Assessment of Correlation Between Bone Quality and Degenerative Bone Changes in Temporomandibular Joint by Computed Tomography -A Retrospective Study

Objectives: This study was performed to assess the correlation between bone quality and degenerative bone changes in temporomandibular joints on computed tomographic images. Methods: Temporomandibular joints of 100 patients who underwent computed tomography were analyzed retrospectively. Sagittal and coronal images of the joint (condyle and articular eminence) were assessed for bone quality type 1 to 4 and degenerative bone changes. A Chi-square test was used to assess the descriptive statistics. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the degenerative changes in different age groups and gender. The post hoc Tukey honesty significance test was used to assess the presence of a statistically significant difference between the degenerative changes and bone quality. A value P < 0.005 was considered statistically significant. Results: The retrospective analysis included 48 women and 52 men with ages ranging from 17 to 85 years (mean age 52 years). D3 quality of bone was most commonly observed in the condyle and articular eminence. Osteophytes were the most common degenerative changes observed in the condyle and no significant degenerative changes were seen in the articular eminence. There was a correlation between degenerative changes and bone quality of condyle with respect to age. There was no correlation between the bone quality of the condylar head and its degenerative changes. Conclusion: There was no correlation between the type of bone quality and degenerative bony changes of the condyle and articular eminence, but most of the patients with degenerative changes had a poor-quality bone.

Automated summary

This study found that there was no direct correlation between bone quality type and degenerative bone changes in temporomandibular joints, but most patients with poor bone quality had degenerative changes.