Effects of disc repositioning surgery on condylar bone regeneration

Abstract

<p>Objective To investigate the effects of disc repositioning surgery on condylar bone regeneration of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p>Materials and Methods A systematic search was conducted across six databases (Embase, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) in February 2024 and again in December 2024 (PROSPERO CRD42024501867). This study included clinical studies that reported the status of condylar bone regeneration after disc repositioning surgery, focusing on the proportion of joints having new condylar bone formation and condylar height changes following the eligibility criteria. Reference lists of eligible articles were manually checked for additional studies. The included studies were evaluated for methodological quality assessment using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS). Quantitative analyses were conducted in STATA software using the commands metaprop and metan.</p><p>Results Sixteen studies, with only one as randomized controlled trial, met the eligibility criteria and were subjected to data synthesis. Meta-analyses showed that 89.3% (95% CI: 79.4% to 96.5%) of TMJs exhibited new condylar bone formation after disc repositioning surgery, increasing to 95.9% (95% CI: 91.1% to 99.2%) for young patients under 21 years old. The disc repositioning surgery increased condylar height by 1.54 mm (95% CI: 1.19 to 1.89) on average, and 1.75mm (95% CI: 1.41 to 2.10) for those under 21 years old.</p><p>Conclusions Disc repositioning surgery may enhance condylar bone regeneration, with a more pronounced effect for younger patients. This systematic review indicates that repositioning the displaced disc is beneficial for condylar bone formation, which may be a promising way for treating TMJ disc displacement.</p>