J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  1997 Nov;23(4):620-627.

A STUDY ON MEDIOLATERAL DISC DISPLACEMENT OF TMJ

• Kim JB

Abstract

MRI and arthrograms were used to diagnose the disc displacement of temporomandibular joint, but most of these trials focused on the anterior disc displacement. The discs could be displaced laterally or medially and in some case this sideway displacement may play a role as a main problem of temporomandibular disorder. In this study, 45 patients(31 unaffected sites, 59 affected sites) and 20 asymptomatic volunteers' sagittal and coronal MRI views were reviewed, then some results were found as follows 1. In sagittal plan, anterior disc displacements were found 15% in normal sites, 45% in unaffected sites and 69% in affected sites. 2. In coronal plan, sideways disc displacements were found 15% as medial in normal, 6% as medial and 13% as lateral in unaffected, 8% as medial and 14% as lateral diaplacement in affected sites. 3. In asymptomatic sites involving unaffected sites, medial disc displacements(11.3%) but in symptomatic joints, lateral disc displacements(13.8%) were prevalent. 4. The sideways disc displacement were observed 10.1% as medial and 2.9% as lateral dispalcement without and 9.8% as medial and 16.4% lateral dispalcements with anterior disc displacement. And, the coronal views of MRI were beneficial to evaluate the sideways disc displacement. Further studies may be needed on evaluation of the relations between sideways displacements and clinical symptoms or the treatment results.

MeSH Terms

Joints
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Temporomandibular Joint*