Kinematic magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of active motion of the mandibular condyle in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders

Purpose: To explore the mandibular condylar movements in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods: We retrospectively recruited patients who were clinically diagnosed with internal derangement of the TMJ and referred to our center for MRI examination. The TMJ discs were categorized into normal disc (ND), anteriorly displaced disc (ADD), and disc with destruction (DD) groups using static images obtained in the closed-mouth view. The difference between the open-mouth and closed-mouth views on kinematic MRI was used to calculate the condylar translation and rotation. Two radiologists consensually performed the image readings and measurements. One-way analysis of variance and chi-squared test were used to compare the variables in the three groups. Pearson's correlation and general linear models were used to evaluate the correlation and differences between condylar translation and rotation in the three groups. Results: This study included 98 TMJs from 54 patients. Twenty-six, 49, and 23 TMJs were clas-sified as ND, ADD, and DD, respectively. Condylar rotation and translation demonstrated a sig-nificant correlation in all TMJs examined (r = 0.635, p < 0.001), with similar coefficients for all groups. The mean condylar translation in the ND group was greater than that in the ADD and DD groups (ND versus ADD: p = 0.003; ND versus DD: p = 0.002). However, the change in condylar rotation was not affected by the disc status (ND as reference; DD*condylar translation: coefficient = 0.341, p = 0.332; ADD:condylar translation: coefficient =-0.100, p = 0.696).Conclusion: Kinematic MRI studies revealed that TMJ condylar translation was correlated with its rotation for all disc statuses. Copyright (c) 2022, Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

This study used kinematic magnetic resonance imaging to explore the mandibular condylar movements in patients with TMJ disorders. The results showed a significant correlation between condylar translation and rotation in all TMJs, regardless of the disc status.