A rabbit model for temporomandibular joint intracapsular adhesion

PURPOSE: To introduce a method to establish a rabbit model for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) intra-capsular adhesion. METHODS: The inferior and posterior walls of the right orbit in 16 rabbits were exposed. A needle, with suture, was passed vertically through the anterior part of the disc , which was tied with an elastic rubber loop. The elastic rubber loop was stretched anteriorly from 9.5mm to 40mm and fixed in a hole drilled in the zygomatic arch. The rabbits' TMJs were examined by MRI and endoscopy to assess the TMJID and intra-capsular adhesion respectively. Then, both TMJs and the surrounding tissues were excised en bloc and placed in neutral-buffered formalin for 36 hours. The demineralized specimens were embedded in paraffin and sectioned serially for examining under light microscopy stained with hematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS: The mandible of each operated rabbit deviated to the left side with inclined attribution of incisors. The disc was displaced forward and the degree of ADD among rabbits was uniform. CONCLUSION: The present study provides an advanced method for establishing model of anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint.