[Current problems in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries to the temporomandibular joint].

Complex examination of 2103 patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries was carried out. This examination included contrast arthrotomography, computed tomography (CT) and MR tomography of the TMJ. It gas been established, that in mandibular condyle fractures not only bone structures of the TMJ, but also soft tissue ones (the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus) are being injured. Our investigation has shown that condylar fractures in the region of condylar base and neck are combined with the injuries of the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus in 54.1 +/- 5.4% cases, mandibular head fractures with its dislocation--in 100%. The term "TMJ injuries" reflecting the injuries of bone and soft tissue structures of the TMJ has been introduced. The classification of TMJ injuries including TMJ contusion, mandibular dislocations, condylar and glenoid fossa fractures, the injuries of the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus has been developed. Distant results of traditional methods of treatment used in TMJ trauma have been studied and the necessity of the restoring of correct relation: glenoid fossa --articular disk--mandibular head--has been shown. The method of TMJ reconstruction consisting in the restoration of TMJ bone structures and the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus has been developed.