Disc displacement without reduction: a retrospective study of a clinical diagnostic sign

• Published in: Cranio Vol. 35; no. 2; p. 86
• Main Authors: Giraudeau, Anne, Jeany, Marion, Ehrmann, Elodie, Déjou, Jacques, Ouni, Imed, Orthlieb, Jean-Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 04.03.2017
• Subjects: Female; Humans; Jaw Relation Record; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Palpation; Retrospective Studies; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - diagnostic imaging; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - pathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - diagnosis; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - diagnostic imaging; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - pathology; Young Adult; Magnetic resonance imaging and TMD; Degenerative changes and TMD; Adhesion and TMD; Disc displacement without reduction; Evaluation of condylar translation using axiography; Internal derangement of temporomandibular joint; Clinical diagnosis and TMD
• ISSN: 2151-0903
• DOI: 10.1080/08869634.2016.1149291

The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate a clinical diagnostic sign for disc displacement without reduction (DDWR), the absence of additional condylar translation during opening compared with protrusion. Thirty-eight electronic axiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of the TMJ were analyzed in order to compare the opening/protrusion ratio of condylar translation between non-painful DDWR and non-DDWR. According to the Mann-Whitney U test, the opening/protrusion ratio in non-painful DDWR differs significantly from non-DDWR (p < 0.0001). Among non-painful DDWR, there is no additional condylar translation during opening in comparison with protrusion, and this is probably also the case for DDWR without limited opening, which is a subtype that has not been validated by the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Comparative condylar palpation can analyze this sign, and therefore, further comparative investigations between MRI and clinical examination are needed to validate the corresponding clinical test.