Decreased disk-eminence ratio is associated with advanced stages of temporomandibular joint internal derangement.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the possible correlation between the stage of internal derangement and the antero-posterior length of the disk in relation to the length of the articular eminence.


METHODS
Twenty asymptomatic volunteers with normal joints and 120 patients with TMJ dysfunction underwent MR imaging. The A-P length of the disk in relation to the length of the articular eminence (D/E ratio) was measured.


RESULTS
The D/E ratio was 0.95 in the asymptomatic volunteers, 0.83 in patients with disk displacement with reduction, 0.74 in those with disk displacement without reduction and 0.57 in the patients with disk displacement and osteoarthritis. The relationship between the D/E ratio and the stage of internal derangement was statistically significant (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The D/E ratio decreases with advancing internal derangement. We suggest that it is a reliable numerical method for staging the degree of the internal derangement.
Toyama
M
M
The Second Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
Kurita
K
K
Westesson
P L
PL
Sakuma
S
S
Ariji
E
E
Rivera
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology*