Change of Joint Space according to Sideways Disc Displacement of TMJ

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Disc displacement may affect the joint space narrowing between condyle head and glenoid fossa. This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between the joint space change and the directions of disc displacement. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundreds temporomandibular joints MR images of TMD patients (170 joints) and asymptomatic volunteers (30 joints) were evaluated for this purpose. Anterior disc displacement was divided into 3 stages (normal, little to mild, and moderate to severe displacement) based on sagittal images. And sideways displacement was classified as 3 categories (center, medial and lateral displacement) based on coronal images, then joint spaces were measured at medial, central and lateral parts of condyle head on coronal MR images, respectively. The joint spaces of 7 groups divided according to the severity and the direction of disc displacement were compared. RESULTS: The reduction of the joint space was affected by sideways disc displacement at the opposite side of the condyle head, except the cases accompanied with severe anteriorly and laterally displaced disc. CONCLUSION: The sideways disc displacement affected on the opposite side temporomandibular joint space width.