Development and validation of temporomandibular joint ankylosis quality of life questionnaire

The patient-reported outcome measures are endorsed for better evaluation of disease impact and treatment outcomes. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis has been observed to adversely impact the quality of life (QoL) of the patients, affecting both the physical and psychosocial aspects of their lives. The study was conducted to develop and validate a TMJ ankylosis specific QoL questionnaire (TMJAQoL). It had two phases. Phase 1 was associated with the development of the questionnaire while phase 2 examined its psychometric properties and validated the instrument. In phase 1, a 65 item pool was generated and was eventually reduced to a 37 item pool after sequential evaluation by two expert groups. The 37 item draft was subjected to item reduction by the impact method, resulting in a 12 item draft divided into 4 domains, which formed the TMJAQoL questionnaire. In phase 2, the TMJAQoL was completed by 51 TMJ ankylosis patients and was found to have optimum validity, reliability and internal consistency. 44 of these patients completed the TMJAQoL again after the surgery. A significant change in mean cumulative TMJAQoL scores (pre-op = 14.10, post op = 4.05, p = .001) was found after the surgery. This change was significantly correlated to the improvement in the maximal incisal opening and the right and left lateral movements (r > .30). Amongst the TMJAQoL domains, significant improvement was seen in functional limitation (p = .026), psychological well being (p = .017) and social wellbeing domains (p = .038). Overall, improved QoL was observed after the TMJ surgery. The TMJAQoL demonstrated optimum psychometric properties and promises to be an effective QoL instrument for the TMJ ankylosis patients.     

A clinical and MRI retrospective cohort study of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to determine if initial temporomandibular joint (TMJ) examination findings are associated with severity of TMJ arthritis

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between initial TMJ examination findings and clinical and MRI severity of TMJ arthritis in a cohort of patients with JIA. The clinical variables were signs and symptoms at the initial TMJ evaluation. Outcome was the severity of TMJ arthritis as evaluated clinically by the Helkimo clinical dysfunction indices and by MRI. Associations of signs and symptoms with clinical and MRI severity were analyzed using a Fisher exact test and linear regression. The sample was composed of 101 patients with a mean age of 12.8 years, 76% of which were girls. Subjective difficulty in opening the mouth wide and objective limited MIO were the only clinical findings associated with both the severity of clinical dysfunction (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and the acute (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001, respectively) and chronic (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively) MRI severity of the TMJ arthritis. The results of this study suggest that in patients with JIA, limited mouth opening at the initial TMJ assessment may be a valid indicator of clinical severity of TMJ arthritis, which correlates with severity as seen on MRI.     

Three-dimensional dento-skeletal effects of mandibular midline distraction and surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: A retrospective study

It was the aim of the study to provide a three-dimensional evaluation of dento-skeletal effects following bone-borne vs tooth-borne mandibular midline distraction (MMD) and tooth-borne surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME). A retrospective observational study was conducted. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) records were taken pre-operatively (T1), immediately post-distraction (T2) and 1 year post-operatively (T3). All included 30 patients had undergone MMD (20 bone-borne MMD; 10 tooth-borne MMD). A total of 20 bone-borne MMD and 8 tooth-borne MMD patients had simultaneously undergone tooth-borne SARME. At T1 vs T3, canine (p = 0.007; 26.0 ± 2.09 vs 29.2 ± 2.02) and first premolar (p = 0.005; 33.8 ± 2.70 vs 37.0 ± 2.43) showed significant expansion on the tip level for tooth-borne MMD. This was no significant on the apex level, indicating tipping. Bone-borne MMD showed a parallel distraction gap, whereas tooth-borne MMD showed a V-shape. There was a significant (p = 0.017; 138 ± 17.8 vs 141 ± 18.2) inter-condylar axes increase for bone-borne MMD. In conclusion, bone-borne vs tooth-borne MMD and tooth-borne SARME showed stable dento-skeletal effects at 1 year post-operatively. Bone-borne and tooth-borne MMD seemed not to be superior to each other. The choice of distractor type therefore depends more on anatomical and comfort factors.     

Temporomandibular joint prosthesis as treatment option for mandibular condyle fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) prosthesis as a treatment option after mandibular condyle fracture. Three databases were searched (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library) and 2670 unique papers were identified. A total of 337 studies were included (121 case reports, 89 case series, and 127 cohort/clinical studies). In total 14,396 patients and 21,560 prostheses were described. Of the 127 cohort or clinical studies, 100 (79%) reported inclusion criteria, 54 (43%) reported exclusion criteria, and 96 (76%) reported the inclusion period. The base population from which patients were recruited was reported in 57 studies (45%). The reason for TMJ prosthesis implantation was reported for 4177 patients (29.0%). A history of condylar fracture was present in 83 patients (2.0%); a history of mandibular trauma was present in 580 patients (13.9%). The meta-analysis showed a pooled prevalence of condylar fracture of 1.6% (95% confidence interval 0.9–2.4%) and a pooled prevalence of trauma or condylar fracture of 11.3% (95% confidence interval 7.1–16.0%). Heterogeneity was highly significant (P < 0.001). The TMJ prosthesis appears to be reserved for patients with persistent pain, bony or fibrous ankylosis, or osteomyelitis after primary closed or open treatment of fractures of the mandibular condyle.     

Correlation between bony changes measured with cone beam computed tomography and clinical dysfunction index in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis

ObjectivesTo investigate the correlation between clinical dysfunction index (Di) and condylar bony changes, glenoid fossa bony changes and joint space changes.MethodsClinical data and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 240 patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) were analyzed. The patients were assigned a score of Helkimo's clinical Di ranging from 1 to 25 and thereafter divided into 3 groups by the degree of Helkimo's Di. The condylar bony changes observed with CBCT were graded by the classification method of Koyama et al. Glenoid fossa bony changes and joint space changes were both classified as “positive” or “negative”. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to correlate the score or degree of Helkimo's Di with the maximum condylar bony changes, glenoid fossa bony changes, and joint space changes.ResultsThere was a significant correlation between the Helkimo's Di score and the maximum condylar bony changes (P ≤ 0.0001) and glenoid fossa bony changes (P ≤ 0.0001), and there was a poor correlation between the Helkimo's Di score and joint space changes (P = 0.184). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the degree of Helkimo's Di and the maximum condylar bony changes (P ≤ 0.0001) and glenoid fossa bony changes (P ≤ 0.0001), but there was a poor correlation between the degree of Helkimo's Di and joint space changes (P = 0.346).ConclusionsBoth the score and degree of Helkimo's Di were highly correlated with maximum condylar changes and glenoid fossa bony changes, but not with joint space changes.     

Predictive risk factors for persistent pain following total prosthetic temporomandibular joint replacement

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of persistent pain following total TMJ replacement and to identify potential predictive risk factors. A retrospective review of case notes treated by a single surgeon in a tertiary unit was performed. For each patient a number of variables were recorded including visual analogue pain scores (0 to 10) and opioid usage pre surgery and at 12 months or last follow up beyond 12 months. Persistent pain scores of 5 to 7 were regarded as moderate and 8 to 10 as severe. The mean pain score at last follow-up was significantly lower than preoperatively (2.1 vs. 6.3, p < 0.001) with a mean follow-up time of 40.1 months (range 12–44). 16.4% of the patients reported moderate to severe pain and 13.7% were still on regular opioids at the last follow-up. Therefore 15 patients (20.5%) suffered from chronic postoperative pain after TMJ replacement surgery. Patients reporting severe preoperative pain scores (p = 0.04), regular opioid use (p = 0.001) or multiple previous open TMJ surgeries (p = 0.03) were more likely to suffer from chronic persistent pain and these should be regarded as predictive risk factors. The identification of these factors allows for better risk stratification of patients, informed consent and the agreement of expected outcomes. Patients with true articular disease and a single failed surgery should be considered for early total TMJ replacement to minimise multifactorial persistent pain.     

