The role of the disc in the healing of displaced subcondylar fracture in the growing period: an experimental study in rats

Li, Z.; Zhang, W.; Li, Z.-B.

doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2010.01.008

« Previous Next »International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 39, Issue 4 , Pages 388-393, April 2010

The role of the disc in the healing of displaced subcondylar fracture in the growing period: an experimental study in rats

Z. Li
- Key Lab for Oral Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Wei Zhang is the Co-first author; Wei Zhang and Zhi Li contributed equally to this article.
W. Zhang
- Key Lab for Oral Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, People's Republic of China
- Wei Zhang is the Co-first author; Wei Zhang and Zhi Li contributed equally to this article.
Z.-B. Li
- Key Lab for Oral Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Zu-Bing Li is the Corresponding author.
- Address: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, People's Republic of China. Tel.: +86 27 87646313; fax: +86 27 87873260.

Accepted 12 January 2010. published online 10 February 2010.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the disc in the healing of condylar fractures in the growing period. 40 growing and adult male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 equal groups: growing rats suffering condylar fracture with disc damage; growing rats suffering condylar fracture without disc damage; adult rats suffering condylar fracture with disc damage; adult rats suffering condylar fracture without disc damage. 3 months after the operation all animals were killed and the outcomes were compared using mandible deviation measure, body weight evaluation and histological observation. In growing rats, when the disc was undamaged maintaining its relation to the condyle head, even though the condylar fractured fragment was displaced, the condyle healed and recovered almost to normality in 3 months. In the same condyle fracture form, once the disc was damaged and lost the normal relation with the condyle head, the outcome was unfavourable. The occurrence of damage to the disc and its attachment to the condyle head are important factors in the healing of condyle fractures in the growing period.

Keywords: condyle fracture, disc, growing period, prognosis