Related Experiment Videos
Age-related changes of the retrodiscal tissues in the temporomandibular joint
F J Pereira Júnior1, H Lundh, P L Westesson
1Department of Stomatognathic Physiology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Purpose:
This study compares the histologic features of the lateral capsule and lateral and central posterior disc attachment of temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in young and elderly persons.
Material And Methods:
Samples were removed from 36 joints belonging to young persons (mean age, 30 years; age range, 16 to 39 years) and 29 joints belonging to elderly persons (mean age, 69 years; age range, 58 to 78 years). Twelve joints from elderly persons had altered disc position, whereas none of the young joints had this condition. Six-micrometer-thick sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the Fränkel method (for elastic fibers). Logistic regression analysis using a likelihood-ratio test was applied for comparisons between groups and to avoid the confounding effect of differences in disc position and gender.
Results:
A significantly lower density of fibroblasts was observed in elderly persons in all the three areas investigated. In addition, elderly persons demonstrated a significantly lower distribution of vascular tissue and a significantly higher presence of dense connective tissue in the central third of the posterior disc attachment.
Conclusion:
This study shows that retrodiscal tissues, which may eventually function as an articular disc during altered disc position, are susceptible to age-related connective tissue changes.