Pig as Pre-Clinical Animal Model for Research on Temporomandibular Joint Surgery: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Comparative anatomy
• Animal models in research
• Surgical research

Background:

• Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are prevalent but complex to manage, with high recurrence rates.
• Current research often utilizes animal models, with pigs frequently employed for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) studies.
• The efficacy of pigs as a model for TMJ and TMD research requires systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature and determine the suitability of the pig as an animal model for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgical research.
• To assess the relevance of pig TMJ characteristics for studying temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Literature searches were performed across major databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science.
• Studies were screened based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria to identify relevant research on pig models for TMJ/TMDs.

Main Results:

• Out of 761 initially identified articles, 17 were included in the final review.
• All included studies concluded that pigs are an appropriate animal model for TMJ research.
• Existing research suggests that TMD induction methods are effective in pigs.

Conclusions:

• The morphological and functional similarities between pig and human temporomandibular joints (TMJs) make pigs highly suitable for TMJ research.
• Pigs exhibit comparable rotational and translational joint motions to humans.
• The pig model is recommended for surgical research concerning the temporomandibular joint.