OCCLUSAL AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH UNILATERAL CONDYLAR FRACTURE - A PROSPECTIVE ONE-YEAR STUDY

Adult dentate patients with unilateral condylar fractures were followe d up for one year after injury, Patients were interviewed about subjec tive complaints, and mandibular excursions and function of occlusion a nd temporomandibular joints (TMJs) were recorded. Radiological charact eristics were assessed from panoramic and Towne's views and compared b etween patients with occlusal disorders and patients without. During f ollow up, mandibular deviation on opening towards the fractured side w as more pronounced in cases with marked reduction of ramus height and condylar dislocation, This restriction of translation movement of the fractured joint was also seen radiologically in one-third of cases whi le in two-thirds of the fractured condyles, malpositioning nas observe d when compared with the healthy side. In patients (39%) having subjec tive symptoms such as TMJ pain, altered occlusion or ability to bite o nly unilaterally, and objectively verified occlusal interferences, a m arked reduction of the ramus height on the fractured side was observed . In such cases nonoperative treatment of condylar fractures may be co mpromised.