To explore the clinical effect of manual reduction combined with Twin-Block splint treatment on acute anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDWoR) .

From June 2020 to June 2021, fifty-two patients diagnosed with acute ADDWoR and admitted to the affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were taken manual reduction and Twin-Block splint therapy. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by maximum mouth opening, visual analog scales (VAS) pain score, Fricton index, imagological examination before treatment and after 6 months treatment.

Four patients failed treatment among the 52 patients. The mouth opening of the other 48 patients after 6 months of treatment (44.1 ± 3.3) mm was significantly higher than that of pre-treatment (25.2 ± 2.2) (t = 30.934, P<0.001) . VAS pain score after 6 months of treatment (0.15 ± 0.41) was significantly lower than that of pre-treatment (2.02 ± 0.67) (t = 15.931, P<0.001) . The joint dysfunction index after 6 months treatment (0.06 ± 0.07) was significantly lower than that of pre-treatment (0.37 ± 0.04) (t = 36.544, P<0.001) , and the joint craniomandibular index after 6 months treatment (0.04 ± 0.03) was significantly lower than that of pre-treatment (0.21 ± 0.03) (t = 31.435, P<0.001) . Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the disc-condyle relationship was restored to normal in five cases, while anterior disc displacement with reduction in 27 cases, and ADDWoR without mouth opening limitation in 16 cases.

Manual reduction combined with Twin-Block splint treatment can improve the acute ADDWoR patients′ mouth opening, alleviate pain, and restore the function of TMJ.