylar head fractures

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether surgical treatment can distinctly improve temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function and morphology in adult patients with condylar head fractures (CHFs) when compared with conservative treatment. Patients and methodsA retrospective study was performed to evaluate surgical and conservative outcomes in all patients who had suffered CHFs. In this study, all patients were divided into a surgical group and a conservative group. In the surgical group patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) combined disc anchorage, while in the conservative group patients were treated by a removable splint combined with intermaxillary elastics. Clinical and radiological outcomes were evaluated and functional outcomes were assessed using the Helkimo index score. Paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, independent t-tests and χ2 tests were used to assess inter-group differences. Results75 TMJs in 56 patients were included in this study and were divided into a surgical group (56 TMJs in 40 patients) and a conservative group (19 TMJs in 16 patients). The results showed that the Helkimo index score for TMJ in the surgical group was better than in the conservative group (pAi = 0.032, pDi = 0.001, respectively). Ramus height in the surgical group (61.08 ± 4.04 mm) recovered more than in the conservative group (54.82 ± 3.06 mm) (p = 0.012). Discs became shorter, moved further forward, and became severely distorted in the conservative group (disc length = 7.32 ± 1.35 mm). In contrast, discs became longer, retained a normal disc–condyle relationship, and formed a normal shape in the surgical group (disc length = 11.05 ± 2.07 mm) (p = 0.003). According to the MRI images, joint effusion, retrodiscal tear, and lateral capsular tear were better cured in the surgical group (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.012, respectively). ConclusionBased on these results, it seems that surgical treatment of condylar head fractures should be the preferred approach if there are no contraindications for general anesthesia.

Surgical Treatment of Intracapsular Condylar Head Fracture with Lag Screw Technique. A Case Report

Intracapsular condylar fractures may account for 65% of all condylar fractures. This diversity of classifications makes epidemiological data collection challenging. Historically, intracapsular condylar fractures were treated in a closed or conservative manner, without open surgery and fixation of the bone fragments. Closed treatment has been described with acceptable outcomes without the risk of complications associated with the surgical treatment, that is, infection, damage to the facial nerve, and unaesthetic extra-oral scar. Recently, studies reporting the surgical treatment of condylar head fractures have reported better results regarding mandibular functional aspects, dental, and aesthetic results. It is also suggested that the repositioning of the articular disc during the surgical procedure, could prevent the consequences of its displacement in possible temporomandibular joint dysfunctions. The objective of this study is to report a clinical case of intracapsular condylar head fracture with open treatment, using lag screw fixation according to AO/ASSIF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation) protocols and recommendations.

Changes of disc status in adult patients with condylar head fracture who did or did not undergo disc anchoring operation

PurposeViews on treatment procedures for condylar head fractures (CHFs) are far from reaching a consensus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in disc status for anteromedial disc displacement with anchorage (AMDDwA) and without anchorage (AMDDwoA — just suturing to the adjacent TMJ soft tissue) in adult CHFs, to get a better understanding of this very complex process and to show that rigid disc anchorage is an essential technique for the treatment of CHF during the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Patients and methods144 temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in 95 patients were included in this retrospective study, and were divided into an AMDDwA group (50 TMJs in 38 patients) and an AMDDwoA group (94 TMJs in 57 patients) based on the different surgical procedures. The joints were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed for disc length and disc morphology preoperatively and at follow-up visits. Other variables, such as disc position, joint effusion, retrodiscal tear and lateral capsular tear, were also evaluated. Paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, independent t-tests and χ2 tests were used to assess intragroup and intergroup differences. ResultsThe results showed that discs became shorter, moved further forward and distorted more seriously in the AMDDwoA group. In contrast, discs became longer, maintained a normal disc–condyle relationship in the AMDDwA group. Joint effusion, retrodiscal tear, and lateral capsular tear healed well in both groups. ConclusionTaking these findings together suggests that the rigid disc anchorage is an alternative technique for the treatment of CHF.

Surgical treatment of condylar head fractures, the way to minimize the postraumatic TMJ ankylosis.

