AGE-RELATED-CHANGES OF THE RETRODISCAL TISSUES IN THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT

Purpose: This study compares the histologic features of the lateral ca psule and lateral and central posterior disc attachment of temporomand ibular joints (TMJs) in young and elderly persons. Material and Method s: Samples were removed from 36 joints belonging to young persons (mea n age, 30 years; age range, 16 to 39 years) and 29 joints belonging to elderly persons (mean age, 69 years; age range, 58 to 78 years), Twel ve joints from elderly persons had altered disc position, whereas none of the young joints had this condition, Six-micrometer-thick sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the Frankel method (for elast ic fibers), Logistic regression analysis using a likelihood-ratio test was applied for comparisons between groups and to avoid the confoundi ng effect of differences in disc position and gender. Results: A signi ficantly lower density of fibroblasts was observed in elderly persons in all the three areas investigated, In addition, elderly persons demo nstrated a significantly lower distribution of vascular tissue and a s ignificantly higher presence of dense connective tissue in the central third of the posterior disc attachment. Conclusion: This study shows that retrodiscal tissues, which may eventually function as an articula r disc during altered disc position, are susceptible to age-related co nnective tissue changes.