New arthroscopic disc repositioning and suturing technique for treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: part II--magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency of an arthroscopic suturing technique for stabilizing anteriorly displaced discs in patients with internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six hundred thirty-nine patients (764 joints) diagnosed as having stages II to V of internal derangement were treated with arthroscopic disc repositioning and suturing from August 2004 to March 2007. Consecutive MR images were used to evaluate internal derangement before and approximately 1 to 7 days after the operation for all 639 patients. The disc position of the TMJ was judged according to the success criteria, which included 3 different sagittal planes (lateral, central, and medial). Operative efficiency in those patients, whose discs of the TMJ were affirmed to be in a normal position in all 3 planes, was evaluated to be excellent. Those patients whose discs were in a normal position in 2 planes were evaluated to be good. The others were evaluated to be poor. Cases evaluated as excellent and good were considered success cases (if the disc is displaced only in 1 or 2 planes before operation, the efficiency of the operation would be evaluated as a success only if the whole disc was in normal position).

RESULTS: Postoperative consecutive MR images for all 764 joints confirmed that 95.42% (729/764) of the joints were excellent, 3.14% (24/764) were good, and only 1.44% (11/764) were poor. Repeated arthroscopic surgery or open surgery was carried out for the joints that were evaluated as poor.

CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the TMJ arthroscopic suturing technique is effective in repositioning the TMJ disc as confirmed by an MR imaging examination, but long-term follow-up is necessary.