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 left) 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 confirmed altogether in 88 % of cases (45/51). The clinical diagnosis was confirmed 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 by surgery in 71 % of cases. MRI was excellent especially relating to disk position and changes in disk morphology. The results show also that there are findings using MRI, e.g. of joint effusion, which cannot be confirmed during surgery.