Abstract
The pathological features of closed lock involving anterior disc displacement without reduction have been elucidated by recent investigations. However, bilateral MRI scans of patients with unilateral TMJ symptoms demonstrated the presence of abnormal findings of the contralateral TMJ disc. Treatment procedures for such cases have yet to be established, and their underlying pathological features are not fully understood.
This study was designed to elucidate the effects of conservative treatment for bilateral closed lock and the correlation between disc configuration, based on MR imaging, and clincal findings.
The following results were obtained:
1. Our non-surgical treatment was successful in 65% of patients with bilateral closed lock of the TMJ. The efficacy of pumping manipulation of the TMJ with poor mobility (high rigidity on manipulation) in the absence of symptoms was suggested.
2. The disc configuration on MR imaging indicated a high frequency of folding type and non-structured type among symptmatic TMJ and a high frequency of even thickness type among non-symptomatic TMJ.
