Relationship between masticatory electromyographic activity and disk displacement in patients with unilateral anterior temporomandibular joint displacement

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2025.05.005

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in the electromyographic activity of the temporalis and occlusal muscles in patients with unilateral anterior displacement (UADD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) compared with those with normal TMJ disc-condylar relationship. METHODS: A total of 136 patients who underwent TMJ magnetic resonance imaging and needle electromyography (nEMG) examinations at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2021 to February 2024 were selected. Among them, there were 74 cases with normal bilateral TMJ disc-condylar relationship (control group), and 62 patients diagnosed with UADD by TMJ magnetic resonance imaging (UADD group). The indicators such as the amplitude and duration of motor unit potential (MUP) in the two groups of patients were compared, and the correlation analysis between UADD and abnormal electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles was conducted. RESULTS: The occurrence of abnormal electromyographic activities of the masseter muscle and temporal muscle was both related to the anterior displacement of the temporomandibular joint disc(P<0.001), and the more severe the TMJ lesion grade was, the greater the possibility of disorder in the masseter muscle and temporal muscle. The amplitude and wave length of the masseter muscle on the affected side in the UADD group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05), and the trend of wave length extension was consistent with the abnormal amplitude, suggesting that the neurogenic activity of the masseter muscle on the affected side in the UADD group was abnormally enhanced. However, in the UADD group, the amplitude(P=0.096) and wave length(P=0.079) of the temporal muscle on the affected side did not significantly deviate from the control group, but the abnormal direction was consistent with that of the masseter muscle. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high correlation between unilateral anterior displacement of the temporomandibular joint and abnormal masticatory electromyographic activity. Clinically, for patients with masticatory muscle electromyographic disorders, attention should be paid to the possibility of potential risks of unilateral anterior displacement of the temporomandibular joint disc.

Key words: Temporomandibular joint, Anterior displacement of the articular disk, Masticatory electromyographic activity, Needle electromyography

CLC Number:

R782.6

Zhu Yan, Li Minhan, He Jiaying, Wang Bian, Yang Chi, Ma Zhigui. Relationship between masticatory electromyographic activity and disk displacement in patients with unilateral anterior temporomandibular joint displacement[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2025, 23(5): 457-462.

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