Condylar head inclination and its relationship to the position of the articular disc in the temporomandibular joint

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the horizontal, coronal and sagittal angulation of the condylar head and the TMJ disc position, using CT and MRI.Methods: images of 90 joints were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided by group ages in adolescents and adults. Condylar angulation was measured on CT on three different views: horizontal, sagittal and coronal. The TMJ disc position was evaluated using MRI imaging, both with patient in maximum intercuspidation and open mouth. ANOVA tests were used for the associations between variables.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 20.5 years, 75.5% were females. The most common direction of disc displacement was anterolateral, followed by pure anterior. Statistically significant associations were found between the horizontal and coronal angulation of the condyle and the TMJ disc position (p=0.001 and p=0.002) and the TMJ disc position in open mouth.