Multivariate analysis of craniomandibular disorders

This article presents the clinical application of a special statistical method, the Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), derived from data analysis and particularly suited to study a restricted population (here, 202 patients with temporomandibular joint [TMJ] disorders) whose characteristics are defined by a large number of modalities (140). Processing of a Burt-type data table, or Complete Disjunctive Table (CDT), provided a geometrical visualization of information, and permitted determination of the prevalent factor axes. Results showed a significant relationship between all the articular disorders, either peripheral or focal (TMJ), thus revealing the possibility of a yet, little known morphogenic influence on the genesis of TMJ disorders.