Single‐ or multiple‐session viscosupplementation protocols for temporomandibular joint degenerative disorders: a randomized clinical trial

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of two single‐session protocols, either adopting high‐ (protocol A) or medium‐molecular weight hyaluronic acid (protocol B), with the reference five‐session protocol of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) lavage plus viscosupplementation (protocol C) in the management of chronic TMJ degenerative disorders. A randomized clinical trial (RCT) with ten participants per treatment group was designed, with multiple observation points, ending at 6 months after treatment. Pain levels on a 10‐point VAS scale were selected as the primary outcome variable to rate treatment effectiveness, along with a number of secondary outcome parameters. Findings showed that Group C patients had the highest decrease in pain levels. Nonparametric permutation analyses revealed that the global effect of treatment was significantly different between the three protocols (P = 0·024). Pairwise comparisons showed that the differences of treatment effect between the two single‐session interventions were negligible (global P‐value = 0·93). On the contrary, the five‐session protocol was significantly superior to both single‐session protocols (global P‐values ranging from 0·003 to 0·012). In conclusion, in a population of age‐, sex‐, and psychosocial aspects‐matched study groups, the standard of reference five‐session protocol proved to be superior at 6 months as far as the decrease in pain levels was concerned, whilst there were no differences between the two single‐session interventions. The absence of differences in treatment effect as for some other secondary clinical outcome variables may suggest that there is further space for future investigations attempting to reduce the number of multiple interventions for TMJ viscosupplementation.     

Review of emerging temporomandibular joint total joint replacement systems

Total temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement has been documented as a viable option for the management of end-stage TMJ disease, but data on long-term outcomes have been reported for only two established systems: TMJ Concepts, and Zimmer Biomet. Other devices are now emerging globally, but reports of preclinical laboratory and clinical outcomes are limited. We retrieved information on the design, material composition, preclinical laboratory tests, regulatory status, and clinical outcomes of new TMJ replacement systems from PubMed and Google, and from personal correspondence with surgeons worldwide. Fifteen countries have developed, or are developing, 27 TMJ replacement systems, of which 21 are custom-designed, but to date, only four have been given regulatory approval. All the devices are designed to have both a skull-based glenoid fossa component and a mandibular ramus or condyle, and 22/27 are similar to the designs of the two established systems. Twenty-one devices use an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fossa-bearing surface, and 10 have a titanium alloy condyle. Nineteen manufacturers report that a titanium alloy is used for the ramus portion of the condyle/ramus component. Preclinical laboratory tests on 12 of the systems have been reported but, to our knowledge, no outcomes have yet been reported on nine of the 27 reviewed. Not all systems are equal in terms of design, material composition, preclinical laboratory testing, manufacturing methods, regulatory status, and reports of clinical outcomes.     

Development process of traumatic heterotopic ossification of the temporomandibular joint in mice

PurposeThe exact development process underlying traumatic heterotopic ossification of the temporomandibular joint (THO-TMJ) is largely unclear. In this study, we try to explore the histological development process of THO-TMJ.Materials and methodsCondylar cartilage of one-month-old male mice was partially removed from the left joint with small scissors to induce THO-TMJ. The phenotypes were observed using gross observation, microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scans and histological examination from one month to six months after surgery.ResultsThe micro-CT examination results showed that the injured condyle integrated with ectopic bone tissue to form an osteophyte and that the volume and density of the osteophyte grew exponentially with time. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), safranin O and fast green staining of the THO-TMJ specimens revealed that the ectopic bone tissue was mainly nonmineralized fibrous tissue 1 month after surgery. This tissue gradually transformed into cartilage 3 months after surgery. Finally, the tissues transformed into mature bone tissue 6 months after surgery. Immunofluorescence staining showed VEGF-α expression in the heterotopic tissue 1 month after surgery, and the expression of Sox9 in the heterotopic tissue was obvious 3 months after surgery. Furthermore, OCN expression was evident in most of the heterotopic tissue 6 months after surgery. The results also showed clear hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (Hif-1α) expression in the injured chondrocytes of the condyle, especially in the articular proliferative zone and fibrocartilaginous zone.ConclusionsThe THO-TMJ imaging characteristics indicated an exponential change with time. Histologically, the development process of THO-TMJ is an endochondral ossification process and includes three stages, fibroproliferative, chondrogenic and osteogenic stage. In addition, Hif-1α, which was expressed in some of the injured chondrocytes, may play an essential role in the initial THO-TMJ.     

