Relationship between disk position and degenerative bone changes in temporomandibular joints of young subjects with TMD. An MRI study

This study determines the frequency and relationship between disk position and degenerative bone changes in temporomandibular joints in children and adolescent patients with internal derangement. Study design: TMJ, MRI of 88 patients were analyzed (average age: 14.7 years-old, range age: 10-18 years-old), female n=65 (73.9%) and male n=23 (26.1%). Images obtained were used to determine the frequency of disk position, joint effusion (JE) and degenerative bone changes (OA). Images were assessed by a calibrated radiologist (Kappa=0.82). Results: No significant association was found between disk displacement with reduction and degenerative bone changes (Chi2=9.894; OR= 0.375; p=0.0017), nor disk without displacement (Chi2=9.448; OR= 0.223; p=0.0021). A significant association was found between disk displacement without reduction and degenerative bone changes (Chi2=30.951; OR=6.304; p=0.0001). Conclusions: There is a significant association between disk displacement without reduction and degenerative bone changes (p=0.0001) in children and adolescent patients with TMD.