Correlation Between Clicking Sound Symptoms and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Internal Derangement.

Background: Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) encompasses structural and functional disturbances within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the masticatory muscles, and adjacent craniofacial soft tissues. Internal derangement (ID) of the TMJ, which represents approximately 80% of TMD cases, refers to abnormalities in the spatial relationship between the articular disc, condyle, mandibular fossa, and articular eminence.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clicking sound symptoms in patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement (TMJID).

Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study conducted at Hanoi Medical University Hospital from August 2023 to August 2024, including 178 patients with a total of 267 TMJs clinically diagnosed with TMJID. All patients were assessed for clicking sounds, followed by MRI examination of the temporomandibular joint. MRI features, including disc position, condylar morphology, disc morphology, and joint effusion, were analyzed for correlations with the presence of clicking sounds.

Results: The study demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between clicking sounds and both disc displacement and disc deformities on MRI (p<0.05). In contrast, no significant correlation was found between clicking sounds and condylar damage or joint effusion (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Disc displacement and morphological abnormalities on MRI are closely associated with clicking sound symptoms in patients with TMJID.