Histological changes in temporomandibular joints from elderly individuals. An autopsy study

Our aim was to study microscopically the disc position and structural tissue changes such as disc perforation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). An autopsy material comprising the right and left TMJ from 21 individuals with a mean age of 75 years was studied. Anterior disc position was found in 11 joints from 8 individuals. Discs in anterior position were most often of even thickness or convex, whereas most discs in normal position were concave. Perforation was found in the central dense part of the disc in one joint and in the posterior disc attachment of five joints. The latter five discs were in anterior position. Of the five joints with anterior disc position and perforation of the posterior attachment, four joints showed marked structural changes also in the condyle and temporal component. Such changes were found only in one of six joints with anterior disc position but without perforation. No signs of cellular inflammation were observed in any of the joints. Fibrous ankylosis was found in four joints from three individuals. Joints with anterior disc position comprised more than one fourth of the examined joints. In some of these joints there were no structural changes; in other of these joints disc perforation was combined with convex disc form and marked structural changes of the condyle and temporal component.