Morphometric assessment of mandibles with complications resulting from temporomandibular joint ankylosis in children from 4 months to 3 years of age.

Abstract

Purpose: The main aim of this paper was to perform the morphological assessment of children's mandibles of different etiology of dys-functions within the temporomandibular joint, from isolated idiopathic ankylosis to craniofacial malformations co-existing with genetic disorders. Methods: The investigations encompassed seven patients at the age of 0-3. Measurements were conducted on the basis of data obtained from computed tomography. In the patients' 3D models 12 characteristic anthropometric points were marked, on the basis of which the researchers calculated 9 linear dimensions, 3 angles and, further on, 5 indices defining the proportions of the mandible. Results: The comparisons of the measurements showed that the mandibles with malformations were smaller than obtained for healthy children. The values of the mandible angles (alpha) revealed high changeability among the examined children. It was also revealed the significant asymmetry between the right and left side. Conclusions: This work shows an innovative approach to the evaluation of anatomical malformations, whereas the developed indices enable an objective quantitative assessment of geometry, which can be applied to the analysis of the degree of the deformation severity. An in-depth analysis of the image diagnostics should be a standard procedure in the pre-operative planning of surgical treatment and the preparation of multi-specialist logopaedic, functional and orthodontic rehabilitation.