TMJ Disc Perforation, Risk of Condylar Resorption After Orthognathic Surgery

Background: Treatment of Class II skeletal deformities is common practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery. However, patients undergoing mandibular advancement can experience condylar resorption. Etiology(s) include excessive loading of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with concomitant disc perforation due to anterior disc dislocation without reduction. The perforation may have been present preoperatively and have contributed to postoperative condylar resorption. The degree of resorption can vary with anatomy, as well as the release of inflammatory mediators (interleukin [IL-6]) that enhance bony resorption and disc degeneration. Objective: (1) To examine whether preoperative arthroscopically confirmed disc perforation is associated with postoperative condylar resorption, measured as the 1-year change in mandibular ramus height, in skeletal Class II patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. (2) To descriptively compare preoperative TMJ morphology on MRI and CT, and inflammatory cyt more...