Morphological changes of TMJ disc in surgically treated ADDwoR patients: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background This study aimed to quantify the morphological changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs after disc repositioning surgery using the three-dimensional (3D) modeling. Methods Thirty patients who diagnosed with unilateral ADDwoR were included to compare the morphological differences between ADDWoR discs and normal discs, and fifteen patients who experienced unilateral or bilateral disc repositioning surgery were included to analyze the morphological changes before and after disc repositioning surgery. Disc 3D reconstruction and analyses were performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Results In the unilateral ADDwoR patients, volume, superficial area, length, and maximum longitudinal-sectional area of the ADDwoR disc were significantly smaller compared with the non-affected discs. However, there was no significant difference in width and cross-sectional areas between ADDwoR discs and non-affected discs. In patients who subjected to disc repositioning surgery, disc volume, superficial area, length, width and maximum longitudinal-sectional area of TMJ discs were markedly increased 6 months after surgery. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the TMJ discs tended to be morphologically smaller in volume and shorter in length under ADDwoR status. Importantly, the ADDwoR discs tended to morphologically recover toward non-affected discs after 6 months follow-up following TMJ disc repositioning surgery.

Imaging evaluation of disc position and status after temporomandibular joint arthroscopic disc repositioning and suturing surgery

“…Researchers have found that shortening of disc length and decrease of disc volume were observed in ADD, while after disc repositioning surgery, the disc was recovered both in length and in volumn [ 9 , 10 ]. In clinical practice of the author's department, it has been noticed that besides the shape of the disc, the position of the disc changed gradually after repositioning surgery.…”

A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Temporomandibular Joint Disc Displacement from 1992 to 2022

“…Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently the most accurate and essential diagnostic modality for determining the position of the articular disc [9]. TMJ disc displacement can be classified as disc displacement with reduction (DDwR) or disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR) [10]. In DDwR, which holds the higher frequency, there exists an abnormal disc-condyle relationship [11].…”