Virtual arthroscopy of the visible human female temporomandibular joint

Purpose: This study was designed to obtain views of the temporomandibular j oint (TMJ) by means of computed arthroscopic simulation (virtual arthroscop y) using three-dimensional (3D) processing. Material and Methods: Volume renderings of the TMJ from very thin cryosecti on slices of the Visible Human Female were taken off the Internet. Analyze( AVW) software (Biomedical Imaging Resource, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN) on a Silicon Graphics O2 workstation (Mountain View, CA) was then used to obtain 3D images and allow the navigation "fly-through" of the simulated jo int. Results: Good virtual arthroscopic views of the upper and lower joint space s of both TMJs were obtained by fly-through simulation from the lateral and endaural sides. It was possible to observe the presence of a partial defec t in the articular disc and an osteophyte on the condyle. Virtual arthrosco py provided visualization of regions not accessible to real arthroscopy. Conclusion: These results indicate that virtual arthroscopy will be a new t echnique to investigate the TMJ of the patient with TMJ disorders in the ne ar future.