Removal of the articular fibrous layers with discectomy leads to temporomandibular joint ankylosis

Publication date: Available online 14 December 2018

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Hua-Lun Wang, Hao Liu, Jun Shen, Pei-Pei Zhang, Su-Xia Liang, Ying-Bin Yan

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the direct damage of the articular fibrous layers without condylar fracture, combined with discectomy, was enough to induce temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis.

Study Design

Bilateral TMJ surgery was performed in 8 growing sheep. The lateral 2/3 of disc removal (DR) was performed on the control side, whereas the lateral 2/3 of disc and articular fibrous layers removal (DFLR) were performed on the experimental side. Four and 4 animals were sacrificed respectively at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.

Results

Fibrous ankylosis was achieved on the DFLR side of the 2 of 4 sheep, and fibro-osseous ankylosis in the other 2 sheep at 1 month after surgery. Fibro-osseous ankylosis developed on the DFLR side of 4 sheep at 3 months postoperatively. On the DR side of animals, pathological characteristics of TMJ osteoarthritis could be found, however no evidence of ankylosis was observed. The scores of TMJ ankylosis for the DR side were significantly lower than that of the DFLR side at different time points (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that removal of articular fibrous layers combined with discectomy can lead to traumatic TMJ ankylosis.

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