[Our physiotherapy treatment of articular fractures of the mandibular condyle]. / Notre prise en charge kinésithérapique des fractures condyliennes articulaires.

Physical therapy greatly contributes to improved function of the injured temporomandibular joint, particularly after trauma. In our unit, we use the Delaire rehabilitation method for patients presenting a fracture of the mandibular condyles. This method involves active mobilization, first with assistance, then with facilitation, and finally against resistance. A rehabilitation session starts with a preparation of the teguments and muscles associated with relaxation exercises. The joint is first mobilized by assisted movements if needed. When unassisted motion becomes possible, propulsion, diduction and open-close exercises are then performed with neuromuscular facilitation. When sufficient amplitudes have been achieved, the program proceeds with opposed exercises. By inducing propulsion and diduction (lateral pterygoid muscle) movements, physical therapy stimulates regeneration of the condylar unit, thus facilitating optimal functional rehabilitation. Posture and passive motion methods, which in our opinion are poorly adapted to the temporomandibular joint, are used little in our unit. Since condylar regeneration is controlled by functional factors, the lateral pterygoid muscle is an important element. Good functional outcome, and the absence of ankylosis, depends directly on the quality of active rehabilitation.

[Retrospective study of two years of surgery for temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome]. / Etude rétrospective de deux années de chirurgie du Sadam.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery is a controversial topic. We analyzed our long-term surgical results in a set of patients who underwent TMJ surgery in our unit from January 1995 through December 1996. We used a simple methodology based on 4 criteria: pain, mouth opening, type of feeding and patient satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 21 operated patients who had been managed by an orthodontist after surgery. The post-surgical follow-up was 4 years. Patient age at surgery ranged from 14 to 51 years; the sex ratio was 1/9 M/F. Seventeen patients suffered a closed-lock, 2 had fibrous ankylosis of the disc. Fifteen patients underwent bilateral TMJ arthrotomy with joint fixation and, very often, mandibulo-condylar-plasty to counteract the bony compression inside the joint. We rated outcome as "very good" if four factors were found: resolution or improvement of pain, more than 40 mm post-surgery mouth opening or at least 10 mm improvement for patients with less than 40 mm post-surgical mouth opening, normal feeding, subjective satisfaction rated as very or quite good. Outcome was thus rated as very good (4 factors), quite good (3 factors), good (2 factors), poor (1 factor), failure (0 factors). RESULTS: Resolution of pain was achieved in 55% of the patients with an improvement in the others. All patients recovered normal feeding. Mouth opening remained limited for two patients. Subjective patient satisfaction was very or quite good in 80% of the cases. Outcome was rated very good in 9 patients, quite good in 7, and good in 5. There were no patients with poor outcome or failure. Analysis of the good outcome group showed that 3 had experience a post-surgery trauma, one had not complied with rehabilitation therapy, and one suffered from undiagnosed rheumatoid polyarthritis. CONCLUSION: According to the literature, TMJ surgery is an effective means of treating pain and reducing dysfunction. We obtained good and stable outcome in patients who participated in our postoperative follow-up. The TMJ is a fragile joint particularly susceptible to trauma.

[Progressive hemifacial atrophy in the young patient: surgical problems in children]. / L'atrophie hémifaciale progressive du sujet jeune: difficultés chirurgicales chez l'enfant.

Parry-Romberg syndrome is characterized by a limited progressive hemifacial atrophy. For young patients, the surgeon has to deal with two tendencies: the patient's growth and the course of the syndrome. When managing such an unpredictable disease, the surgeon has to make a guess about the future course of the structural movements. We reviewed our experience and analyzed the different surgical possibilities for reconstructive surgery for Parry-Romberg syndrome.

[Chronic diffuse osteomyelitis of the mandible. Apropos of a case]. / Ostéomyélite mandibulaire diffuse chronique. A propos d'un cas.

The incidence of osteomyelitis of the jaw has declined. Outcome is favorable with antibiotic therapy and surgery. We report a case in a women who experienced an unfavorable course with massive progressive diffusion, complicated by neoplastic conversion.

[Mucoviscidosis discovered after the age of 25 years. Review and follow-up of cases of the literature]. / Mucoviscidose reconnue après l'âge de 25 ans. Revue et devenir des cas de la littérature.

We report a case of cystic fibrosis diagnosed in a 27-year-old man complaining of diarrhoea which was present for 2 years. The diagnosis was suspected upon the association of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, massive hepatic steatosis, pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiograph, and moderate alterations of pulmonary function tests. It was confirmed by positive sweat tests. Study of the cystic fibrosis gene demonstrated a compound heterozygosity for delta F508 deletion and for mutation W1282X. Diagnosis of cystic fibrosis after the age of 25 is a rare event and the 25 hitherto published case reports are analysed after obtention of more detailed information for the authors. The existence of cases of late diagnosis might be explained by genetic heterogeneity.