Effect of Continuous Passive Motion on the Results of TMJ Meniscectomy. Part I: Comparison of Chewing Movement

Abstract:

In order to evaluate the therapeutic effect of continuous passive motion (CPM) on the outcome of TMJ meniscectomy, chewing movement was analyzed before surgery and six months after surgery in 31 patients receiving CPM (CPM group), 26 patients without CPM (non-CPM group), and in ten normal subjects. The surgical procedure consisted of either total meniscectomy or partial meniscectomy with disk repair. It was found that chewing in patients receiving CPM was closer to the normal range than for patients in the non-CPM group. The results from the CPM group demonstrated chewing parameters for patients with partial meniscectomy returning to the normal range. However, for the patients with total meniscectomy, some parameters remained out of the normal range. From these results, we conclude that CPM has a positive influence on the outcome of TMJ surgery.