Correlation of splint therapy outcome with the electromyography of masticatory muscles in temporomandibular disorder with myofascial pain

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of occlusal splint therapy on the electromyographic amplitude records (μV) of masticatory muscles in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) with myofascial pain and to detect a possible existence of a relationship between this effect and the treatment outcome. Materials and methods. Forty patients (23 females and 17 males) having TMD with myofascial pain were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two equal groups (20 of each). The first group (A) was treated by occlusal splints for 6 months while the second group (B) acted as a control. A clinical assessment and surface electromyography (EMG) for the masticatory muscles were performed at the beginning of the study, then 6 months later. The collected data were statistically analyzed using paired t-test. The differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Results. The results showed that 85% of group A either completely recovered (35%) or clinically improved (50%) while only 20% of group B had a spontaneous improvement. In group A, the means of the electromyographic amplitude records (μV) of the monitored muscles have decreased after 6 months. However, the decrease was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) in the patients (15%) who had no clinical changes. In group B, the means of the muscles' records (μV) in the left side slightly increased while those of the right side slightly decreased. These changes were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Occlusal splint could eliminate or improve the signs and symptoms of TMD patients with myofascial pain. It reduces the electromyographic amplitude records (μV) of the masticatory muscles. The splint therapy outcome has a correlation with the electromyographic amplitude changes of the masticatory muscles.     

垫式可摘局部义齿联合软牙合垫治疗颞下颌关节紊乱病的疗效观察

目的观察利用垫式可摘局部义齿联合软垫对垂直距离过低的颞下颌关节紊乱病患者进行治疗的临床疗效。方法选择16例垂直距离过低的颞下颌关节紊乱病患者对其采用垫式可摘局部义齿联合软垫的方法进行修复治疗,做3个月和半年的随访,用Fricton指数和临床症状评价效果。结果 16例患者在接受治疗后Fricton指数较治疗前有明显下降,半年较3个月下降更为明显,统计学分析显示治疗3个月和半年与治疗前比较各项数据差异均有显著性(P<0.05),治疗半年与3个月比较JP、MP、PI无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 垫式可摘局部义齿可以在修复牙列缺损、恢复垂直距离的同时联合软垫有效治疗颞下颌关节紊乱病。     

The Efficacy of Gabapentin versus Stabilization Splint in Management of Sleep Bruxism

Purpose : This study aimed to determine if the use of gabapentin is more efficacious than a stabilization splint with regard to the intensity of masseter muscle contractions and/or sleep quality for patients experiencing sleep bruxism (SB). Materials and Methods : Twenty patients with SB participated in this clinical study. They were randomly divided into two treatment groups: stabilization splint group (n = 10) and gabapentin group (n = 10). The first polysomnographic examination was performed before the beginning of the experiment for all the participants. At the end of a 2‐month period of stabilization splint therapy or gabapentin usage, a second polysomnographic recording was made. Results : Statistically significant reductions in the number of SB episodes per hour and per night, bruxism time index, total duration of SB episodes per night and number of SB episodes in stages NR I and NR II (p < 0.05) were observed in both groups after treatment. Both treatments significantly reduced the mean intensity of masseter muscle contractions during SB episodes. Moreover, the participants treated with gabapentin showed a significant improvement in total sleep time, slow wave sleep (stage III), and sleep efficiency (p < 0.05). Conclusions : Gabapentin could be an effective treatment modality in SBs, especially in those with poor sleep quality.     

数字化耠板在儿童颞下颌关节强直合并颌骨畸形同期治疗中的应用：附2例报告

目的：探讨数字化验板在儿童颞下颌关节强直合并颌骨畸形同期治疗中的应用效果。方法：2例儿童单侧颞下颌关节强直合并颌骨畸形患者,术前采用SurgiCaseCMF5．0软件进行颌骨畸形的三维测量．模拟骨球截除后摆正下颌骨,制作数字化袷板,术中应用,行肋骨一软骨移植关节重建。术后进行CT扫描二三维测量,评价应用效果。结果：2例患者术中袷板戴入顺利,术后CT三维测量与术前设计吻合度高。结论：数字化袷板在儿童颞下颌关节强直合并颌骨畸形的同期治疗中节省了手术时间,提高了手术的准确性,具有较好的临床应用前景。     

The effectiveness of splint therapy in patients with temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE: The authors conducted a systematic review of all published randomized controlled trials in which investigators compared the effectiveness of splint therapy with that of minimal or no treatment in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published from inception of each database through August 2011. In eligible studies, investigators enrolled adult patients with TMDs and assigned them randomly to splint therapy or a control group receiving minimal or no treatment. RESULTS: Of 1,567 potentially eligible studies, 11 proved eligible and were included. Moderate-quality evidence suggests that splint therapy reduced pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area (standardized response mean = -0.93, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], -1.33 to -0.53; risk difference for having continued pain = -0.35, 95 percent CI, -0.21 to -0.46; mean change on the 100-millimeter visual analog scale = -11.5 mm, 95 percent CI, -16.5 mm to -6.6 mm). Low to very low quality of evidence showed no significant differences between the splint therapy and control groups in terms of quality of life or depression. None of the trial reports described effect on function. CONCLUSIONS: Although overall results are promising for the reduction of pain, establishing the role of splints for patients with TMDs will require large trials with stronger safeguards against bias.     

