Descriptions of the dynamic joint space of the temporomandibular joint

Jingheng Shu; Annan Li; Bingmei Shao; Desmond Y R Chong; Jie Yao; Zhan Liu

doi:10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.107149

Descriptions of the dynamic joint space of the temporomandibular joint

Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2022 Nov:226:107149. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.107149. Epub 2022 Sep 20.

Authors

Jingheng Shu¹, Annan Li¹, Bingmei Shao², Desmond Y R Chong³, Jie Yao⁴, Zhan Liu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Lab for Biomechanical Engineering of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China; Yibin Institute of Industrial Technology/Sichuan University Yibin Park, Yibin, 644600, China.
² Yibin Institute of Industrial Technology/Sichuan University Yibin Park, Yibin, 644600, China; Basic Mechanics Lab, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
³ Engineering Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore, 138683, Singapore.
⁴ School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
⁵ Key Lab for Biomechanical Engineering of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China; Yibin Institute of Industrial Technology/Sichuan University Yibin Park, Yibin, 644600, China. Electronic address: bmeliuzhan@163.com.

PMID: 36179656
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.107149

Abstract

Background: Clinical diagnosis and treatment depended heavily on the motion analysis of the human joints. Although the dynamic joint space (DJS) of other organs was widely used in academic investigations, they were not universally used in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) field, which was also important for the motion evaluation of the TMJ. The objectives of this study are to introduce the DJS of the TMJ and characterize the DJS regulars of mandibular movements.

Methods: Ten asymptomatic subjects were selected to instruct this application. The mouth opening and closing, mandibular protrusion, and left and right protrusions, were tracked by the optical motion tracking system. According to trajectories of markers and reconstructed models from computed tomography, the motions of the mandibles could be obtained. The DJSes, which were described as the minimum Euclidian distances, were subsequently calculated based on the geometrical surfaces between the condyle and fossa during the motions. Then, the DJS map could be drawn based on the calculated values.

Results: The DJS map manifested a decreasing trend when the condyle crossed the glenoid fossa, while it generally increased after the condyle crossed the fossa during the mouth opening. The results showed that the average maximum and minimum anterior joint spaces were 5.39 mm and 2.07 mm during mouth opening respectively with a great discrepancy existing among the subjects. The average maximum and minimum anterior joint spaces were 4.74 mm and 2.19 mm during mandibular protrusion. As for left and right protrusions, the DJS of the contralateral side was greater than that of the ipsilateral side.

Conclusion: In comparison to morphological analyses or only mandibular motions, the DJS provides more dynamic and interactive information about the TMJ. The research and methodology may help us comprehend TMJ motions and temporomandibular disorders.

Keywords: Dynamic joint space; Motion analysis; Motion capture; Temporomandibular joint.

MeSH terms

Humans
Mandible / diagnostic imaging
Mandibular Condyle* / diagnostic imaging
Temporomandibular Joint / diagnostic imaging
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* / diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods