Anterior and medial angulations of the styloid process in subjects with TMD: clinical and radiographic findings

Abstract

This study investigated the existence of association between the angulation of the styloid process on the anterior and medial directions with the intensity of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) symptoms. Fifty patients (8 men and 42 women) aged 25 to 70 years, with relevant TMD symptoms were evaluated. Clinical examinations were performed to determine the severity of TMD symptoms (orofacial pain, headache, tinnitus and dizziness) based on the RDC/TMD criteria and the visual analogue scale (VAS), and digital radiographic images of the styloid process were obtained: lateral cephalometric skull radiograph (analysis of anterior angulation) and posteroanterior skull radiograph (reverse Towne's projection) (analysis of medial angulation). The anterior angulation average of the styloid process was 20.89° while the medial angulation average was 19.1° in the right side and 19.04° in the left side. There was no statistically significant difference among the patient groups (severe, moderate and mild symptoms) associating the TMD symptoms and the anterior or medial angulation of the styloid process (p>0.05). There was no correlation between the intensity of the TMD symptoms and the measurements of anterior and medial angulation of the styloid process using either lateral cephalometric or posteroanterior radiographs (reverse Towne's projection).