Long term oral health related quality of life after TMJ arthrocentesis with hyaluronic acid. A retrospective cohort study

The purpose of the study was to assess the long-term oral health-related quality of life (oQoL) in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement (ID) after TMJ arthrocentesis plus hyaluronic acid (HA).Patients were analysed at different follow-up times using an analytical observational design. The Oral Health Impact Profile?14 (OHIP-14) score was evaluated according to age, sex, disc position, presence of degenerative joint disease (DJD), joint pain, maximum mouth opening and follow-up time.A total of 60 participants were enrolled, 88% female, with a mean age of 38 years (SD = 13.48).In an average follow-up of 25.02 months (SD = 5.32), the OHIP-14 total score decreased 8.67 (95% confidence interval [CI]: ?11.21 to ?6.11) after the intervention (Cohen's d = 1.22; 95% CI = 0.81 to 1.64). All OHIP-14 domain scores decreased (p < 0.05) except for the Functional limitation domain (p = 0.378). The oQoL after the intervention worsened in female patients (p = 0.039) and with a higher level of pain at baseline (p = 0.002).Self-perceived QoL improvement should be considered stable long term after temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis plus HA, regardless of concurrence with DJD or ID subtype. QoL should be used as clinical assessment measure of ID patients, with special attention to those with higher levels of pain.     

Endoscopic surgery versus open reduction treatment of mandibular condyle fractures: A meta-analysis

The aim of the study was to compare open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) and endoscopic open reduction with internal fixation (EORIF) of condylar fractures (CF) in adults in terms of reducing both needing of reoperation and/or facial nerve injury.An electronic search was undertaken (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and The Cochrane Library). The inclusion criteria were full text, published from their inception to June 2020, clinical trials, randomized or not, and retrospective studies, that compared ORIF and EORIF. The estimates of an intervention were expressed as the risk ratio (RR).From the 1338 articles found, 5 publications were included. There was no statistically significant difference between ORIF and EORIF regarding needing of reoperation (RR = 2.46, p = 0.42) or facial nerve injury (RR = 0.45, p = 0.14).Meta-analysis suggests that there is no difference between open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) and endoscopic open reduction with internal fixation (EORIF) of condylar fractures (CF) regarding facial nerve injury risk or need for reoperation.     

Longitudinal study of patients with TMJ dysfunction by tomographic examination: Condylar position and clinical sign

For patients with TMJ dysfunction, operators often change the condylar position by various methods. The aim of this study is to investigate how much the changes with time of condylar positions are related to the changes of clinical signs. The subjects were 584 joints of 127 patients with TMJ dysfunction to whom the serial lateral TMJ tomography was performed more than twice. In the most of cases where the condylar position had moved downward, inter-incisal distance had increased and TMJ noise had ameliorated. Furthermore, in many cases where the condylar position had moved forward, the amelioration of the TMJ pain was observed. It was considered that those ameliorations occurred because the positional relationship between the condylar head and the articular disk or posterior attachment had been improved.     

下颌骨缺损整复后颞下颌关节的变化

目的 :观察单侧或部分下颌骨缺损重建术后升支高度和下颌骨髁状突运动的变化。材料和方法 :30例患者按手术方式的不同分为两组 ,A组为保留髁状突的下颌骨部分切除、自体骨移植或病变骨冷冻再植整复组 ,B组为未保留髁状突组 ,术后通过X线检查评价结果。结果 :所有患者手术后都表现有不同程度的髁状突运动障碍。主要有升支高度降低、髁状突水平运动和转动能力降低 ,且A、B两组间存在明显差别 ,B组改变大于A组。结论 :下颌骨缺损重建对颞下颌关节结构和功能具有一定的影响 ,保留髁状突时所受影响要明显小于未保留髁状突组。因此保留髁状突有利于获得较好的术后功能效果     

Adaptive change in temporomandibular joint tissue and mandibular morphology following surgically induced anterior disc displacement by bFGF injection in a rabbit model

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of injecting basic fibroblast growth factor following surgical induced anterior disc displacement in temporomandibular joints (TMJ).

