CT ANALYSIS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT STATE IN CHILDREN 5 YEARS AFTER FUNCTIONAL TREATMENT OF CONDYLAR FRACTURES

This retrospective study assessed the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) st ate of children who had suffered unilateral condylar fractures at leas t 5 years before and had been treated by functional orthopedic methods alone. The sample group were examined radiologically by computed tomo graphy (CT) spiral scans which were reformatted to two-dimensional (2- D) images in different anatomic planes and to 3-D reconstructions in v arious projections. Although the seven patients who formed the sample group showed good-to-excellent functional results, the quantitative an d qualitative analysis of the scans revealed alterations of size, shap e, bony remodeling, and position of the condyle on the fracture side, as well as adaptive changes of the temporal component of the joint. We recommend spiral CT for assessment of TMJ disorders and fractures of the condyle at the time of injury and for follow-up assessment.