Is the frequency of temporomandibular dysfunction different in various mandibular fractures?

Purpose: Trauma has been considered an important factor of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) etiology. The aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of TMDs in various mandibular fractures.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Mandibular fractures were subcategorized into 3 groups: group 1 had a unilateral condylar fracture, group 2 had a unilateral condylar fracture with a fracture of the contralateral body or angle of the mandible, and group 3 had a unilateral fracture of the body or angle of the mandible. TMD signs (click, pain) and maximum mouth opening (MMO) were the outcomes of the study, and fracture pattern was considered a predictor factor. Age, gender, and fixation methods were study variables. A χ(2) test was applied to compare TMD signs among groups. One-way analysis of variance was applied to compare MMO and age among groups.

Results: Ninety-nine patients in the 3 groups were examined for TMD signs. Results showed that 54.54% of patients in group 1, 69.69% of patients in group 2, and 24.24% of patients in group 3 had click in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ; unilaterally or bilaterally). Analysis of the data showed a significant difference among groups (P < .05). According to the results, 24.24% of patients in group 1, 73.91% of patients in group 2, and 12.12% of patients in group 3 had pain at the TMJ (unilaterally or bilaterally). There was a significant difference among groups for pain (P < .05). Analysis of the data did not show any difference for MMO among groups (P > .05).

Conclusion: Patients who had a condylar fracture and a contralateral angle or body fracture seemed to have more TMD signs than those with a unilateral fracture.