OBJECTIVE This study was performed to determine the condylar morphological variation of osteoarthritic (OA) and asymptomatic temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and to determine its correlation with pain intensity and duration. STUDY DESIGN Three dimensional surface models of mandibular condyles were constructed from Cone-Beam CT images of 29 female patients with TMJ OA (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Group III) and 36 female asymptomatic subjects. Shape Correspondence was used to localize and quantify the condylar morphology. Statistical analysis was performed with MANCOVA analysis using Hotelling T2 metric based on covariance matrices, and Pearson correlation. RESULTS OA condylar morphology was statistically significantly different from the asymptomatic condyles (p<0.05). 3D morphological variation of the OA condyles was significantly correlated with pain intensity and duration. CONCLUSION 3D quantification of condylar morphology revealed profound differences between OA and asymptomatic condyles and the extent of the resorptive changes paralleled pain severity and duration.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether bony changes in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) is correlated with pain and other clinical signs and symptoms.