TMJ fractures in children: clinical management and follow-up.

The mandible is the facial structure that is the most affected by trauma and the most common fracture site is the condyle. New perspectives for this problem are due to the fact that often TMJ fractures in children are undiagnosed and consequently untreated. This becomes evident when growth disturbances show up a year or two later. These types of trauma must be focused not only as a cause of direct damage to osseous structures, but also of future disturbances of the dentofacial development. Three cases of particular significance for the requested therapeutic approach are reported.