Histologic and tomographic analyses of the temporomandibular joint after mandibular advancement surgery: study in minipigs.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to elucidate the changes occurring in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) after surgical mandibular advancement with different fixation materials: bicortical screws and miniplates.


METHODS
Eighteen minipigs were randomly divided into 3 groups: group I (control), nonoperated animals; group II, animals submitted to surgical advancement surgery and osteosynthesis by bicortical screws; and group III, animals submitted to surgical advancement surgery and osteosynthesis by miniplates. Four months after the surgeries, TMJs were collected and histologically prepared after computerized tomography (CT) scanning for the blind detection of erosion, flattening, and osteophyte.


RESULTS
The CT analysis revealed significant alterations in the shape of the condyles (erosion: P = .0010; flattening: P < .0001) for group II compared with groups I and III. Descriptive histologic analysis was compatible with the CT findings.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that bicortical screw fixation resulted in more pronounced condylar alterations in the shape of the condyles than miniplate osteosynthesis. However, further clinical studies are necessary to confirm these data.
Navarro
Ricardo de Lima
Rde L
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, North of Paraná University, Londrina, Brazil. r-navarro@hotmail.com
Oltramari-Navarro
Paula Vanessa Pedron
PV
Sant' Ana
Eduardo
E
Henriques
José Fernando Castanha
JF
Taga
Rumio
R
Cestari
Tânia Mary
TM
Santos
Carlos Ferreira
CF
Silva
Rafael Santos
RS
Conti
Paulo César Rodrigues
PC
D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D019186:Mandibular Advancement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D054850:Osteophyte / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed