The effect of arthroscopic disc repositioning on facial growth in juvenile patients with unilateral anterior disc displacement

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of arthroscopic disc repositioning on condylar development and mandibular asymmetry in juvenile patients with unilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) anterior disc displacement (ADD). Patients and Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on unilateral juvenile anterior disc displacement (UJADD) patients of 10-20 years of age treated in Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital from 2010 to 2017. The primary predictor was TMJ arthroscopic disc repositioning surgery, according to which patients were divided into surgery group and control group. Initial and re-examined (with at least 6 months’ interval) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs (PA) were collected. The condylar heights on both sides of TMJ were measured by MRI and the difference between them was calculated. Menton (Me) deviation was measured based on PA. Changes in condylar height difference and Me deviation were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 108 UJADD patients were collected in this study, including 55 patients in surgery group and 53 patients in control group. There were no significant differences in age, sex and follow-up time between the two groups. The condylar height difference was (-0.61±2.02) mm in surgery group and (1.68±1.73) mm in control group (P Conclusions UJADD should be treated as early as possible, especially in juvenile patients, in order to improve condylar development and avoid jaw deformities.