DISK POSITION BEFORE AND AFTER MODIFIED CONDYLOTOMY IN 80 SYMPTOMATICTEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINTS

Objective. Our primary objective was to determine the frequency of dis k reduction after modified condylotomy and whether the type of displac ement affected outcome. Design. We classified reducing disk displaceme nts from magnetic resonance images of 80 symptomatic temporomandibular joints before modified condylotomy. Disk position was reassessed afte r surgery. Results. The disk and condyle typically move in reciprocal directions. The disk was reduced by surgery in 79% of the joints. The rate of reduction varied by the type of displacement, but the differen ces between the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion. This finding reaffirms that modified condylotomy has a high rate of d isk reduction. The unexpected observation that the increase in joint s pace resulting from the surgery typically permitted a variable degree of spontaneous movement of the disk has implications for the nature of osteoarthrosis and internal derangement and for surgical treatments i ntended to reduce the disk.