Uncommon Posterior Disc Displacement of Temporomandibular Joint - A Case Report

Posterior disc displacement (PDD) is an uncommon condition in which disc tissue is located between the posterior surface of the condyle and post-glenoid tubercle. The etiopathogenesis of this condition is idiopathic. There are different predisposing factors in the literature which are consistent with the presented case such as lack of anterior prominence of the disc, thinning of the posterior zone of the disc and perforation of the disc.

We report an uncommon temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthropathy case of a 33-year-old female patient, who presented with long-standing TMJ pain associated with limited mouth opening.

The patient was diagnosed with non-reducible PDD of TMJ bilaterally.

Open surgery of TMJ (Discopexy) was the choice of treatment to release and mobilise discs.

A noticeable increase in mouth opening without pain in TMJ area was achieved immediately after surgery and remained stable during periodic follow-ups.

The importance of magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic tool for arthropathy, to determine the proper management is essential. Moreover, the root of the helix inter tragus notch incision presents an advantage of open surgery of TMJ which results in immediate outcome with limited complications.