Characteristics of articular fossa and condyle in patients with temporomandibular joint complaint.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) characteristics of patients who have temporomandibular disorder complaints with multislice computed tomography imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 2011 and March 2012, 37 patients whose age ranged from 18 to 60 years underwent Computed tomography imaging of the bilateral temporomandibular joints for TMJ complaints at our Institution. Twenty one patients without temporomandibular joint complaints serves as control group. Differences between the mean depths of the right and left side mandibular fossa and comparisons between patient and control groups were assessed by analysis student t test. RESULTS The age range of 37 patients (28 females and 9 males) was 18 to 60 (mean age: 37.5) years. The mean depths of the mandibular fossa were 8.56 ±0.8 mm and 8.71 ±0.7 mm for the right and left sides (p < 0.05). The mean anterior joint spaces were 1.92±0.6 mm and 2.10±0.7 mm for the right and left sides, respectively (p > 0.05). The mean superior joint spaces were 2.98±0.7 mm and 2.82±0.8 mm for the right and left sides (p > 0.05). The mean posterior joint spaces were 2.31±0.7 mm and 2.17±0.6 mm for the right and left sides, respectively (p > 0.05). The mean values for the measurement of the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the condylar process were 7.56±1.1 mm for the right side and 7.23±1.3 mm for the left side (p > 0.05). The mean values for the measurement of the mediolateral (ML) diameter of the condylar process were 16.97±2.1 mm for the right side and 17.17±2.7 mm for the left side (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Measurements of mandibular fossa and joint space had not differ in patients of TJS (temporo joint space). But, AP and ML measurements of condyles were statistically difference between patients and controls.