[Arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint. Long-term results]. / L'artrocentesi dell'articolazione temporo-mandibolare. Risultati a lungo termine.

BACKGROUND: The studies carried out by Nitzan et al. (1991) to the assumption that the simple washing of the upper compartment of the temporo-mandibular joint, without introducing the arthroscope, associated to the application of a bite at night was sufficient to obtain a pain relieving effect and an improvement in the joint functionality in cases of internal derangement of TMJ. The purpose of this work is to assess the long-term results obtained in our department by using only the arthrocentesis without the association of other therapeutic procedures for evaluating the benefit brought by the simple washing of the upper compartment of the joint. METHODS: A sample of 10 patients subjected to arthrocentesis with an average follow-up of 23.8 months was examined. The evaluation of the patients was based on a clinical analysis and a series of instrumental tests including orthopanoramic X-rays, stratigraphies, RNM in some cases and an electrognatographic test. The parameters taken into consideration were maximum opening, articular noises, local pain in the articular region, the occurrence or not of headache. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion arthrocentesis is a method of simple application, well accepted by patients, leading to a clear improvement of symptoms, as far as pain relieving effect and functionality are concerned, thanks to the possibility to drain by washing the constituents of the inflammation and the mediators of pain; this method may be applied routinely, as therapeutic support, in those patients with clinical histories of condilo-meniscal uncoordination and presenting limitations in the opening of the mouth and articular pains.

[Surgical approach to benign primary tumors of the para-pharyngeal space]. / Approcci chirurgici per le neoplasie benigne primitive dello spazio parafaringeo.

Surgical access to tumors of the parapharyngeal space can be performed by transoral or trancervical approaches. Risk of intraoperative bleeding and difficulties in radical enucleation represent the disadvantages of transoral approach. This approach must be performed for small and inferomedial lesions, or for preoperative biopsy when necessary. Transcervical approaches can be distinguished in transparotid or transmandibular, or submandibular. Before the late '70s all parapharyngeal masses were approached by transparotid access, with facial nerve manipulation in all cases. CT and MR techniques now allow the right presumptive preoperative diagnosis in 90% of patients. To avoid the risk of injury of the facial nerve when possible, transparotid approach is now limited to the lesions with parotid origin. Transmandibular and submandibular approaches allow an adequate exposure and a direct access to the parapharyngeal space. Personal experience with 6 patients presenting primitive tumors of the parapharyngeal space is reported and surgical approaches proposed in the literature are reviewed.

Progressive systemic sclerosis: rare localization of the maxillofacial district.

The authors focus on a case of scleroderma, or progressive systemic sclerosis. Scleroderma is a disease of unknown cause, characterized by an abnormal synthesis of connective tissues that causes a sclerosis of the skin involving organs and systems at various levels. It may appear in different forms and may involve, although not frequently, the maxillofacial district. The authors examined a 21-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with systemic progressive sclerosis in 1994. The patient showed a strong limitation of oral aperture, evidenced by an electrognathographic test, and osseous changes. Panoramic and full-mouth intraoral radiographs showed a complete agenesis of coronoid processes on both sides, whereas the angles and the rising branches of the mandibular and periodontal ligaments appeared normal. The patient was diagnosed as having maxillofacial localization of scleroderma with involvement of coronoid processes bilaterally.

Temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis: long-term results.

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.

Condylar fractures during growth: follow-up of 16 patients.

Fractures of the mandibular condyle represent 20% to 35% of all mandibular fractures. There are several clinical variants of this type of fracture that give rise to different problems in relation to their classification and treatment. A sample of 16 patients (of a total of 280 patients examined and treated from 1985 through 1995) with mono- and bilateral, displaced and decomposed, condylar fractures that occurred during growth were examined by the authors, who assessed, by a 2-year follow-up, the relevant clinical, functional, and instrumental parameters. On the basis of the data gathered by this study, a plan was drawn up for treating these patients that takes into account the different situations, such as either a nonsurgical or surgical treatment (by the use of condylectomy or external rigid fixation), and points out the advantages and disadvantages of each method.