e303 J Clin Exp Dent. 2011;3(4):e303-9. Osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis of the TMJ. Journal section: Oral Medicine and Pathology doi:10.4317/jced.3.e303 Publication Types: Research Differences in clinical variables and risk factors between patients with osteoarthritis and osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Rafael Poveda-Roda 1 , Jose Vicente Bagán 2 , Jose María Sanchís 1 . 1 Staff physician. Department of Stomatology. Valencia University General Hospital. Valencia. 2 Head of the Department of Stomatology. Valencia University General Hospital. Valencia. Chairman of Oral Medicine. Valencia University Medical and Dental School. Valencia (Spain). Correspondence: Servicio de Estomatología Hospital General Universitario de Valencia Tres Cruces s/n, 46014 – Valencia (Spain) E-mail: poveda@uv.es Received: 27/02/2012 Accepted: 12/03/2011 Abstract Objective: To study differences in risk factors and clinical variables between a group of patients with osteoarthritis and a group with osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint. Material and methods: Thirty-fve patients (32 women and 3 men) (mean age 53±18 years), 21 (60%) with a diagnosis of osteoarthrosis (mean age 54.7±20.2 years) and 14 (40%) with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (mean age 51.7±16.9 years), were studied. The two groups were compared with each other and also with the group of 164 patients with temporomandibular joint pathology from which they were drawn. An evaluation was made of the demographic variables, risk factors (parafunctions, posterior occlusal contacts, sleep disturbances and psychoactive medication), clinical manifestations (pain, joint sounds, limitation of mandibular movements) and panoramic X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging alterations. Results: None of the studied variables showed statistically signifcant differences between osteoarthritis and os- teoarthrosis. Age was signifcantly older among the patients with osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis than in the general group of patients with temporomandibular joint pathology (36.9±17.2) (F=20.1; p=0.000). The time from appea- rance of the symptoms to medical consultation (35.9±41.8 months) was signifcantly longer in patients with os- teoarthritis (F=3.95; p=0.049). The number of posterior occlusal contacts (5.2±3.0), maximum aperture (32.5±6.5 mm), and the frequency of parafunctions (42.9%) were signifcantly lower in the group of patient with osteoarthritis (F=6.2 p=0.01; F=4.45 p=0.04; χ2 =4.85 p=0.03) than in the group of patients with temporomandibular joint pa- thology from which they were drawn. Conclusions: No epidemiological or clinical differences were observed between osteoarthritis and osteoarthrosis, though both processes - particularly osteoarthritis - showed differences with respect to the group of patients with temporomandibular joint pathology from which they were drawn. Key Words: Osteoarthritis, osteoarthrosis, arthritis, arthrosis, TMD, RDC/TMD, temporomandibular. Poveda-Roda R, Bagán JV, Sanchís JM. Differences in clinical variables and risk factors between patients with osteoarthritis and osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). J Clin Exp Dent. 2011;3(4):e303-9. http://www.medicinaoral.com/odo/volumenes/v3i4/jcedv3i4p303.pdf Article Number: 50525 http://www.medicinaoral.com/odo/indice.htm © Medicina Oral S. L. C.I.F. B 96689336 - eISSN: 1989-5488 eMail: jced@jced.es