Long-term Follow-up of Temporomandibular Joint Surgery and Evaluation of the 6-month Control as a Prognostic Marker

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the long-term outcomes of surgical treatment for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement, either with reduction (DDwR) or without reduction (DDwoR). The study focuses on whether the surgical results seen six months after surgery remain stable about 10 years later, and how joint degeneration changes over time after surgery. This research addresses a gap in knowledge about the long-term effects of TMJ surgeries such as arthroscopy and discectomy, which have previously been studied mostly over shorter periods. The study involves patients who had TMJ surgery between 2014 and 2017, including arthroscopic lysis and lavage with saline irrigation or open discectomy where the joint disc is completely removed. These patients will be invited for a follow-up clinical examination and a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of the TMJ approximately 10 years after their surgery. The examination will assess both subjective outcomes like pain and disability and objective measures such as mouth opening and joint movement. Participants will undergo a one-time visit lasting about 30 minutes for clinical evaluation and imaging. Researchers will collect data on mouth opening capacity, patient-reported pain and disability, and radiological changes compared to initial scans before surgery. The study aims to identify predictors of long-term surgical success and examine how joint degeneration correlates with clinical outcomes. All scans will be reviewed by a radiology specialist, and findings may influence future follow-up protocols. The study is observational and does not involve additional treatments.

Long-term Follow up of TMJ Surgery and Evaluation of the 6-month Control as a Prognostic Marker.