EFFECTIVENESS OF ARTHROCENTESIS IN THE TREATMENT OF INTERNAL TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS AFTER MANDIBULAR CONDYLAR FRACTURES

Manifestation of traumatic disorders is often chracterised by reorganization or ossification of the TMJ hematoma, while the use of conservative therapy after TMJ traumatic injuries is often ineffective. The purpose of the preswent work was to study the effectiveness of arthrocentesis in the complex treatment of post-traumatic temporomandibular disorders. 24 patients with a history of mandibular condylar fractures underwent CT, ultrasound and MRI. TMJ arthrocentesis was performed under local anesthesia. After osteosynthesis, the number of patients with stage III according to Wilkes was up to 58.33% while, after splinting -33.33%. The control ultrasound and MRI carried out 3-6 months after arthrocentesis showed no signs of hemarthrosis in 84.61% of patients with intra-articular disorders of the second degree, and also in 72.72% of patients with internal disorders of the third degree, the position and function of the articular disc being restored. Arthrocentesis with TMJ lavage is a minimally invasive surgical manipulation that has proven useful in temporomandibular disorders of traumatic origin, in particular after fractures of the articular process of the mandible.