MRI and clinical findings of posterior disk displacement in the temporomandibular joint

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings of patients with posterior disk displacement in the temporomandibular joint.Study designMagnetic resonance and clinical findings of 62 temporomandibular joints (44 patients) with posterior disk displacement were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAccording to the criteria proposed by Westesson et al., 52 temporomandibular joints (84%) were the thin flat disk type and the remaining 10 (16%) were the perforated disk type. Fifteen temporomandibular joints (24%) had a history of luxation. Clicking was observed in 26 temporomandibular joints (42%), all of which were the thin flat disk type (chi-square test, P < .01). Pain was observed in 19% of patients with the thin flat disk type and 60% of those with the perforated disk type (P < .05).ConclusionsMagnetic resonance imaging could clearly reveal the details of posterior disk displacement in the temporomandibular joint. The clinical findings were dissimilar between the thin flat and the perforated disk type.