A comparative study on meniscectomy and autogenous graft replacement of the rhesus monkey temporomandibular joint articular disc--Part II.

This study investigated the effects of free auricular cartilage and pedicled temporalis myofascial flap replacement of the temporomandibular joint articular disc in eight rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The eight animals were divided into two groups (four animals in each group) for replacement of the disc with either auricular cartilage graft or pedicled temporalis myofascial graft. Degenerative changes (osteoarthritis) were observed in all the experimental joints. Despite degeneration of grafted cartilage tissue, histologic and clinical responses after auricular cartilage grafting were favourable. Pedicled temporalis myofascial flap resulted in re-formation of a disc-like interpositional structure in most of the studied joints with the most favourable histologic response.