Prevalence of degenerative disease in temporomandibular disorder patients with disc displacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To assess the available literature on the prevalence of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in patients with anterior disc displacement (ADD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), using a systematic review with meta-analysis. Search strategies were performed in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, and LIVIVO. A search was also carried out in the gray literature. Two independent reviewers selected the included articles using a two-phase process based on the eligibility criteria. Three reviewers independently collected the required information from the included articles. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed individually. In accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1349 studies were found and 18 articles were included. The total sample size was 3158 TMJs. The sex distribution was predominant for females (1161 females and 345 males). The average age was 46 (range 10-82) years. Among the 1762 TMJs quantitatively assessed, the prevalence of DJD involving disc displacement with reduction (DDWR) was 35%, while for disc displacement without reduction (DDWoR) the prevalence was 66%. The prevalences of different features of DJD were as follows: sclerosis 24.3%, erosion 23.5%, osteophyte 17.9%, and subcortical cyst 7.6%. The prevalence of DJD in temporomandibular disorder patients with disc displacement is around 50% and is higher in DDWoR (66%) than in DDWR (35%). Sclerosis and erosion would be the most expected radiological signs in a developing DJD. Clinicians should adequately address the frequent DJD features associated with disc displacement in terms of diagnostics and therapeutic management.