Osteoarthritic temporomandibular joint changes confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging

Clinical and radiological findings were compared between the patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of temporomandibularjoint (TMJ) with or without disc displacement (DD), and asymptomatic volunteers. This study included 30 patients with OA of TMJs (mean age 52.6). All the patients were examined clinically by manual functional analysis and using magnetic resonance imaging. The inclusion criteria for patients comprised: pain referred to the TMJ and/or crepitation in the TMJ. A second group consisted of 20 asymptomatic dental school students (mean age 23.5). There is a statistically significant difference between degenerative changes of the condyle of TMJs with and without clinical signs of OA of patients (p=0.009). In 28% of osteoarthritic joints, flattening of condylar joint surfaces was observed and 17.4% of the joints were without clinical signs of OA. Osteophyte formations were found in 8% of asymptomatic and 25.7% of osteoarthritic patients' joints. There is a statistically significant difference between patients' TMJs with and without OA (p=0.0003): pronounced shape loss and severe sclerosation of the articular eminence were found in 12% of the joints without OA, and 42.9% of joints with OA. There is no difference between students' joints and patients' TMJs without OA (p=0.804). The most common imaging findings of osteoarthritic TMJs were sclerosis of the condyle and osteophyte formation.