Abstract
Asymmetry of the shape of the bilateral condylar heads is fairly common even without degenerative bone change of the condyle with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). So, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between the morphology of the condylar head without degenerative bone change and the disk position. One hundred and fifty-four TMJs were analyzed. All subjects were female patients, and were classified into three groups by disk position using arthrotomograms. The three groups were; normal disk position (NP), anterior disk position with reduction (W), and anterior disk position without reduction (WO). The morphology of the condylar head was measured using CT. The larger the displacement of disk position, the smaller the maximum cross-sectional area of the condylar head and the shorter the long axis and short axis of the condylar head. On the other hand, the horizontal condylar angle of the WO group was wider than the NP group. However, , the long axis-short axis ratio was not different. In the W group, the longer the duration from the onset of some symptoms, the smaller the maximum cross-sectional area of the condylar head, and the wider the horizontal condylar angle. The WO group did not show the same results. Accordingly, disregarding degenerative bone change, it was concluded from there results that the morphology of the condylar head with TMD changed, but irregularly.