Management of condylar head fractures (CHF) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) remains a source of controversy. Based on established literature, group of CHFs and conservative treatment connected with period of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) increases the risk for TMJ ankylosis. This paper presents anatomical and functional results of surgical treatment of condylar head fractures in a group of 24 patients (29 joints). Fractures were diagnosed based on conventional radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans. Utilising an intraoperative arthroscopy authors evaluated actual intraarticular posttraumatic changes. This study presents acceptable functional and radiological results of surgical treatment of condylar head fractures with more than 3-year follow-up. The authors believe that re-establishing the pretraumatic anatomic position of the TMJ components (fragment and the disc) and early postoperative rehabilitation are inevitable to minimize the risk of postraumatic TMJ ankylosis (Tab. 2, Fig. 8, Ref. 31).

Long-term results of ORIF of condylar head fractures of the mandible: A prospective 5-year follow-up study of small-fragment positional-screw osteosynthesis (SFPSO)

BackgroundOptimum treatment of condylar head fractures (CHF) remains subject to controversy. There are currently a variety of alternative techniques applied, data in literature are often inconsistent and especially systematic long-term data on results after treatment by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) have so far not been available. This study in hand is the first long-term prospective study of ORIF after CHF based on osteosynthesis with 1.7 mm small-fragment positional screws (SFPSO)via a retroauricular transmeatal approach (RA). MethodsThe study made use of radiologic, anatomic and objective functional parameters (axiography and MRI) to assess vertical height, disk mobility, protrusive and translatory movement as well as potential physical complaints. Included were surgical long-term sequelae after RA, such as incidence of stenosis of the auditory canal, the facial nerve and resulting disturbance of facial skin sensitivity. Retroauricular scars were evaluated according to the Vancouver Scar Scale. Helkimo and RDC/TMD indices were applied for patient's self-assessment of quality of life aspects after ORIF via RA.The sample in the first follow-up trial (FFT) in the years 2003–2004 comprised 26 patients (36 CHF). 22 patients (31 CHF) were re-evaluated in a second follow-up trial (SFT) between 2006 and 2008. A reference collective (43 patients, 56 CHF) treated with ORIF from 1993 to 2000 mainly by mini- or microplates (MMP) served as a surgical control group. ResultsFive years after ORIF all fractured condyles (FC) continued to show stable anatomic restoration of the pre-trauma vertical height. FC treated with SFPSO exhibited a significantly superior range of motion (p < 0.05) of disk and condyle during mouth opening and protrusion compared to a previous MMP reference collective. Also, no difference was found between condylar mobility of FC five years after surgery and non-fractured condyles (NFC). SFPSO had thus successfully achieved a sustainable, stable physiological restoration of protrusive mobility of the articular disk and condyle. Remarkably, these long-term results were even slightly better in SFT vs. FFT (p < 0.05). Except for sporadically occurring minor complaints, the patients' subjective overall long-term perception of the success of the treatment was equally positive to the surgeons' objective assessment. ConclusionsThis first long-term prospective follow-up study, based on objective assessment tools, demonstrates that in all cases the major goals of ORIF in CHF could be fully achieved. These goals are: restoration of vertical height viz. prevention of occlusal disorders, physiological function of disk and condyle as well as of the lateral pterygoid muscle. Accordingly, ORIF of CHF e.g. with SFPSO and via the RA secures both a long-term functionally and anatomically stable result and as best as possible pain-free result for the patient, a central prerequisite of optimum perceived HRQoL. The paper has been amended by an extensive review part that covers the current knowledge of the major surgical aspects regarding the treatment of condylar head fractures.

Surgical treatment of condylar head fractures, prevention of post-traumatic TMJ ankylosis

Management of condylar head fractures of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) remains a source of controversy. Based on established literature, conservative treatment of condylar head fractures increases the risk for TMJ ankylosis. Rigid postoperative intermaxillary fixation (IMF) may have also contributed on pathologic process creating ankylosis. On the basis of perioperative arthroscopic evaluation of the status and position of the disc we determined the ideal surgical repositioning of the fragment and the disc.