ABSTRACT
Background: The temporomandibular joint is an oval fibrous plate that completely divides the joint and accommodates irregularities existent in the bone articular surfaces. Aim: To study the frequency of temporomandibular joint disk abnormalities among Colombian subjects. Material and methods: We studied 120 temporomandibular joint disks obtained from fresh cadavers arrived in the Instituto de Medicina Legal, in Cali Colombia. These were analyzed according to subjectÕs dental status and age. Results: Nineteen percent of disks had small erosions. In 7,5 percent of disks there were wider erosions or perforations. Twenty six percent of discs were very thin and this alteration was seen mostly in people aged 50 years or older. Conclusions: These results are intermediate between those who claim that disk perforations are rare and those who had shown tile opposite. The loss of dental pieces seems to be a risk factor leading to such disk perforation