Department of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Clin Oral Investig. 2018 Sep;22(7):2653-2661. doi: 10.1007/s00784-018-2364-7. Epub 2018 Feb 1.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the volume, surface, morphometric index (MI), and position of the condyle in a normal population by applying Mimics 17.0 software. Then, the difference between left and right sides, sex, and age can be explored, which will contribute to establish the reference value of condylar morphology and position in normal individuals, and help us to study characteristics of condylar morphology and position in abnormal individuals.
Three-hundred subjects were enrolled in our study from the radiology department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital. They were divided into three groups according to the age: group 1 (18-24 years old), group 2 (25-34 years old), and group 3 (35-44 years old). Each group included 100 subjects (with 50 males and 50 females). They were examined using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) after that. All images of condyle were reconstructed by Mimics 17.0 software, so as to measure the volume, surface, and MI of condyle, and to analyze the position of condyle in the articular fossa by means of joint spaces.
The differences of condylar volume, surface, and MI between left and right sides were not obvious (P > 0.05). The condylar volume and surface were greater in males than females (P < 0.05), while their condylar MI existed no difference (P > 0.05). No statistical differences were found in volume and surface among three age groups. However, the MI of group 1 was statistically lower than that of group 3 (P < 0.05). On the other hand, no significant differences were found between left and right condylar position (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, there were significant differences of condylar position regarding the gender and age (P < 0.05).
This study showed no significant differences in condylar morphology and position between left and right sides, but factors of gender and age were proven to have a certain influence on the morphology and position of the condyle. This information can be clinically useful in establishing the diagnostic criteria for condylar morphology and position in the normal Asian population.
Examination of condylar morphology and position is important for evaluating the abnormalities and bony changes that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). So, this will be conducive to the diagnosis and the evaluation of therapeutic effect of temporomandibular joint diseases. Also, it is important to evaluate these indexes prior to commencing orthodontic treatment, because TMJ abnormalities play a critical role in orthodontic treatment planning.
本研究旨在通过 Mimics 17.0 软件探讨正常人群髁突的体积、表面积、形态计量指数（MI）和位置，探讨左右侧、性别和年龄的差异，有助于建立正常个体髁突形态和位置的参考值，并帮助我们研究异常个体髁突形态和位置的特征。
本研究共纳入 300 例来自上海交通大学附属第六人民医院放射科的受试者，根据年龄分为 3 组：组 1（18-24 岁）、组 2（25-34 岁）和组 3（35-44 岁），每组 100 例（男女各 50 例）。受试者均接受多层螺旋 CT（MSCT）检查，然后使用 Mimics 17.0 软件重建所有髁突图像，以测量髁突的体积、表面积和 MI，并通过关节间隙分析髁突在关节窝中的位置。
左右侧髁突体积、表面积和 MI 差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。男性的髁突体积和表面积大于女性（P<0.05），但髁突 MI 无差异（P>0.05）。三组之间的体积和表面积无统计学差异。然而，组 1 的 MI 明显低于组 3（P<0.05）。另一方面，左右侧髁突位置无明显差异（P>0.05）。然而，性别和年龄对髁突位置有一定影响，存在统计学差异（P<0.05）。
本研究表明，左右侧髁突形态和位置无明显差异，但性别和年龄等因素对髁突形态和位置有一定影响。这些信息可用于建立亚洲正常人群髁突形态和位置的诊断标准。
检查髁突形态和位置对评估影响颞下颌关节（TMJ）的异常和骨改变非常重要。因此，这有助于颞下颌关节疾病的诊断和疗效评估。此外，在开始正畸治疗之前评估这些指标也很重要，因为 TMJ 异常在正畸治疗计划中起着关键作用。
