The relation of cephalometric features to internal derangements of the temporomandibular joint: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Purpose: To review and summarize the data on the relationship between craniofacial morphology features and internal derangement (ID) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Method: A systematic review was designed and registered at PROSPERO, CRD42019132731. The PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases were searched for cephalometric studies comparing craniofacial morphology between female patients with TMJ ID and controls. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for quality assessment. Weighted mean differences for cephalometric measurements were pooled for subsequent meta-analysis.

Result: From the establishment date to August 2020, 14 of 1038 collected records were selected, which consisted of 772 patients with TMJ ID and 423 controls. These records were eventually pooled for the designed statistical analysis after the NOS quality assessment. Compared with the controls, TMJ ID patients had obviously smaller, retruded and clockwise-rotated mandible, showing significantly decreased S-Na, S-Go, Go-Me, Ar-Pog, Ar-Go, SNB, Na perp Pog, and increased FH-MP, SN-MP, PP-MP, SN to Ar-Go, S-Ar-Go and ANB.

Conclusion: Certain craniofacial morphology features were found strongly associated with the presence of TMJ ID, especially the size and position of the mandible.