A recent study was published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. It explores using goats as a model to test replacements for damaged discs in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)—the joint that connects the jaw to the skull. It focuses on using a scaffold made from a pig’s small intestine to act as a temporary framework that the body can transform into new tissue.
Two methods of implantation were tested:
- Full Removal: The entire TMJ disc was replaced with the scaffold. This caused the scaffold to shift out of position, leading to poor results.
- Partial Removal: Only part of the disc was replaced, allowing the scaffold to be anchored better. This method led to the scaffold staying in place and integrating well, forming tissue similar to the original TMJ disc.
The goat model is ideal for this research because their TMJ closely resembles that of humans, and they chew extensively, providing a realistic test of durability. The findings provide insights into developing better TMJ disc replacements for humans, potentially avoiding severe joint damage and improving patient outcomes.
Read more about this study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266435624005059