Acute Intra-Articular Soft Tissue Injury as Seen on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Its Association With Condylar Fracture Dislocation in Children.

PURPOSE: An intra-articular injury in growing patients should be well understood because it can interfere with normal temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function and even mandibular growth. The present study evaluated TMJ soft tissue injury after acute nondislocated and dislocated intracapsular condylar fractures (ICFs) in children.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In the present cross-sectional study, we enrolled a sample of children younger than 12 years old with acute ICFs. The predictor variable was the position of the ICF in relationship to the articular fossa, grouped as nondislocated and dislocated. The primary outcome variable was the injury type, including anterior displacement and deformity of the disc, joint effusion, and retrodiscal attachment tear. The second outcome variable was the injury score classified according to the injury type. Other study variables included age, gender, laterality, and the presence of concomitant fractures. The data were analyzed using the χ2 test and logistic regression analysis. P values < .05 were considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

A total of 44 children with 63 ICFs were included, of which 28 and 35 were nondislocated and dislocated fractures, respectively. Of the 63 ICFs, 56 (88.9%) had anterior disc displacement, 2 (3.2%) had disc deformity, 59 (93.7%) had joint effusion, and 11 (17.5%) had a retrodiscal attachment tear. According to the injury type, 4 joints were given a score of as 0, 3 a score of 1, 45 a score of 2, and 11 a score of 3. The injury type and score were significantly associated with fracture dislocation (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

In children with ICF, the presence of a retrodiscal attachment tear and disc deformity were less frequent. The type and severity of the soft tissue injury were associated with fracture dislocation. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate how soft tissue injuries affect TMJ function and fracture healing.