TMJ Disc Removal: Comparison between Pre-clinical Studies and Clinical Findings

The debate continues surrounding the use of disc removal (discectomy) as the primary surgical treatment for patients suffering from severe temporomandibular joint disorders. Furthermore, the effectiveness of pre-clinical animal models for predicting the response of the joint to discectomy in humans remains uncertain. This review compares the results of animal models with the most recent clinical findings while also focusing on investigations that use imaging as an assessment tool. After a review of the literature from well-established animal studies to clinical findings, it was found that the results of animal models for discectomy corresponded to the clinical findings seen in patients. Overall, there is adaptive remodeling or degeneration of the TMJ following discectomy. Additionally, there is some reduction in pain but with various amounts of dysfunction remaining following disc removal. Noteworthy, in the most recent clinical studies, imaging was not used as an outcome to assess the success of discectomy at preventing further joint degeneration.