CLINICAL, MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING AND SURGICAL FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT DISORDERS - A SURVEY OF 47 PATIENTS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and correlate the clinical, magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI), and surgical findings in 47 patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. 51 TMJs (24 right, 27 l eft) were operated on, because 4 patients underwent treatment of both TMJs. The best correlation between MRI and surgical findings was noted in connection with position of the disk. This was surgically confirme d altogether in 88 % of cases (45/51). The clinical diagnosis was conf irmed by surgical findings in 75 % of cases of anterior dislocation of the disk with reduction and 89 % of cases of anterior dislocation of the disk without reduction. Bone changes noted by MRI were confirmed b y surgery in 71 % of cases. MRI was excellent especially relating to d isk position and changes in disk morphology. The results show also tha t there are findings using MRI, e.g. of joint effusion, which cannot b e confirmed during surgery.