title: [Radiographic and masticatory physiologic evaluation after conservative treatment of condylar fractures in children and adolescents].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the developmental and functional outcome of condylar fractures in children and adolescents after conservative treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children and adolescents with unilateral condylar fracture, aged 5-13 were included. A removable occlusal splint, the thickness of which was determined according to the age, the developmental stage of the dentition, the level of the fracture and the degree of dislocation, worn for 1-3 months, and the patients were asked to perform functional exercises. The patients were followed up by clinical observation, panoramic radiograph, temporomandibular joint(TMJ ) cone beam computed tomography(CBCT), and surface electromyography(sEMG) of masticatory muscles (superficial masseter, anterior temporalis, and anterior digastric muscles). Ramus height and body length of mandible were measured on panoramic radiograph. The patients were asked to return for follow-up visits at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, and then once a year. The patients underwent clinical examination at each follow-up visit, and radiological examinations at 6 months and then annually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients showed clinically satisfactory results. CBCT showed smooth and continuous cortex. Panoramic X-ray revealed that the ramus height was shorter in the fractured side than in the contralateral side, while body length was longer. The mean asymmetry index(AI,x±s) for ramus height and body length were (3.29±2.68)% and (4.01 ± 2.54)%. sEMG showed either hypertension or hypotension in the masticatory muscles of the fractured side and asymmetries were obvious. The mean AI for sEMG activity of the anterior temporalis, masseter, and anterior digastric muscle were masseter: (15.0 ± 16.9)%; anterior temporalis: (21.5 ± 15.9)%; anterior digastric muscles: (11.9 ± 10.7)%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative treatment of condylar fracture in children and adolescents had clinically satisfactory results, while mandibular development was slightly interrupted. Asymmetries of EMG activities of masticatory muscles were obvious. EMG could objectively reveal the functional recovery of condylar fracture in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Center for Oral Function Diagnosis, Treatment and Research, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D000072700:Conservative Treatment; D004576:Electromyography; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000502:physiology; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D011859:Radiography; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000502:physiology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors