No association between types of unilateral mandibular condylar abnormalities and facial asymmetry in orthopedic-treated patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

INTRODUCTION

Dentofacial asymmetries are often observed in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvements. The aim of this split-face study was to associate types of radiologic TMJ abnormalities with the degree of dentofacial asymmetry in patients with unilateral TMJ involvements assessed with cone-beam computed tomography.

METHODS

Forty-seven JIA patients and 19 nonarthritic control subjects were included in the study. Normal condylar radiologic cone-beam computed tomography appearance in at least 1 TMJ was the inclusion criterion for all patients with JIA. The contralateral TMJ was thereafter scored as either "normal," "deformed," or "erosive," consistent with predefined criteria. Based on the bilateral radiologic TMJ appearances, 3 JIA groups were assigned: normal/normal, normal/deformed, and normal/erosive. The severity of the dentofacial asymmetry was compared between the JIA groups and control subjects. Dentofacial asymmetry was expressed as interside ratios and angular measurements.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven percent of the JIA patients were being treated or had previously received treatment with a functional orthopedic appliance at the time of the cone-beam computed tomography. Significantly greater dentofacial asymmetries were observed in the 2 groups of JIA patients with unilateral condylar abnormalities (deformation or erosion) than in the other groups. A similar degree of dentofacial asymmetry was observed in JIA patients with bilateral normal TMJs and in the nonarthritic control group.

CONCLUSIONS

JIA patients with unilateral condylar abnormalities (deformation or erosion) exhibited significantly more severe dentofacial asymmetries than did the JIA patients without condylar abnormalities and the control subjects. We found the same degree of dentofacial asymmetry when dividing patients with condylar abnormalities into deformation and erosion groups.