Temporomandibular joint after meniscoplasty: appearance at MR imaging

Radiology. 1991 Sep;180(3):749-53. doi: 10.1148/radiology.180.3.1871289.

Abstract

Twenty-five temporomandibular joints (TMJs) were studied in 20 patients who had undergone meniscoplasty. In all patients, preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images showed anteriorly dislocated disks; all patients underwent a similar postoperative MR examination an average of 6 months after surgery. The results of these studies were correlated with clinical results of surgery, which were classified as poor, fair, good, or excellent at follow-up MR imaging. In 10 TMJs (eight patients [40%]) the clinical results were excellent or good; in 15 TMJs (12 patients [60%]), fair or poor. The position of the disk relative to its preoperative position was a good discriminator in determination of the clinical success of meniscoplasty. After surgery, in all patients with good or excellent results, the disks appeared to be in a normal or an improved position compared with that prior to surgery; in those with poor or fair results, the TMJs had anteriorly dislocated disks that showed no improvement.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology*
  • Cartilage, Articular / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Temporomandibular Joint / pathology*
  • Temporomandibular Joint / surgery
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / diagnosis
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / surgery