Short-term efficacy of physical therapy compared to splint therapy in treatment of arthrogenous TMD

A prospective randomized study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of physical therapy in addition to splint therapy on treatment outcome in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with respect to objective and subjective parameters. Twenty-six patients suffering from an arthrogenic TMD and exhibiting a painfully restricted jaw opening were randomized in two groups. Thirteen patients were treated solely with Michigan splint (group I), 13 patients received supplementary physical therapy (group II). Before treatment a clinical examination and electronic recording of jaw movements were performed and subjective pain level was evaluated by visual analogue scales. After 3 months of therapy maintenance of improvement was evaluated. Within treatment groups comparison of data before and after treatment was analysed using Wilcoxon test. Groups were compared by Mann-Withney-U test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Compared with the baseline, in both groups mandibular movement capacity increased significantly after treatment, whereas subjective pain decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Active jaw opening increased from 28.6 +/- 5.8 to 35.9 +/- 4.8 mm in group I and from 30.1 +/- 5.4 to 40.8 +/- 4.1 mm in group II. After therapy the difference of active jaw opening between groups was significant (P < 0.05). Physical therapy also gave a supplementary improvement of protrusive mandibular movement capacity during electronic registration and subjective pain level. For none of these parameters this difference between groups was significant. Physical therapy seems to have a positive effect on treatment outcome of patients with TMD.     

Review of clinical EMG studies related to muscle and occlusal factors in healthy and TMD subjects

Several electronic instruments have been developed as adjuncts to objectively record the dysfunctional features of temporomandibular disorders and to study the effectiveness of various treatment interventions. The aim of this review was to assess the value and contribution of clinical electromyographic research in the understanding of asymptomatic and dysfunctional muscle function and the therapeutic effects of interocclusal appliances. For this purpose MedLine and PubMed searches were conducted with the following main keywords alone and in various combinations: electromyography, muscles of mastication, masseter, temporalis, temporomandibular, TMD, utility, validity, repeatability, rest, postural, vertical dimension, occlusal, splint, treatment. The review includes critical evaluation, discussion and conclusions regarding electromyographic studies in asymptomatic and dysfunctional muscles, rest position, occlusal parameters and interocclusal appliances, as well as a critical summary and proposals for further research. Much of earlier critique of many electromyographic studies still applies regarding comparative sample selections, research designs, analyses and conclusions. The areas not well-understood include normal biological variation, capacity for adaptation, fluctuations regarding the clinical course and multidimensional features of temporomandibular disorders and long-term follow-up data, especially in studies that evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic measures. Considering the required improvements in technical and research designs features and critical appraisal electromyographic research could have value as an adjunct research tool to study features of craniofacial muscle-related dysfunction. Until electromyographic measures are correlated with other multidimensional, especially subjective and pain-related methods, the clinical use of this method for diagnostic purposes of temporomandibular disorders remains in doubt, and is not at present recommended.     

中西医结合夹板外固定减少肱骨干骨折再移位的临床观察

目的:观察肱骨干骨折复位后夹板外固定对骨折X线片的变化。方法:回顾性研究61例肱骨干骨折闭合复位小夹板外固定治疗的患者,治疗后立即行X光片检查,随访伤后3天、1周、3周、6周、3个月、6个月的情况,主要观察指标是肱骨干骨折在冠状和矢状面测量的角度,第二指标有VAS评分,末次随访的DASH、肘关节MEPI、肩关节Constant、SF-36评分,骨折愈合、医源性桡神经损伤情况。结果:夹板固定后即刻X线片的平均角度为内翻8°和前屈6°。末次随访,平均冠状面成角是10°和前屈7°。在整个治疗过程中骨折丢失角度平均正位片2°和矢状面1°(P0.05),平均每天内翻和屈曲畸形约0.01°。VAS评分均较干预前4.5分到2.0分下降,有显著的统计学差异(P 0.05)。DASH平均10.5分,MEPI平均94.1分,Constant平均95.1分,SF-36平均88.3分,发现一例骨折不愈合,二期手术干预愈合(愈合率97.6%),无医源性桡神经麻痹。结论:对肱骨干骨折复位后夹板外固定,可及时调整维持骨折复位成果、缓解疼痛、早期康复训练,取得优良的功能结果和满意度。     

An early shoulder repositioning program in birth-related brachial plexus injury: a pilot study of the Sup-ER protocol

Background

Birth-related brachial plexus injury (BRBPI) occurs in 1.2/1,000 births in British Columbia. Even in children with “good” recovery, external rotation (ER) and supination (Sup) are often weaker, and permanent skeletal imbalance ensues. A preventive early infant shoulder passive repositioning program was created using primarily a novel custom splint holding the affected arm in full ER and Sup: the Sup-ER splint. The details of the splint and the shoulder repositioning program evolved with experience over several years. This study reviews the first 4 years.

Methods

A retrospective review of BCCH patients managed with the Sup-ER protocol from 2008 to 2011 compared their recovery scores to matched historical controls selected from our database by two independent reviewers.

Results

The protocol was initiated in 18 children during the study period. Six were excluded due to the following: insufficient data points, non-compliance, late splint initiation, and loss to follow-up. Of the 12 matches, the Sup-ER group final score at 2 years was better than controls by 1.18 active movement scale (AMS) points (p = 0.036) in Sup and 0.96 AMS points in ER (but not statistically significant (p = 0.13)). Unexpectedly, but importantly, during the study period, zero subjects were assessed to have the active functional criteria to indicate brachial plexus reconstruction, where previously we operated on 13 %.

Conclusions

Early application of passive shoulder repositioning into Sup and ER may improve outcomes in function of the arm in infants with BRBPI. A North American multi-site randomized control trial has been approved and has started recruitment.