POST-IMAGING TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT SPACE ANALYSIS

The objective of this study was to develop and test a quantifiable met hod of temporomandibular (TM) joint space analysis (JSA) unaffected by head rotation. Sixteen female TM joints were imaged using multidirect ional axially corrected tomography, Lateral, central, and medial image slices were obtained from each joint, traced three times each, and tr iplicated for drafting. Tracings and draftings were randomized, blinde d, and measured manually with digital calipers, Simulated head rotatio ns of +/-10 degrees were applied and the process repeated, Multiple co mparisons were done within and between patients by analysis of varianc e, Based on this study, we found there was no difference for tracing, drafting, and measurement error within and between patients. There wer e no significant differences between -10, 0, and +10 degrees of head r otation, Our conclusion is that this method for TM-JSA has a high leve l of reliability as determined by analysis of tracing, drafting, and m easurement error for each joint space position and simulated rotation.