Comparing Wear of the Osteoarthritic Temporomandibular Joint and Distal Interphalangeal Joint: A Cadaveric Study
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Authors
Chinen, Doulton, Rikiya
Issue Date
2026
Volume
Issue
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex chronic joint disease involving degeneration of articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and adjacent tissues, often affecting multiple joints in an individual. This study aimed to determine whether OA severity and spatial wear patterns are concordant across joints with distinct biomechanics and ossification processes by comparing the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ). While most OA studies rely on imaging, cadaveric dissection enables direct assessment of articular surface wear and subchondral changes.
METHODS. Twenty TMJs and DIPJs from ten cadaveric donors were dissected to determine degeneration severity and the distribution of osteoarthritic wear on the mandibular condyle, glenoid fossa, head of the middle phalanx, and base of the distal phalanx. Lesions were graded using a validated disease severity scale, and wear location was categorized into three zones per surface. Age and sidedness were included as covariates. Two mixed-effect models were used to evaluate osteoarthritic changes.
SUMMARY. The head of DIPJs demonstrated the highest predicted probability of severe OA (p < 0.001). Individuals aged 76-85 showed the greatest probability of severe OA across all joint surfaces (p < 0.001), whereas individuals younger than 75 were more likely to exhibit mild OA (p < 0.001). Spatially, the central regions of the mandibular condyle and radial surface of the DIPJ head showed the highest probability of OA presence, compared to all other observed surfaces.
CONCLUSIONS. OA severity and spatial wear patterns differ between the TMJ and DIPJ, reflecting joint-specific biomechanics and developmental processes. Cadaveric analysis provides a detailed characterization of articular degeneration not captured by imaging and may help clarify mechanisms underlying joint-specific OA progression. This study showed that DIP joints are more likely to be severely affected by OA, and age is the best predictor of both OA presence and disease severity. OA changes were not uniformly distributed across the joint surface but instead followed consistent wear patterns in specific locations on the joint.
Description
2026
Citation
Publisher
Creighton University
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