Preliminary Evaluation of Static and Kinematic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Feline Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): A Comparative Analysis of Joint Inclination Angles in Intact and Dislocated Conditions

Abstract

Simple Summary This study investigated the morphological characteristics, MRI features, and biomechanics of the feline TMJ. The anatomical features of the feline TMJ were characterized using low-field MRI, providing detailed visualization of the joint structures. To evaluate joint biomechanics, feline cadavers were examined using kinematic MRI (kMRI), an imaging modality that has been rarely applied in veterinary medicine. Furthermore, a subset of feline cadavers was subjected to experimentally induced TMJ dislocation and subsequently evaluated as a model of joint instability. This approach was employed to assess the utility of MRI in detecting both intact and dislocated joints under static and kinematic imaging conditions. The results demonstrated that static MRI provided superior visualization of osseous and most soft tissue components except the articular disc and lateral ligament of the feline TMJ and reliably identified joint dislocation, enabling clear differentiation between normal and dislocated joints. In contrast, kMRI offered limited anatomical detail. These findings highlight the advantages of static low-field MRI for the assessment of feline TMJ anatomy and the diagnosis of joint dislocation.