title: Effect of surgical repair of the joint capsule in mandibular condyle fractures in adult rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess histologic changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of adult rats subjected to unilateral fracture of the mandibular condyle and soft tissue injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals were divided into 2 groups: one had surgical treatment for soft tissue repair and the other had no soft tissue treatment. All histologic evaluations were performed according to the presence or absence of synovitis, vascularity, presence or absence of joint inflammation, and presence or absence of the articular disc. The contralateral TMJs also were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed few histologic changes in the synovial membrane and joint disc for the 2 groups and in the synovial membrane and disc of the contralateral side, where indirect trauma occurred in the unoperated joint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that treating or not treating soft tissues does not change the treatment results of condyle fracture or interfere with TMJ pathosis.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student in Doctoral Degree Program, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suzana Célia
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: de Aguiar Soares Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Professor and Director, Master and PhD Programs, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: belmirovasconcelos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Belmiro Cavalcanti
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: do Egito Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emanuel Sávio S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Forensic Science, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Granja
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student in Doctoral Degree Program, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Auremir Rocha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Melo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000473:pathology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000473:pathology; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000473:pathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery