• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2011

Aim: Disc displacement without reduction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has been managed by mandibular manipulation to reduce the displaced disc but with a low success rate. The purpose of this study was to determine whether auriculotemporal nerve block anesthesia had an effect on the reduction of the displaced disc and to analyze the factors that influenced the result. Methods: 112 patients were diagnosed with disc displacement without reduction and treated by mandibular manipulation. Disc was recaptured in 35 patients. Among the 77 patients with whom disc recapture had failed, the auriculotemporal nerve was blocked with a local anesthetic in the 49 patients (mean $age \;{\pm}\; SD\; =\; 34.4\;{\pm}\; 15.1$; male 24, female 25) and then mandibular manipulation was performed again. Factors including age, elapsed time from the onset, and opening amount were analyzed in association with disc reduction rate with the auriculotemporal nerve block. Results: Among 49 patients who did not respond to manipulation only, manual reduction with auriculotemporal nerve block anesthesia was successful in 19 patients (38.8%). Maximum unassisted opening amount significantly increased in the 19 patients with successful recapture of the disc ($mean \;{\pm}\; SD\; =\; 46.1 \;{\pm}\; 4.5\; mm$), in contrast to the limited opening amount of the 49 patients before local anesthesia of the auriculotemporal nerve ($mean \;{\pm}\; SD\; =\; 25.7 \;{\pm}\; 6.0\; mm$). Age, elapsed time after the onset, and preoperative opening amount were not associated with the reduction rate. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that auriculotemporal nerve block anesthesia increases the reduction rate of the disc displacement without reduction of the TMJ when combined with mandibular manipulation, and such anesthesia should be applied at the first stage of manual treatment of disc displacement without reduction.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.239-246
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference of condylar and ramal vertical asymmetric indices on paonramic radiographs between temporomandibular disorder patients and normal group and according to classification of temporomandibular disorders. One hundred and twenty temporomandibular disorder patients and thirty normal individuals were selected. After tracing the panoramic radiographs, measurements for asymmetric indices were identified. The means and standard deviations of the measurement of each group were calculated and compared between two groups. Through the comparison of the measurement between two groups, following results were obtained 1. As a result of comparing condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices of the temporomandibular disorder patients with that of normal group, there was significant difference in condylar vertical asymmetry index between two groups and no significant difference in ramal vertical asymmetry index between two groups. 2. Condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices of temporomandibular joint disorder and muscle disorder patients showed greater value than normal group, but there was no significant difference between temporomandibular joint disorder patients and muscle disorder patients. 3. Among temporomandibular joint disorder patients, muscle disorder patients, and normal group, there was only significant difference in condylar vertical asymmetry index between temporomandibular joint disorder patients and normal group. 4. Among disc displacement, disc dislocation with reduction, and disc dislocation without reduction, there were no significant difference in condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices. 5. There were no correlation between aging and condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices. The results of the present study showed that condylar vertical asymmetry index of temporomandibular disorder patients showed greater values than normal group, and this difference could be considered as the features of temporomandibular disorders. Thus measuring the condylar vertical asymmetry index on panoramic radiographs is considered as the important factor for diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.