Evaluation and Correlation of Condylar Cortication by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a ginglymo-diarthroidial joint with fibroelastic cartilage. The chondrogenesis initiates from the 12(th) week of intrauterine life and the development of condyle is associated with growth. The condylar cortication shows distinct morphological variation for each individual in each stage of their life. The cortical bone around the condyle could be used as a factor for chronological age assessment and it can act as a tool in forensic medicine. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The study was carried out to evaluate the cortical grading in mandibular condyle using two different applications and to correlate their grades with chronological age. SETTING AND DESIGN: Hospital-based retrospective observational cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in 40 patients and 80 TMJs were assessed for cortication grades in Carestream 3D imaging and Image J applications. These grading from both the applications were correlated with the chronological age. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SPSS (Statistical Analysis for the Social Science) – Cohen's Kappa inter-examiner reliability and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: The radiological assessment of condylar cortication in individual application showed significant results and the relationship of cortication with chronological age showed a significant correlation. CONCLUSION: The condylar cortication grading is a simple technique and can be used as a factor for chronological age assessment. This is an initial study which used two different applications to view the cortication of the mandibular condyle and to correlate the cortication with chronological age. Hence, a large sample size-based study is required for further research.