Changes of the condylar position after modified disc repositioning: a retrospective study based on magnetic resonance imaging

Publication date: Available online 31 December 2018

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

Author(s): Xu-Zhuo Chen, Ya-Ting Qiu, Shan-Yong Zhang, Ji-Si Zheng, Chi Yang

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to explain the malocclusion after unilateral open disc repositioning surgery from the changes of condylar position.

Study Design

Patients treated with unilaterally modified TMJ disc repositioning were reviewed. All subjects had pre and immediately postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The occlusion was checked, and the changes of the joint space and condylar position were measured in MRI. The paired t test was used for analysis.

Results

Thirty-two subjects were included in the final analysis. The incidences of the posterior open bite in the affected side were 100%, 87.5%, 71.9%, 9.4%, 3.1%, and 3.1% at 0, 3, 7 days, 3, 6 months, and the last follow-up after surgery. The mean distances of the condylar movements were 2.67 and 0.32 mm in the affected and normal joints. There were significant differences for the anterior (P=0.03), superior (P<0.001), and posterior (P<0.001) joint spaces of the affected joints in MRI.

Conclusions

The joint spaces significantly increased postoperatively, in addition to the changes of the condylar position in anterior and inferior movements, leading to the posterior open bite, most of which will be recovered 3 months after surgery. It is concluded that disc repositioning results in a stable occlusion over time when done unilaterally.

http://bit.ly/2VjuWgJ