title: The anatomical effects of surgically repositioning the disc in the temporomandibular joint of rats. An experimental study.
abstract: A sample of 16 rats was used as experimental material to evaluate the effect of surgical repositioning of the disc of the temporomandibular joint according to the technique described by McCarty and Farrar (1979) and its variation according to Leopard (1984). The animals were killed 6 weeks postoperatively. Macroscopic and microscopic examination revealed that in all rats treated according to the procedure of McCarty and Farrar (1979) the disc had completely disappeared. The underlying condyle was deformed to a mushroom shape and the cartilage of the condyle was thickened. In seven of eight rats operated on according to the technique of Leopard, the same results were observed. It is concluded that surgical repositioning of the disc according to these techniques represents a method of disc removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lekkas
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Honee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*