Ultrasound imaging of the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint)

What is it about?

The jaw joints, or temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are some of the most active in the body, and dysfunction is very common. Investigating the joint generally involves time consuming and expensive imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, ultrasound is used as a potential alternative, favourable due to its low-cost and low-duration. We introduce a protocol for TMJ ultrasound in two planes, longitudinal and oblique, and use ultrasound to investigate differences in TMJ anatomy between the sexes. Significant differences in TMJ anatomy between the sexes may explain why dysfunction is much more common in females.

Featured Image

Photo by Antoine LE on Unsplash

Photo by Antoine LE on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Ultrasound may be a cost effective alternative to MRI for TMJ dysfunction investigation; here a standard protocol for TMJ ultrasound is introduced, using two planes, longitudinal and oblique; sexual dimorphism in TMJ anatomy as revealed by ultrasound may be part of the reason females are much more likely to suffer from TMJ dysfunction.