title: A comparison of MRI, radiographic and clinical findings of the position of the TMJ articular disc following open treatment of condylar neck fractures.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Technology Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zahnert
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klengel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loukota
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eckelt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000293:injuries; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000293:injuries; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*