Micro-computed tomography evaluation of bone architecture in various forms of unilateral condylar hyperplasia

Condylar hyperplasia is one of the causes of facial asymmetry and malocclusion, characterized by enlargement of the lower jaw due to excessive condyle growth activity. The aim of this study was to use micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to evaluate the bone architecture of the condylar head and determine whether there are differences between patients with various forms of unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH): hemimandibular hyperplasia, elongation, and mixed form. The cohort consisted of 28 patients with a mean age of 21.9 years. All patients underwent surgical treatment (condylar shaving) for active pathological growth activity. The portion of the condylar head removed was imaged by micro-CT and subsequently evaluated. Micro-CT imaging and semiquantitative and quantitative evaluation of the bone structure (percentage bone volume, surface density, trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, degree of anisotropy, and porosity of the subchondral bone) did not reveal significant differences between the individual types of condylar hyperplasia (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in bone structure between the anterior and posterior portions of the condylar head. No statistically significant differences between individual groups of UCH were found in the micro-CT evaluation of the condylar head bone architecture.     

Long-term results and complications after treatment of bilateral fractures of the mandibular condyle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term results of conservative treatment of bilateral condylar fractures and to study the influence of possible functional impairment on intensity of pain and associated disability. We studied 71 patients (mean (SD) age 33 (14) years) with conservatively treated bilateral condylar fractures. Traffic crashes (n = 42, 59%) and falls (n = 20, 28%) were the main cause of the fractures. Forty-one patients (58%) were re-examined after about 90 months (mean 86, range 3–193). Five of the 41 (12%) had developed malocclusion, but did not experience any pain in the temporomandibular joint according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. There was a significant negative relation between the presence of pain and the duration of follow up (p = 0.02). Increasing age was significantly related to reduction in the intensity of pain (p = 0.03). Of the remaining 30 patients who were not followed up, 2 had had bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and 1 a Le Fort I osteotomy. One patient had had orthodontic correction for a malocclusion. Including the five malocclusion patients, at least 9 of the total of 71 (13%) developed a malocclusion after conservative treatment. Functional impairment had no influence on the intensity of pain or pain-related disability in the patients with malocclusion after conservatively treated bilateral condylar fractures. This report may therefore be of value in the debate about whether open or closed treatment is better for bilateral mandibular condylar fractures.     

Is the incidence of temporomandibular disorder increased in polycystic ovary syndrome?

The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders is higher among women than men (ratio 3:1 -9:1). Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women, which is characterised by chronic low-grade inflammation and excess of androgenic hormones that lead to metabolic aberrations and ovarian dysfunction. Increased activities of various matrix metalloproteinases (particularly MMP-2 and 9) in the serum of these patients has been reported, and it has been hypothesised that high activities of MMP may contribute to loss of matrix and chronic inflammation of the fibrocartilage in temporomandibular disorders. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of temopormandibular dysfunction in women with PCOS compared with an age-matched, disease-free, control group. We studied 50 patients with previously diagnosed PCOS and 50 volunteers who had normal menstrual cycles. We made a comprehensive clinical examination of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and muscles of mastication in both groups and recorded the Visual Analogue Scores (VAS) for pain. There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the incidence of temporomandibular disorders (n = 43 (86%) in the PCOS group compared with n = 12 24% in the control group), muscle tenderness(n = 32 (64%) in the PCOS group compared with n = 14 (28%) in the control group) and pain in the TMJ (mean (SD) VAS 2.9 (2.61) compared with 0.3 (1.56). We confirm the higher incidence and severity of disorders of the TMJ in patients with PCOS and suspect that chronic low-grade inflammation may play a part in the aetiology of the disease.     

