DOES TMJ MORPHOLOGY DETERMINE DISK INCOORDINATION?

The relation between disk incoordination and Temporo-Mandibular Joint morphology is incompletely known. To address the research purpose, the investigators designed a cohort study on 200 (TMJ). A series of morphological parameters of condyle, glenoid fossa and intra-articular space dimensions were investigated and related to disk displacement. Differences exist between normal and pathologic cases as well as between mild and severe disk incoordination. The high of condylar head, the distance between condyle from the vault of glenoid fossa as well as from the posterior wall of glenoid fossa, the angulation of tuber and the angulation of condylar head (in an horizontal plane) are the variables dividing normal from pathologic cases. The distance between condyle from vault of glenoid fossa and the angulation of condylar head (in an horizontal plane) are the variables separating mild from severe cases. Reported data shown that disk incoordination is related to condyle,glenoid fossa and intra-articular space dimensions. The distance between condyle from the upper partof the glenoid fossa and the angulation of the condylar head are the trongest variables predicting disk incoordination. Additional studies are needed to detect which terapy gives better results in mild and severe subgroups