Trigeminal impingement syndrome: the relationship between atypical trigeminal symptoms and anteromedial disk displacement.

The purpose of this study was to determine if compression of the mandibular nerve and its branches could be caused by antero-medial disk displacement, resulting in atypical facial pain. Sixteen temporomandibular joints (TMJ) were dissected and injected with an autopolymerizing solution into the superior compartment, which produced an artificial capsular swelling that caused disk displacement. In all specimens, the TMJ capsule was close to the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve after the intracapsular injection. Thus, capsular distension or antero-medial disk displacement, as seen in various temporomandibular disorders (TMD), could result in nerve compression and facial pain symptoms.