Correlation Between MRI Findings And Clinical Symptoms In Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders

Objective The study of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings in patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD)was carried out to assess the relationship between these imaging findings and temporomandibular joint(TMJ)pain,TMJ sound and limitation of mouth opening.The aim of this study is to provide an objective basis for the clinical management of TMD and to improve the quality of life of patients with TMD by assessing the relationship between these imaging findings and TMJ pain,TMJ sound and limitation of mouth opening.Methods A total of 790 TMJs of 395 patients with clinical symptoms of TMD who went to the department of stomatology at Lishui People’s Hospital affiliated to the Sixth Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from December 2019 to December 2021 were selected.Clinical symptoms included TMJ pain,TMJ sound and limitation of mouth opening.Patients with TMD were assessed on MRI for bilateral positions of articular discs,degenerative changes of condyle,disc morphology and joint effusion,and the frequency of these MRI findings was counted.The study was statistically analysed by the SPSS version 26.0 software package using binary logistic regression to analyse the correlation between the above imaging findings and TMJ pain,TMJ sound and limitation of mouth opening,with the results expressed as odds ratio and 95%confidence interval.Differences were considered to be statistically significant when P<0.05.Results Among 395 patients with TMD,there were significantly more female patients(305)than male patients(90).Patients aged 20-29 years(29.6%)were the most common,followed by those aged 10-19 years(23.8%)and patients aged 60 years and older(6.1%)were less common.Anterior disc displacement without reduction(OR:3.13),irregularity and erosion of the condylar surface(OR:2.55),significant amounts of joint effusion(OR:2.44)and large amounts of joint effusion(OR:4.70)in the joint cavity were significantly associated with TMJ pain(P<0.05).Anterior disc displacement with reduction(OR:4.45),anterior disc displacement without reduction(OR:1.65),flattening and shortening of condyle(OR:2.52),significant amounts of effusion(OR:2.06)and large amounts of effusion(OR:4.65)in the joint cavity were significantly associated with TMJ sound(P<0.05).Anterior disc displacement without reduction(OR:1.93),folded articular discs(OR:2.02)and large amounts of effusion in the joint cavity(OR:2.12)were significantly associated with limitation of mouth opening(P<0.05).Conclusion 1.The TMJ pain is likely to occur in joints with anterior disc displacement without reduction,irregularity and erosion of condylar surface,significant amounts of effusion and large amounts of effusion in the joint cavity,with the highest risk of TMJ pain due to large amounts of effusion in the jont cavity.The TMJ sound is more likely to occur in joints with anterior disc displacement with reduction,anterior disc displacement without reduction,flattening and shortening of condyle,significant amounts of joint effusion and large amounts of joint effusion,with anterior disc displacement without reduction and large amounts of joint effusion contributing relatively strongly to TMJ sound.Anterior disc displacement without reduction,folded discs and large amounts of joint effusion are important imaging changes for limitation of mouth opening.2.The results of this study may be helpful to clinicians in predicting or judging the development of TMD-related symptoms and patients with TMD-related clinical symptoms should undergo an initial MRI examination to assess intra-articular tissue changes in order to select the appropriate treatment.In patients who do not yet have clinical symptoms of TMD,these imaging changes should be monitored.