Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement

Abstract Objective Analyse the correlation between the changes in joint space of TMJ and the displacement and degree of articular disc for clinical diagnosis. Methods Two hundred sixteen TMJs of 108 temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients with clinical symptoms and MRI examination were included i...

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Main Authors: Linyi Zhou, Kejin Tao, Jinjin Ma, Xianglong Pan, Kedie Zhang, Jianying Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05991-7
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author Linyi Zhou
Kejin Tao
Jinjin Ma
Xianglong Pan
Kedie Zhang
Jianying Feng
author_facet Linyi Zhou
Kejin Tao
Jinjin Ma
Xianglong Pan
Kedie Zhang
Jianying Feng
author_sort Linyi Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective Analyse the correlation between the changes in joint space of TMJ and the displacement and degree of articular disc for clinical diagnosis. Methods Two hundred sixteen TMJs of 108 temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients with clinical symptoms and MRI examination were included in the study. 30 of these patients had undergone CBCT before MRI. According to the degree of articular disc displacement, the 216 joints are divided into five groups. Group A: no disc displacement (40 cases); group B: mild anterior disc displacement (44 cases); group C: moderate anterior disc displacement (36 cases); group D: severe anterior disc displacement (52 cases); group E: posterior displacement (44 cases). The 132 sides of these anteriorly displaced discs (ADD) were further divided into two groups, anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) and anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR). We analysed the concordance of the joint space measured by MRI and CBCT, and explored the relationship between joint space, ln(P/A) values and joint disc displacement. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the joint spaces measured by CBCT and MRI (P > 0.05). The anterior joint space in group B (2.7 ± 0.72 mm) and C (2.82 ± 0.88 mm) was larger than group A (1.82 ± 0.50 mm) (P < 0.05), and ln(P/A) value in group B (-0.52 ± 0.34) and C (-0.62 ± 0.43) was smaller than group A (0.04 ± 0.15) (P < 0.05). The posterior joint space (3.33 ± 1.28 mm) and ln(P/A) value (0.74 ± 0.33) in group E was larger than group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the anterior, superior and posterior joint space and ln(P/A) value between group D and A (P > 0.05). The ADDwR group had a larger anterior joint space (2.72 ± 0.83 mm) than group A (P < 0.05), while having a smaller posterior joint space (1.61 ± 0.49 mm) and ln(P/A) value (-0.52 ± 0.39 mm) (P < 0.05). Compared with group A, there was no significant difference in the anterior joint space and ln(P/A) value in the ADDwoR group(P > 0.05). Conclusion There is no significant change in anterior, supra, and posterior joint space in severe anterior disc displacement. The anterior joint space increases in mild to moderate anterior disc displacement, but does not change in severe anterior disc displacement—the posterior joint space increases when the joint disc is displaced posteriorly. The position of the joint disc cannot be accurately inferred by observing the joint space through CBCT, and a combination of MRI and clinical examination is required to make a definitive judgement.
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spelling doaj-art-ff1cb65e92194ce0b38edf1d77bd88772025-08-20T02:28:42ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-04-012511910.1186/s12903-025-05991-7Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacementLinyi Zhou0Kejin Tao1Jinjin Ma2Xianglong Pan3Kedie Zhang4Jianying Feng5School/Hospital of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySir Run Run Shaw Hospital Medical School ZheJiang UniversityDepartment of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineSchool/Hospital of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool/Hospital of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversitySchool/Hospital of Stomatology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityAbstract Objective Analyse the correlation between the changes in joint space of TMJ and the displacement and degree of articular disc for clinical diagnosis. Methods Two hundred sixteen TMJs of 108 temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients with clinical symptoms and MRI examination were included in the study. 30 of these patients had undergone CBCT before MRI. According to the degree of articular disc displacement, the 216 joints are divided into five groups. Group A: no disc displacement (40 cases); group B: mild anterior disc displacement (44 cases); group C: moderate anterior disc displacement (36 cases); group D: severe anterior disc displacement (52 cases); group E: posterior displacement (44 cases). The 132 sides of these anteriorly displaced discs (ADD) were further divided into two groups, anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) and anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR). We analysed the concordance of the joint space measured by MRI and CBCT, and explored the relationship between joint space, ln(P/A) values and joint disc displacement. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the joint spaces measured by CBCT and MRI (P > 0.05). The anterior joint space in group B (2.7 ± 0.72 mm) and C (2.82 ± 0.88 mm) was larger than group A (1.82 ± 0.50 mm) (P < 0.05), and ln(P/A) value in group B (-0.52 ± 0.34) and C (-0.62 ± 0.43) was smaller than group A (0.04 ± 0.15) (P < 0.05). The posterior joint space (3.33 ± 1.28 mm) and ln(P/A) value (0.74 ± 0.33) in group E was larger than group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the anterior, superior and posterior joint space and ln(P/A) value between group D and A (P > 0.05). The ADDwR group had a larger anterior joint space (2.72 ± 0.83 mm) than group A (P < 0.05), while having a smaller posterior joint space (1.61 ± 0.49 mm) and ln(P/A) value (-0.52 ± 0.39 mm) (P < 0.05). Compared with group A, there was no significant difference in the anterior joint space and ln(P/A) value in the ADDwoR group(P > 0.05). Conclusion There is no significant change in anterior, supra, and posterior joint space in severe anterior disc displacement. The anterior joint space increases in mild to moderate anterior disc displacement, but does not change in severe anterior disc displacement—the posterior joint space increases when the joint disc is displaced posteriorly. The position of the joint disc cannot be accurately inferred by observing the joint space through CBCT, and a combination of MRI and clinical examination is required to make a definitive judgement.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05991-7MRIJoint spaceADDTMD
spellingShingle Linyi Zhou
Kejin Tao
Jinjin Ma
Xianglong Pan
Kedie Zhang
Jianying Feng
Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement
BMC Oral Health
MRI
Joint space
ADD
TMD
title Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement
title_full Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement
title_fullStr Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement
title_short Relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement
title_sort relationship between temporomandibular joint space and articular disc displacement
topic MRI
Joint space
ADD
TMD
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05991-7
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