Arthrocentesis is a simple procedure, that may be performed under local anaesthesia and entails low risks of complications. It consists in the lavage of the upper joint compartment of the temporo-mandibular articulation through two transcutaneous needles of entrance and exit. The simplicity of execution, the low costs of the material employed and the excellent results published cause that this technique is beginning to be included in international protocols of treatment of temporomandibular dysfunctions. The clinical study involves 26 articulation in 25 patients. The age of the subjects at the time of the treatment ranged from 16 to 70 years. The follow-up of the patients treated ranges from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 53 months. The most significant parameters to assess the effectiveness of the articular lavage, performed by the arthrocentesis technique, are the local pain intensity and the millimetre analytic comparison of the mouth opening and the mandibular movements in protrusion and laterality. A Student's "t" test was used to compare pre-treatment and post-treatment differences in level of TMJ pain and maximal mouth opening, in both cases section valve was less then 0.05 and so statistically significant.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

TMJ biomechanical constraints: the disc and the retrodiscal tissue.

The temporo-mandibular-joint is a highly particular and complex anatomical entity in terms of both its structure and functions, which include the opening, closing, protrusion and lateral movement of the jaw. On the base of some papers previously published on the anatomy and physiology of the Temporo-Mandibular-Joint, the Authors have studied the functional dynamics of the TMJ. The correct postural and functional relationships between the various components of the joint are controlled by a series of biomechanical restrictions that guide and condition its movements. The role of biomechanical restriction played by such articular components, influences decidedly the therapeutical treatment aimed to the resolution of the Temporo-Mandibular joint pathology. In this article, the authors examine and analyze the role of the Temporo-Mandibular ligament, Disk Lateral Ligament, Articular disk, Retrodiskal Zone and of the Synovial Fluid in the functional dynamics of the Temporo-Mandibular-Joint.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hemifacial microsomia: cephalometric evaluation].

Among the facial deformities one of the most frequent is the hemifacial microsomia. The Authors after a revision of the literature refer about their study. They utilize lateral, antero-posterior cephalometry and orthopantomogram to exactly identify the deformities. The Authors report the results of the analysis and emphasize that the functional alterations of the stomatologic system are of basical importance in the genesis of the syndrome.

Cephalometry↗