Standardized surgical access to the porcine temporomandibular joint: Anatomical basis for translational research

Temporomandibular disorders affect about 12% of the industrialized population, and their complex management often results in recurrence or treatment failure. Among animal models, the pig is particularly relevant owing to its anatomical similarity to humans, although specific differences in the zygomatic arch and mandibular fossa require adapted surgical approaches. We describe and validate a standardized surgical approach to the porcine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) suitable for translational research. Eleven cadavers of Sus scrofa domestica were dissected to identify key anatomical structures. A high condylectomy was performed to establish a reproducible surgical pathway, and the caudal intra-articular injection technique was tested using methylene blue to assess its feasibility. The pig’s TMJ area consists of superficial muscles such as the platysma and parotidoauricularis, with deeper structures such as the parotid gland, facial nerve and major vessels, while the bony anatomy includes a large condylar head and a superficial zygomatic arch. The proposed surgical approach to the pig TMJ involves a retromandibular incision with preauricular extension, subperiostal dissection to expose the zygomatic arch and articular capsule, followed by an incision to access the condyle, disc and mandibular fossa, allowing for condylectomy with careful preservation of the facial nerve and surrounding structures. This study highlights the anatomical differences with humans, such as the presence of the parotidoauricularis muscle, which lies superficially to the facial nerve and serves as a useful landmark for a safe dissection. The described approach provides a reliable and reproducible technique for future TMJ surgical studies in the pig model.