A guide for temporomandibular joint surgery using a simple surgical classification — A narrative-style review

Abstract

The aim of this narrative style review is to clarify the role of TMJ surgery in the management of specific TMJ disorders by introducing a simple and practical surgical classification. A decade ago, a new surgical classification was published which, like the Wilkes classification, included the five escalating degrees of joint pathology, but with more practical definitions and proposed surgical options for each of the disease categories. The classification begins with Category 1 — painful but otherwise structurally normal joints, which are largely managed nonsurgically. Categories 2 and 3 denote reducing and nonreducing disc displacement of the TMJ, respectively, with the former treated by TMJ arthrocentesis or level 1 arthroscopy and the latter best managed with disc repositioning or discopexy. Category 4 describes degenerative changes to the disc itself, where the disc cannot be salvaged and is thus removed with TMJ discectomy. Lastly, Category 5 refers to end-stage joint disease, where none of the joint components can be salvaged; both the disc and condylar head are sacrificed, and the TMJ is reconstructed with a prosthetic total joint replacement. In the decade since its publication, various studies have served to validate the usefulness of the TMJ surgical classification, and how it can be applied to better understand the role of TMJ surgery in everyday clinical practice.