Normal and pathological anatomy of the TMJ viewed by computerized panoramic arthroscopic images

The individual single images obtained to document TMJ arthroscopy are often difficult to interpret. The aim of this paper is to make available a new computer-aided image process system to reformat the panoramic arthroscopic images of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Arthroscopic images were input directly into a computer and memorized into a magneto optical disk. Using Photoshop 5.0 (Adobe Systems, Inc., Mountain View, CA) software for Windows 98 (Microsoft Corp., King County, WA) the images were edited and adjusted to compound sagittal and/or coronal panoramic images of normal articular surfaces as well as pathology of TMJ disorders. Normal TMJ sagittal and coronal two-dimensional composite panoramic arthroscopic images were achieved. The panoramic images of some intracapsular disorders (including disk displacement, osteoarthrosis, adhesion, and disk perforation) were also obtained. The computerized arthroscopic panoramic images are a new technique that may aid in the understanding of TMJ anatomy and TMJ disorders.