Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders in Orthognathic Surgery patients: A systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions

Abstract

Background: Orthognathic surgery is done to treat a variety of dentofacial abnormalities, but a wide gap still remains on how it can result in temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). The primary goal of this review was to assess the effects of various orthognathic surgical techniques on the emergence or exacerbation of TMJ dysfunction.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across several databases using Boolean operators and MeSH keywords related to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) and orthognathic surgical interventions, with no limitation on the year of publication. Two independent reviewers screened the identified studies based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by a risk of bias assessment using a standardised tool.

Results: Five articles were considered for inclusion in this review. A greater number of females opted for surgical options than their male cohorts. Three studies were of prospective design, 1 of retrospective and 1 of observational type. Mobility on lateral excursion, tenderness on palpation, arthralgia and popping sounds were the TMD characteristics that showed significant differences. Overall, orthognathic surgical intervention did not show an increase in TMD signs and symptoms as compared to nonsurgical counterparts.

Conclusion: Though orthognathic surgery reported greater cases of some TMD symptoms and signs as compared to the nonsurgical cohorts in four studies, the conclusive evidence is debatable. Further studies are recommended with a longer follow-up period and greater sample size to determine the impact of orthognathic surgery on TMJ.

Keywords: bilateral sagittal split osteotomy; temporomandibular disorders; temporomandibular joint; temporomandibular joint dysfunction.