MRI EXAMINATION OF THE TMJ AND FUNCTIONAL RESULTS AFTER CONSERVATIVE AND SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF MANDIBULAR CONDYLE FRACTURES

Thirty patients with healed condylar fractures were included in this s tudy. Ten patients were conservatively treated while in 20 patients th e fractures were treated surgically. All patients were assessed using: magnetic resonance imaging of both temporomandibular joints (TMJs) to evaluate the disc position and morphology; radiographs to evaluate th e alignment of the bony fragments after consolidation; and clinical ex amination including the stomatognathic functional status and mechanica l axiography. The study shows that anatomical reduction of a low, disp laced or dislocated condylar fracture by surgical approach may be of b enefit for the functional recovery of the TMJ.