A Method for Quantifying Condylar Motion in Patients With Osteoarthritis Using an Electromagnetic Tracking Device and Computed Tomography Imaging

Baltali, Evre; Zhao, Kristin D.; Koff, Matthew F.; Durmuş, Ercan; An, Kai-Nan; Keller, Eugene E.

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2008.01.021

« Previous Next »Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 66, Issue 5 , Pages 848-857, May 2008

A Method for Quantifying Condylar Motion in Patients With Osteoarthritis Using an Electromagnetic Tracking Device and Computed Tomography Imaging

Evre Baltali, DDS, PhD
- Research Collaborator, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Former Resident, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Baltali: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 200 First Street SW, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905
Kristin D. Zhao, MA
- Director, Biomechanics/Motion Analysis Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Matthew F. Koff, PhD
- Former Senior Research Fellow, Biomechanics/Motion Analysis Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Ercan Durmuş, DDS, PhD
- Chair and Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.
Kai-Nan An, PhD
- Chair and Professor, Biomechanics/Motion Analysis Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Eugene E. Keller, DDS, MSD
- Chair and Professor, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop a method to accurately study the kinematic changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients treated with hemijoint implant reconstruction for dysfunction of advanced degenerative osteoarthritis.

Materials and Methods

Mandibular kinematic motion data and patient-specific computed tomography (CT) data were acquired. Patients were fitted with custom dental stents that were embedded with metal markers to link the mandibular kinematics data with the 3-dimensional TMJ CT images. An electromagnetic tracking device was used to collect kinematic motion data during maximal mouth opening and closing. The coordinate systems of the kinematic data and CT data were registered to calculate the motion of the mandibular condyle.

Results

This technique was successfully used to study patients with motion aberration of the TMJ due to osteoarthritis. A typical case is illustrated in which the motion of both mandibular condyles was simulated preoperatively and postoperatively.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that it is possible to use the proposed methodology to accurately quantify the motion of the mandibular condyle in 3 dimensions. The developed technique is user-friendly and noninvasive to the patient. The proposed methodology is a potential clinical tool that may be used in the management of patients with TMJ dysfunction.