The authors planned this study to evaluate the healaing process of the TMJ in the partial meniscal injury when functional jaw movement is carried out. 8 adult dogs were used ofr this study, and the author injured the right TMJ disc with a
surgical
blade
and comared it with the left TMJ. The dogs were sacrificed at 2, 4, 12, 14 weeks after the operation. The radiographic and light microscopic examinations were performed for the observation of the healing process of the TMJ. In the radiographic
examination, irregular resorption of the articular surface in the operative site was observed at 2 weeks after operation. The irregular osteophytic change and resorption were observed at 14 weeks after operation. In the light microscopic
examination,
the chondral zone of the cnodyle and glenoid fossa was significantly decreased or disappeared in the operative site and resorptive change of subchondral bone was observed at 2 weeks after the operation. At 14 weeks after the operation, the
chondral
zone
disappeared on both artiular surfaces and direct union between the irregular fibrous covering and subchondral bony trabeculae was observed in some locations.
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