The correlations between TMJ symptom and MRI finding in German patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings on the condyle-disc pathology and clinical symptoms in German patients. Bilateral temporomandibular joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained from all subjects of 240 German patients and clinical examinations were studied retrospectively. The hypothesis of this study was that clinical symptoms are related to some MRI findings on the condyle-disc pathology. Patients displayed various degrees of joint clicking, crepitus and joint pain. MRI evaluations of temporomandibular joints were studied by seven categories of condyle degeneration, disc position, disc degeneration, osteophyte, sclerosis, synovitis and hypermobility. The results show some correlations between clinical symptoms and MRI findings on the condyle-disc. The results of correlations test showed crepitus, joint clicking had a significant correlation with condyle-disc degeneration. However, pain was not correlated with any MRI findings significantly except hypermobility. The results of this study imply that condyle-disc deformities could be advanced without pain, and joint clicking and crepitus could be clinical symptoms of condyle-disc degeneration.