CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGIC 6-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF PATIENTS WITH CREPITATION OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (6) , 277-287
Abstract
Combined clinical and radiologic follow-up investigations of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) crepitation are seldom in the literature. The aim of this study was to clinically and radiologically re-examine 24 patients with TMJ crepitation 6 yr after treatment was completed; 11 patients initially had unilateral crepitation and 13 bilateral. Symptoms and clinical signs were reduced. The localization of the condyle at intercuspal position and at maximum mouth opening was unchanged in the majority of the TMJ. Structural bone changes had existed in 30 of the 37 TMJ in 1974. The original structural bone changes were preserved in 20 of the TMJ, bone structure was altered in 10 and 6 had remained normal. One normal TMJ developed structural bone changes. The most common alterations consisted of increased sclerosis in the mandibular fossa and disappearance of erosions in the condyle. Since the symptoms and signs were reduced and the radiological changes were small, the prognosis for patients with TMJ crepitation must be considered good.