title: Surgical treatment of condylar head fractures, the way to minimize the postraumatic TMJ ankylosis.
abstract: Management of condylar head fractures (CHF) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) remains a source of controversy. Based on established literature, group of CHFs and conservative treatment connected with period of maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) increases the risk for TMJ ankylosis. This paper presents anatomical and functional results of surgical treatment of condylar head fractures in a group of 24 patients (29 joints). Fractures were diagnosed based on conventional radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans. Utilising an intraoperative arthroscopy authors evaluated actual intraarticular posttraumatic changes. This study presents acceptable functional and radiological results of surgical treatment of condylar head fractures with more than 3-year follow-up. The authors believe that re-establishing the pretraumatic anatomic position of the TMJ components (fragment and the disc) and early postoperative rehabilitation are inevitable to minimize the risk of postraumatic TMJ ankylosis (Tab. 2, Fig. 8, Ref. 31).
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hirjak
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Machon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beno
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kupcova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: articular disc; condylar head fracture; intraoperative arthroscopy ankylosis.