Degenerative disease in the temporomandibular, metatarsophalangeal and sternoclavicular joints. An autopsy study.

The right temporomandibular, sternoclavicular and first metatarsophalangeal joints were removed post mortem from 39 subjects. The surfaces of the various parts of the joints were examined and evaluated according to a grading system. Repeated evaluation of the joints showed a good reproducibility of the grading system. Of the 33 temporomandibular joints, 12 showed deviations in shape. Degenerative disease was uncommon and seen in only 3 joints. The total "score for degeneration" showed only a weak correlation with age (r = 0.28, rs = 0.08). Degenerative disease was common in the 35 sternoclavicular joints. All joints except 7 showed degenerative changes. A moderate correlation was found between age and the score for degeneration (r = 0.58). Of the 39 metatarsophalangeal joints only 5 were allotted no points of degeneration. A moderate correlation was found between age and score for degeneration (r = 0.61). No significant differences of degeneration were found between sexes. The coefficient of correlation between the score for degenerative disease of the temporomandibular joint and the degeneration score for the sternoclavicular joint and the toe-joint were r = 0.22 (rs = 0.16) and r = 0.46 (rs = 0.44), respectively. The significant association of degenerative disease found between the toe-joint and the sternoclavicular joint (r = 0.54, rs = 0.54) was reduced (to r = 0.29) when age-dependence was excluded. The degenerative changes described in this material are probably mostly due to local factors.