Is the risk of chronic pain after total temporomandibular joint replacement independent of its indications? A prospective cohort study

Chronic pain is a possible long-term complication after alloplastic temporomandibular joint reconstruction (TMJR). This study was developed to evaluate various subjective and objective measurements to determine the presence and degree of TMJ pain in patients treated with TMJR regardless of the indication for the operation. A prospective, single-centre study was performed. Data on 36 patients (56 TMJR) were collected preoperatively and at follow up two to three years postoperatively. The primary outcome variable was subjective TMJ pain (none/mild, moderate/severe) at follow up. The predictor variables were objective pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at the ipsilateral joint(s) and muscle(s), functional parameters (incisal range of motion, maximum voluntary clenching), subjective oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and demographic and surgical variables. The number of patients with moderate/severe pain decreased from 17 preoperatively to 10 at follow up. Self-reported TMJ pain was significantly reduced in the entire group (p = 0.001). Patients with moderate/severe pain at follow up were more restricted in their OHRQoL but did not differ in PPT and functional parameters from the no/mild pain group. Moderate/severe TMJ pain at follow up was associated with unilateral TMJR and more preoperative pain. This study provides preliminary evidence that despite good pain reduction in most patients, persistent pain after TMJR is common and, in rare cases, may even worsen regardless of the original diagnosis. At follow up there was a close relation between OHRQoL and TMJ pain. TMJ pain after TMJR cannot be confirmed by objective measurement methods (PPTs and functional parameters).     

正颌外科治疗后颞下颌关节改变的X线研究

目的 了解正颌外科手术后颞下颌关节（ｔｅｍｐｏｒｏｍａｎｄｉｂｕｌａｒ ｊｏｉｎｔ，ＴＭＪ）形态的改变，探讨手术方式不同对ＴＭＪ的影响。方法 正颌手术患者５７例，术前、术后１周、１年分别拍摄定位许勒位片用于观察髁突位置及关节形态的变化。结果 ①正颌手术可导致髁突移位，但大多数关节适应后并不发生病变，术后１年髁突位置已调整到术前相似的位置。②手术方式不同髁突位置的变化也不尽相同。③８６．４％的患者关节无明显变化或发生了适应性改建；１３．６％患者关节发生了退行性改变。结论 正颌手术可对ＴＭＪ产生影响，但大部分处于关节的正常适应范围内。     

导致颞下颌关节强直的成人髁突骨折类型分析

目的: 回顾分析导致颞下颌关节强直的成人髁突骨折类型。方法：回顾口腔外科关节组2010—2012年收治的由髁突骨折保守治疗导致颞下颌关节强直,从损伤到发生强直有完整CT资料的成人病例,按照下颌支残端与关节窝的位置关系,将髁突骨折分为3级,0级为下颌支残端位于关节窝内,与之无接触;1级为下颌支残端位于关节窝内,与之有接触;2级为下颌支残端外上方脱位出关节窝。结合髁突骨折类型、骨折块移位程度和关节盘的位置、下颌骨其他部位骨折情况等,分析关节强直形成的原因。结果：13例(24侧)导致关节强直病例的髁突骨折有完整的CT资料,导致关节强直的髁突骨折类型均为囊内骨折,其中B型占70%。下颌支残端与关节窝的位置关系中,0级0侧;1级10侧,占41.7%;2级14侧,占58.3%。0级和1级的关节盘均伴髁突骨折块移位,后外侧带断裂。形成关节强直的髁突骨折中,77%伴颏部骨折,导致牙弓增宽。结论：下颌支残端与关节窝的位置关系对于预后判断有重要作用,其中0级不易引起关节强直;1级较容易引起关节强直,是手术的相对适应证;2级最容易引起关节强直,是手术的绝对适应证。其他危险因素还有髁突囊内B型骨折和合并牙弓增宽的下颌骨骨折。