Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and osteoarthrosis in pubertal patients. A total of 92 patients (20 male and 72 female) with a mean age of 13.0 years (range,7-15 years) were selected from all of the patients appearing for examination and treatment of TMD at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo during 5-year and 6-month period. MRI was carried out at bilateral TMJs using 0.5 T or 1.0 T MR scanner with surface or TMJ coil. Five parasagittal slices and 5 coronal slices were obtained of each TMJ with thin slice within 4.0 mm. MRI diagnosis of TMJ osteoarthrosis was defined by the presence of surface irregularities and osteophyte. An MRI diagnosis of TMJ osteoarthrosis was established in 12 of 92 patients (13 of 184 TMJs), consisting of 1 male and 11 females. One of them had the signs and symptoms of osteoarthrosis bilaterally and the others had them unilaterally on clinical and MRI diagnosis of TMJ. Regarding the distribution of TMJ osteoarthrosis established in 13 of 184 TMJs,7 and 6 were associated with an MRI diagnosis of signs of surface irregularities and osteophyte, respectively. An MRI diagnosis of TMJ internal derangement was established in all TMJs involving osteoarthrosis, whereas 2 patients (17%) were found to have a TMJ internal derangement type of disk displacement with reduction, and 10 (83%) had disk displacement without reduction. With respect to the distribution of TMJ osteoarthrosis established in 12 of 95 patients,1 (8%),8 (67%) and 3 (25%) patients were associated with an MRI diagnosis of mild, moderate and severe anterior disc displacement, respectively. MRI findings of shape of disc in TMJ involving osteoarthrosis for biconcave and biconvex were 2 (17%) and 10 (83%), respectively. An MRI diagnosis of TMJ joint effusion was established in 3 of 12 patients (25%). In conclusion, our study implied that there were significantly relationships between TMJ internal derangement and osteoarthrosis in pubertal patients (p<0.01).
