Prospective comparative study of the range of movement of temporomandibular joints after mandibular fractures:: Rigid or non-rigid fixation

Temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are negatively affected by trauma and disuse. In this prospective study, 103 patients with mandibular fractures were evaluated for the influence of trauma and maxillomandibular fixation on the TMJ. A total of 54 patients were treated by maxillomandibular fixation and 49 by titanium miniplate fixation. Those patients with condylar fractures and multiple mandibular fractures and malocclusion at presentation were not included in the study. The control group consisted of 44 randomly-selected healthy people with no past history of mandibular fracture or symptoms referable to the TMJ. Trauma was a major factor leading to TMJ dysfunction and maxillomandibular fixation increased the incidence and severity of TMJ dysfunction.