Tomographic assessment of temporomandibular joint osseous articular surface contour and spatial relationships associated with disc displacement and disc length

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics Vol. 121; no. 2; pp. 152 - 161
• Main Authors: Major, Paul W., Kinniburgh, Robert D., Nebbe, Brian, Prasad, Narasimha G., Glover, Kenneth E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2002
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Joint Dislocations - diagnostic imaging; Joint Dislocations - pathology; Linear Models; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mandibular Condyle - diagnostic imaging; Mandibular Condyle - pathology; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Temporomandibular Joint - diagnostic imaging; Temporomandibular Joint - pathology; Temporomandibular Joint - physiopathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - diagnostic imaging; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - pathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - diagnostic imaging; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - pathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - physiopathology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1067/mod.2002.120641

The objective of this retrospective study was to determine whether associations exist between osseous temporomandibular joint (TMJ) characteristics and TMJ internal derangement (disc position and deformation) in an adolescent population. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to quantitatively determine disc position and length in 335 TMJs in 175 subjects (106 female and 69 male) between the ages of 7.27 and 20.0 years (mean age, 13.08 years). Nine tomographic variables were measured from pretreatment tomograms. Tomographic data were cross-referenced with MRI data. Male and female samples were evaluated separately. Stepwise linear regression identified associations between disc displacement and reduced superior joint space, increased posterior joint space, increased anterior joint space, and reduced articular eminence convexity (male R2 value, 0.41; female R2 value, 0.38). Associations between reduced disc length and condylar position and eminence flattening were weaker (male R2 value, 0.16; female R2 value, 0.32). This study demonstrates that TMJ internal derangement is associated with functional osseous adaptation within the joint. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2002;121:152-61)