CONDYLAR RESORPTION IN PATIENTS WITH TMD

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics and Dental Research
• Medical Imaging and Radiology
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders encompass a range of conditions affecting the jaw joint.
• Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease that can affect the TMJ.
• Understanding condylar morphology differences is crucial for diagnosing and managing TMJ osteoarthritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and quantify the morphological differences between osteoarthritic and non-osteoarthritic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyles.
• To utilize 3D surface models derived from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for detailed shape analysis.
• To compare condylar morphology in patients with diagnosed TMJ disorders (Group III) against asymptomatic controls.

Main Methods:

• Construction of 3D surface models of mandibular condyles from CBCT images for 20 patients and 40 controls.
• Application of 3D Shape Correspondence and SPHARM-PDM software for condylar shape analysis.
• Statistical comparison using Hotelling T2 analysis with False Discovery Rate correction to identify significant morphological differences.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences (p=0.05) in condylar morphology were observed between the TMJ disorder group and the asymptomatic group.
• Average surface distance differences of 1.9 mm (right) and 2.3 mm (left) condyles were noted.
• TMD patients exhibited anterior resorption of the lateral pole and flattening of the articular condylar surface compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Condylar morphology in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is significantly different from that of asymptomatic individuals.
• Observed morphological changes, including resorption and flattening, suggest degenerative processes in osteoarthritic TMJs.
• These findings provide a basis for further research into the pathophysiology of TMJ osteoarthritis.