Clinical outcomes of the discopexy using suture anchors for repositioning disc displacement in temporomandibular joints: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The present study evaluated the literature regarding the clinical outcomes after discopexy using suture bone anchors for repositioning disc displacement. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement and applied for the PROSPERO platform. The database searches were performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and LILACS for full articles published from no restrictions of the initial period time to April 2022. Selection criteria included clinical studies in humans comparing maximal inter-incisal opening (MIO), pain by visual analogue scale (VAS), and protrusive and lateral excursions before and after discopexy. The screening process was performed by two independent reviewers, and if they did not agree with each other, a third reviewer was consulted before proceeding. The meta-analysis was carried out by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 327 patients were diagnosed with disc displacement, and 142 patients were refractory to conservative and minimally surgical therapies. Preauricular and endaural approaches were performed to place suture bone anchors on the posterior area of the condyle. A significant difference was found in MIO, which ranged from 15.5 mm pre-opeatively to 41.6 mm post-operatively (p = 0.001). Pain scores using the VAS ranged from 7.42 to 0.28 indicating improvement post-operatively (p = 0.001). Mandibular excursions were underestimated. The available results have shown that discopexy using suture anchors seemed to decrease pain and improve mouth opening. Clinical studies are required in a larger sample and lower variability of follow-up time to predict actual benefits.

Keywords: Bone anchors; Disc displacement; Discopexy; Internal derangement; Temporomandibular joint disorders.