Assessment of reliability of cineradiographic recording of temporomandibular joint movements

Abstract

As part of a cineradiographic study of temporomandibular joint movements, the reliability of the apparatus and techniques has been assessed. The areas of concern were the radiographic procedure, tracing apparatus and tracing technique. To assess the accuracy of the radiographic procedure, anatomical and radiographic measurements of mandibular condyles were compared. A range of variation of 0-46--0-8 mm was found, which compared favourably to the only previously published investigation. The use of mechanical devices simulating the fundamentals of mandibular movements suggested that the cineradiographic record showed paths of opening and closing separated more widely than occurred in vivo. The reliability of the tracing apparatus was assessed by calculated misalignments and found to be acceptable. The subjective error in tracing cineradiographic films by a regular observer was investigated by a point location error method. The error was found to be small and within acceptable limits.

The concept of the sagittal condylar guidance: biological fact or fallacy?

“…At present, the best direct method for studying condylar movements in vivo seems to be the use of cineradiography of the temporomandibular joint (Saxby & Franks, 1976). In cineradiography, serial radiographs are taken at a very high exposure rate so that a series of images can be projected as a motion picture.…”

“…7, and during mandibular depression the path scribed as the sagittal condylar movement differs widely from tbat scribed during mandibular elevation, and this difference becomes more pronounced when tbe experimental subject is placed in a posteriorly inclined position (Berry & Hofmann, 1959;Mattila, 1967;McLeran et al, 1967). However, tbe latter phenomenon may be an artefact inherent in tbe radiographic technique (Saxby & Franks, 1976).…”