[Condylar position and condylar symmetry in patients with temporomandibular disorders].

Purpose: To investigate condylar position and condylar symmetry in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) as well as malocclusion.

Methods: Fifteen patients with TMD and malocclusion were selected for the experiment, 15 asymptomatic patients served as controls. The bilateral temporomandibular joints of all subjects were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) imaging. Both the joint spaces and the condylar symmetry were determined, based on the axial CT images properly chose. All statistical analysis were performed using SPSS17.0 software package.

Results: The condyle of the patients in the experimental group were seated more posteriorly, while slight anterior condylar position were found in the control group. In the experimental group, the horizontal angle of the condyle in the symptomatic side was larger than that in the asymptomatic side (P<0.05), while the vertical angle was just opposite (P<0.05). No statistically significant asymmetries were found in the mediolateral diameter,the anteroposterior diameter, the angle of condylar axis, the distance between condylar center to midsagittal plane and anteroposterior difference of condyle center.

Conclusion: Obvious posterior condylar position and vertical asymmetry exist in patients with temporomandibular disorders.