[Purpose] To establish a standardized sonographic approach to quantify anterior
translation of the mandibular condyle during mouth opening by examining the reliability of
image acquisition and processing, and to understand how anterior condylar translation
contributes to mouth opening. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-eight participants without
temporomandibular disorder (TMD) participated. During day 1 of data collection, all
participants performed maximal mouth opening while an examiner recorded anterior condylar
translation using sonography. The mouth opening range of motion was also obtained. On day
2 of data collection, the same procedure was performed on 6 participants that participated
in day 1 of data collection. To establish reliability of image processing, 3 examiners
measured condylar translations on 2 separate days. To determine reliability of image
acquisition, images obtained from 2 days of data collection were analyzed. [Results]
Excellent intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and small standard errors of
measurement (SEMs) for image acquisition and processing were shown. A significant, linear
model was found to describe the relationship between condylar anterior translations and
mouth opening. [Conclusion] Anterior condylar translation during mouth opening can be
reliably measured using sonography. The linear relation between condylar motion and mouth
opening can be used to guide clinical practices.
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