A comparison of MRI, radiographic and clinical findings of the position of the TMJ articular disc following open treatment of condylar neck fractures

Alexander Schneider; Diana Zahnert; Steffen Klengel; Richard Loukota; Uwe Eckelt

doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2006.11.019

A comparison of MRI, radiographic and clinical findings of the position of the TMJ articular disc following open treatment of condylar neck fractures

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007 Oct;45(7):534-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2006.11.019. Epub 2007 Jan 12.

Authors

Alexander Schneider¹, Diana Zahnert, Steffen Klengel, Richard Loukota, Uwe Eckelt

Affiliation

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Technology Dresden, Germany.

PMID: 17222951
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2006.11.019

Abstract

We examined the position and function of the articular disc after open treatment of condylar fractures by comparing magnetic resonance images (MRI) and radiographs with clinical data. MRI and radiographs were taken after treatment of 28 patients with 33 fractures of the mandibular condyles. In all cases, the disc was located in the fossa after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The MRI, radiographic and clinical findings did not correlate, and damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) could be seen more clearly on MRI than on clinical or radiographic examination. Damage to soft tissues seen on MRI after treatment was more pronounced in dislocated than in displaced fractures.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Fracture Fixation, Internal
Humans
Joint Capsule / injuries
Joint Dislocations / pathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mandibular Condyle / injuries*
Mandibular Fractures / surgery*
Radiography
Temporomandibular Joint / injuries
Temporomandibular Joint Disc / diagnostic imaging
Temporomandibular Joint Disc / pathology*