Discectomy of the temporomandibular joint: 3-year follow-up as a predictor of the 10-year outcome

Purpose: The study goal was to evaluate whether the 3-year follow-up evaluation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discectomy in a consecutive series of patients with TMJ internal derangement was a reliable predictor for the 10-year outcome of the operation. Material and Methods: Twenty-nine patients with TMJ internal derangement were treated with discectomies, 6 bilaterally and 23 unilaterally. The patients were followed up for 10 years. Results: The dropout rate was zero at the 3-year follow-up, and 5 patients (17.2%) had dropped out at the 10-year follow-up. There was a significant reduction in the median visual analog scale recordings, and all but I patient reported reduction in the pain score. Mandibular motion increased significantly after 3 years, and similar or improved recordings were made at the 10-year follow-up. All but 5 patients showed an increased motion at the 10-year follow-up compared with the preoperative motion. The only complication seen at the 10-year follow-up examination was a slight anesthesia of the auriculotemporal nerve in 1 patient. All types of additional therapy decreased significantly after the operations. Conclusions: Discectomy of the TMJ may significantly reduce pain and improve function in patients with internal derangement on a long-term basis. The 3-year follow-up examination proved to be a reliable predictor of the 10-year results. (C) 2003 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.