Prevalence of clinical and radiographic signs of osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint in an older persons community.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to assess the prevalence of osteoarthrosis (OA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a sample of older people by use of contrast agent-enhanced MRI.


METHODS
30 patients (73-75 years old) were drawn from a representative sample and were examined clinically. The shape of the condyle was assessed using gadolinium-enhanced MR images, which were evaluated by two independent raters. Statistical assessment was performed by using descriptive statistics, the chi(2) test and kappa statistics.


RESULTS
Agreement between raters was excellent with respect to the presence/absence of OA (kappa = 0.8). Only one subject reported pain in a TMJ. Fine and/or coarse crepitus was not heard in any subject. MRI showed that 70% displayed signs of OA in at least one TMJ. There were no gender-related differences in the prevalence of OA (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Gadolinium-enhanced MRI showed that OA of the TMJ is common in older people (70%), although the prevalence of clinical signs of OA is very low.
Schmitter
M
M
Department of Prosthodontics, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Marc_Schmitter@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Essig
M
M
Seneadza
V
V
Balke
Z
Z
Schröder
J
J
Rammelsberg
P
P
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
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