Disc and condyle translation in patients with temporomandibular disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to elucidate causal relationship between disc and condyle range of movement and clinical signs and symptoms in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
The subjects comprised of a study group of 191 patients with TMD and a control group of 43 asymptomatic patients. The clinical assessment consisted of range of maximum mouth opening (MMO) and preauricular pain during mandibular function. After clinical and radiographic findings assessment, disc and condyle condition were examined by MRI and the range of movement was accordingly classified.


RESULTS
Disc displacement was observed in 156/191 (81.7%) of the study group and 9/43 (20.9%) of the control group. When disc and condyle mobility was presented around the eminence, wider MMO range was maintained, P < .05. Presence of osteoarthrosis (OA) was not correlated with preauricular pain, because OA variables were mild in the study group.


CONCLUSIONS
Maintenance of disc/condyle translation is an important factor in TMJ function, irrespective of disc displacement or arthritis.
Takatsuka
Shigeyuki
S
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan. takataka@oral.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Yoshida
Kan
K
Ueki
Koichiro
K
Marukawa
Kohei
K
Nakagawa
Kiyomasa
K
Yamamoto
Etsuhide
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*