Three-dimensional condylar and mandibular morphological changes in Juvenile Idiophatic Arthritis patients

The Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) can lead in children to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) damage with facial development and growth alterations. The aim of this study is to show the importance of Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) to volumetrically quantify TMJ damage in patients with JIA, measuring condylar and mandibular real volumes. 34 children with TMJ involvement by JIA were observed by CBCT . The whole mandibular volume and its components’ volumes (condyle, ramus, emibody, emisymphysis) has been calculated by a 3D volume rendering technique. The results show a highly significant statistical difference between affected side volumetric values versus normal side volumetric values above all on condyle region (P<0,01), while they doesn’t show any statistical differences between right side versus left side. The CBCT represents a huge improvement in understanding of the condyle and mandibular morphological changes, even in the early stages of the JIA.