DISKECTOMY IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINTS WITH INTERNAL DERANGEMENT - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Objective. To follow up a series of patients treated consecutively who had undergone a diskectomy 2 years previously because of persistent p ain and disk displacement in the temporomandibular joint. Study design . Sixteen subjects rated their current symptoms during 1 week and were systematically examined for signs of temporomandibular disorders clin ically and radiographically by independent observers. Results. Subject ively, all subjects were satisfied with the operation. Five rated thei r current pain as significant during masticatory function. Some signs of temporomandibular disorders, usually related to function, were regi stered in all subjects. Postoperative mandibular movements were improv ed but still below normal range. Signs and symptoms correlated signifi cantly. Surgical complications were nonexistent but radiographic chang es were extensive. Erosion and flattening of the condyle were common. Conclusions. It was verified that subjects with persistent pain and di sk displacement benefit subjectively and clinically from diskectomy. T he radiographic outcomes appear less encouraging. Only prospective, ra ndomized, and controlled studies can eventually clarify the effectiven ess of diskectomy in relieving pain caused by disk displacements in th e temporomandibular joint.