Morphologic changes in the temporomandibular joint in different age groups. An autopsy investigation.

Comparisons among several temporomandibular joint autopsy studies indicate that the frequency of arthrosis and disk displacement is higher in elderly persons. The aim of this study was to investigate type, frequency, and location of morphologic changes in temporomandibular joint autopsy specimens divided into two groups according to age and to determine the differences between the two groups. For this purpose 68 temporomandibular joints were removed from 37 persons at autopsy. Group I (young) consisted of 36 specimens belonging to 19 persons with a mean age of 30 years (range, 16 to 39 years). Group II (elderly) consisted of 32 specimens from persons with a mean age of 68 years (range, 55 to 78 years). Significant differences between the two groups were observed with respect to several of the morphologic changes that were evaluated. The results of this study suggest that the frequency of morphologic changes such as deviation in form, arthrosis, perforations, disk displacement, disk deformation, and adhesions is higher in the temporomandibular joints of elderly persons.