Masticatory muscle function after unilateral condylar fractures: a prospective and quantitative electromyographic study.

Electromyographic (EMG) recording of masticatory muscle activity was performed in 9 adult men with unilateral condylar fracture immediately after conservative treatment of the condylar fracture (T0) and 4 (T1) and 8 (T2) months after the trauma. From T0 to T2, maximal voluntary contraction of the anterior and posterior temporal muscles and of the masseter muscle opposite the fracture side (contralateral) increased significantly. Activity in the anterior temporal muscles also rose significantly during natural chewing, whereas the masseter muscles remained at the same level, but activity consistently tended to be strongest contralaterally to the condylar fracture. In addition, there was a tendency from T1 to T2 for natural chewing to take place predominantly on the contralateral side. The most obvious overall changes during the follow-up were shorter and stronger contractions in all muscles during chewing, on the side of the impaired joint. The increase of activity in the anterior temporal muscles during maximal bite and natural chewing, and the occurrence of stronger and shorter contractions during ipsilateral chewing, were interpreted as signs of improved function due to healing and relief of pain from the impaired joint. On the other hand, there was a specific rise of maximal activity only in the contralateral masseter, and during natural chewing, activity was constantly stronger in the same muscle in combination with the tendency of increasing predominance of contralateral strokes. These traits specifically related to the masseter muscles were considered an indication of a permanent functional distortion due to reflex suppression on the fracture side as an after-effect of the injury.