Assessment of craniocervical posture in TMJ disorders using lateral radiographic view: A cross-sectional study.

Objective

To determine the craniocervical posture in 120 subjects, 90 patients with temporo- mandibular joint disorders (TMD) of varying degrees were selected and compared with those of 30 healthy individuals.

Methods

True lateral radiographs in the natural head position were obtained from TMD patients and healthy individuals. Linear measurements from the opisthion to the intersecting point of the craniovertebral angle, the opisthion to the tip of the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebrae, and the body of Atlas to the lower border of the seventh cervical vertebrae were obtained. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Scheffe's post hoc test.

Results

Significant increases in craniovertebral, odontoid plane, and individual vertebral angles were noted in the TMD patients when compared with the healthy individuals.

Conclusion

Significant postural changes in the skull in relation to the cervical vertebrae with dorsiflexion as a compensatory strategy were observed in this study.