title: Effect of mandibular distraction osteogenesis on the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review of animal experimental studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present systematic review aimed to test the hypothesis of no effect of mandibular distraction osteogenesis on the temporomandibular joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal experimental studies from January 1985 to August 2013 were included. Studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 289 articles were identified, and 17 were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Included studies were characterized by a high risk of bias and by inhomogeneity related to animal species, experimental procedures, and evaluation methods. Mandibular distraction osteogenesis within physiologic limits may be followed by adaptive changes in bone, disk, and cartilage. Increased daily rates and total activation length may influence the severity of the adaptive changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Animal experimental studies indicate that mandibular distraction osteogenesis may induce adaptive changes in the temporomandibular joint. Adaptive changes may be influenced by increased daily rates and total length of distraction osteogenesis. Well-designed studies are needed before final conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address: krisae@rm.dk.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas Klit
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ellen Margrethe
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schou
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sven Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nørholt
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D023421:Models, Animal; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000503:physiopathology