Effect of Surgical Repair of the Joint Capsule in Mandibular Condyle Fractures in Adult Rats

• Published in: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 950 - 957
• Main Authors: de Aguiar Soares Carneiro, Suzana Célia, PhD, do Egito Vasconcelos, Belmiro Cavalcanti, PhD, Castro, Célia, PhD, Andrade, Emanuel Sávio S., PhD, Porto, Gabriela Granja, PhD, Melo, Auremir Rocha, MSc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2014
• Subjects: Animals; Arthritis - pathology; Blood Vessels - pathology; Dentistry; Hemarthrosis - pathology; Joint Capsule - injuries; Joint Capsule - pathology; Joint Capsule - surgery; Joint Dislocations - pathology; Joint Dislocations - surgery; Male; Mandibular Condyle - injuries; Mandibular Condyle - surgery; Mandibular Fractures - surgery; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Soft Tissue Injuries - pathology; Soft Tissue Injuries - surgery; Surgery; Synovial Membrane - pathology; Synovitis - pathology; Temporomandibular Joint - injuries; Temporomandibular Joint - pathology; Temporomandibular Joint - surgery; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - injuries; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - pathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - surgery
• ISSN: 0278-2391; 1531-5053
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2013.11.019

Purpose The aim of the present study was to assess histologic changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of adult rats subjected to unilateral fracture of the mandibular condyle and soft tissue injury. Materials and Methods The animals were divided into 2 groups: one had surgical treatment for soft tissue repair and the other had no soft tissue treatment. All histologic evaluations were performed according to the presence or absence of synovitis, vascularity, presence or absence of joint inflammation, and presence or absence of the articular disc. The contralateral TMJs also were evaluated. Results The results showed few histologic changes in the synovial membrane and joint disc for the 2 groups and in the synovial membrane and disc of the contralateral side, where indirect trauma occurred in the unoperated joint. Conclusion This study showed that treating or not treating soft tissues does not change the treatment results of condyle fracture or interfere with TMJ pathosis.