RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONDYLAR POSITION, DENTOFACIAL DEFORMITY AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT DYSFUNCTION - AN MRI AND CT PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The possible relationship between the morphometric characteristics (co ndylar and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc position) of the TMJ and the TMJ clinical findings (normal versus TMJ disorders) in different types of dentofacial deformities was studied. Forty-eight patients wit h dentofacial deformities (96 TMJs) were investigated preoperatively a nd 10 patients (20 TMJs) without deformities were studied as a control group, clinically and radiographically, using computer tomography (CT ) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to assess the position of the mandibular condyle and the TMJ disc in the sagittal, coronal and horiz ontal planes, Fifteen of the 28 joints (53.6%) of patients diagnosed a s class II, dentofacial deformity had internal derangements and anteri orly displaced discs, The incidence of internal derangement in the cla ss I and class III groups was lower (10%), An increased horizontal ang le of the mandibular condyle and a posteriorly seated condyle were fou nd in patients diagnosed as class II dentofacial deformity when compar ed with the control group. The rest of the patients studied showed no significant differences. The same results were encountered when the pa tients with moderate to severe TMJ pathology were studied, both clinic ally (using the Helkimo index modified by Athanasiou) and by MRI.