Condylar bony change, disk displacement, and signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders in orthognathic surgery patients

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the relationship between condylar bony change and disk displacement with respect to the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study of the pretreatment helical computed tomography scans of 129 orthognathic surgery patients. RESULTS: Condylar bony change, unilaterally or bilaterally, was found in 35.7% of the subjects and 24.4% of the joints. Disk displacement, unilaterally or bilaterally, was seen in 41.4% of the subjects and 29.5% of the joints. The type of craniofacial deformity was significantly associated with condylar bony change and disk displacement. No association of clinical symptoms with respect to craniofacial deformity, condylar bony change, or disk displacement was found except in the case of TMJ sounds. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that craniofacial deformity might be related to TMJ disorders, but the only clinical symptom associated with types of craniofacial deformity was TMJ sounds.