title: The relationship between the degree of disk displacement and ability to perform disk reduction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the difference in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk position between reducible and permanently displaced disks.
  
  
  METHODS
  We found 182 joints with disk displacement (83 with reduction and 99 without reduction) that were available for the study. The disk position was estimated by using magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference between them with the permanently displaced disks being located more anteriorly. When a comparison was made in the disks as to which degree of displacement was moderate, a difference of disk position at either the medial or lateral depth of the TMJ was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was suggested that the permanently displaced disks are located more anteriorly than the reducible displaced disks. When the disk displacement was moderate, disk reduction was influenced by less disk displacement at either the medial or lateral part of the TMJ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine. Matsumoto, Japan. hkurita@hsp.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurashina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*