Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) .

  • TMJ osteoarthritis is the result of disc dislocation, trauma or functional overburden. The incidence increases with age and it normally starts from the age of 40. Osteoarthritis can also occur in young patients aged 20 to 40 years after an injury to the TMJ area.
  • Female to male ratio is around 7:1.
  • Symptoms: pain on palpation and movement, joint noises (crepitus), limitation of mouth opening , decreased range of motion and deviation in the jaw opening.
  • Imaging features: flattening of the condyle, erosion of the condylar head and glenoid fossa, formation of osteophyte and reduced joint space. In advanced stages of the disease, sclerosis of the bone structures of the TMJ (condylar head, glenoid fossa and articular eminence), resorption of the condylar head and bone contact of the condyle with the glenoid fossa (with the mouth closed) and the condyle with the articular eminence (with the mouth open) can be seen.

Case 1

Lyme disease is  an illness caused by borrelia bacteria. Humans usually get Lyme disease from the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints causing arthritis with severe pain and swelling (mostly unilateral)

Case 2

Osteoarthritis

Case 3

Severe Osteoarthritis of the Right TMJ. Reduced joint space, flattening of the head of the condyle, Cortical erosions and subchondral cystlike erosions, Osteophyte formation and loose bodies (joint mice) within the joint cavity.

Case 4

Severe osteoarthritis of right and left TMJ