A case of an old condylar fracture of the mandible responding to arthroscopic lysis and lavage operation

We describe a 56-year-old man who consulted our department because of pain in the left temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on June 15, 1999. The patient had fallen down at work and was injured on May 8. The mouth opening distance was 27 mm, and the pain was present in the left TMJ Radiographic examination showed an oblique fracture in the left condyle, and a small piece of bone was displaced anteromedially.The patient had an old left-condylar fracture, and the remaining articular cavity was detected in the left TMJ by superior articular cavity pumping. We perfomed arthroscopic lysis and lavage operation on July 2. The mouth opening distance improved to 38 mm, and the pain disappeared 12 months after surgery. The patient had no problems in daily life.