The treatment of painful temporomandibular joint clicking with oral splints: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The authors compared the efficacy of bilateral balanced and canine guidance (occlusal) splints in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in subjects who experienced joint clicking with a nonoccluding splint in a double-blind, controlled randomized clinical trial. METHODS: The authors randomly assigned 57 people with signs of disk displacement and TMJ pain into three groups according to the type of splint: bilateral balanced, canine guidance and nonoccluding. The authors followed the groups for six months using analysis of a visual analog scale (VAS), palpation of the TMJ and masticatory muscles, mandibular movements and joint sounds. They used repeated analysis of variance and a chi(2) test to test the hypothesis. RESULTS: The type of guidance used did not influence the pain reduction, yet both occlusal splints were superior to the nonoccluding splint, on the basis of the VAS. Despite similar outcomes in relation to opening, left lateral and protrusive movements, TMJ and muscle pain on palpation, subjects who used the occlusal splints had improved clinical outcomes. The frequency of joint noises decreased over time, with no significant differences among groups. Subjects in the groups using the occlusal splints reported more comfort. CONCLUSION: The type of lateral guidance did not influence the subjects' improvement. All of the subjects had a general improvement on the VAS, though subjects in the occlusal splint groups had better results that did subjects in the nonoccluding splint group.     

Comparison of treatment efficacy between hyaluronic acid and arthrocentesis plus hyaluronic acid in internal derangements of temporomandibular joint

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid (HA) injection and arthrocentesis plus HA injection for treating disc displacement with reduction (DDwR) and disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR). In this randomized clinical trial, patients were divided into 2 main groups: group I (DDwR) and group II (DDwoR). Sub-groups were made depending on allocated treatment: group Ia (arthrocentesis plus HA), group Ib (single HA), group Ic (control), group IIa (arthrocentesis plus HA), group IIb (single HA), and group IIc (control). The primary outcome variable was maximum pain on chewing, while maximum pain at rest, maximum non-assisted and assisted mouth opening, chewing efficiency, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds, quality of life, treatment tolerability, and treatment effectiveness were secondary outcomes. The influences of individual study variables (gender, involved side, and duration of symptoms) on clinical outcomes were also examined. The study consisted of 116 TMJs of 90 patients (n = 45 in both main groups, TMJs = 58) aged 15–82 years. At the 6-month follow-up, improvement in all parameters, except for TMJ sounds, was recorded in all treatment groups, with no improvements in control groups. Notably, arthrocentesis plus HA showed superior improvement in chewing efficiency (p = 0.041) and quality of life (p = 0.047) of group I and quality of life (p = 0.004) in group II, compared to single HA. Furthermore, the duration of symptoms correlated with clinical outcomes. Both procedures successfully improved the symptoms of DDwR and DDwoR patients, but arthrocentesis plus HA injection seemed superior.     

Nearthrosis in true long-standing temporomandibular joint dislocation; a report on pathogenesis and clinical features with review of literature

The behavior and function of the condyle are not the same in every type of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation. Acute displacement or dislocation of the condyle is not a rare incident, and the treatment modalities have been well known by physicians for a long time. Chronic dislocation of the condyle is considered a relatively common entity for which treatment may indispensably be surgical intervention. Type of dislocation, duration and the number of episodes are taken into account while constructing the treatment plan.Chronic dislocation that has been left untreated for a long time is a relatively less often encountered type exhibiting difficult clinical conditions for treatment. This type of dislocation is usually seen in elderly patients with poor general health conditions and can be classified as “long-standing dislocation.” In this clinical condition, after having some chronic dislocation episodes, the condyle leaves the original fossa, sits in the anterior part of the eminence permanently, creates a new fossa and never gets back to the original place again. Duration is the most important criterion in classifying long-standing dislocations and has a great effect on decisions regarding the type of management. The relevant literature includes few reports, most of which speculate upon “duration,” which varies on a large scale ranging from 5 weeks to 33 years. There has been neither an agreement on time span within which long-standing dislocation develops, nor a universally accepted definition for what “long-standing” is indeed meant to be. On the other hand, in some cases, the condition has been named “true long-standing dislocation” due to some permanent pathological changes that the TMJ undergoes, such as pseudoarticulation/nearthrosis/false joint/neo-joint.In this paper, management of true long-standing/permanent dislocation in two patients, whose conditions lasted more than 1 year and resulted in permanent changes in TMJ anatomy, is presented. Due to the poor general health condition of the two elderly patients, they were treated in the most conservative way possible. In one of the patients, eminectomy and head-gear application were used to attain gradual relocation of the condyles. Rehabilitation of masticatory function of the other patient was improved prosthetically.     

Increased risk of temporomandibular joint disorders and craniofacial deformities in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a population-based cohort study

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an autoimmune disease that has been proposed to involve the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The aim of this study was to identify the relationships between JIA, TMJ disorders, and craniofacial deformities. This cohort study included patients diagnosed with clinically active JIA between 1999 and 2013 through a nationwide longitudinal health registry. The primary outcome was the presence of a TMJ disorder. The secondary outcome was the presence of a JIA-associated craniofacial deformity. A total of 2791 patients with JIA were included in the case group; 11,164 propensity score-matched individuals without JIA were selected from the same database as controls. TMJ disorders were present in 142 individuals: 48 (1.72%) in the case group and 94 (0.84%) in the control group (relative risk 2.047, 95% confidence interval 1.446–2.898). Craniofacial deformities were present in 374 individuals: 112 (4.01%) in the case group and 262 (2.35%) in the control group (relative risk 1.722, 95% confidence interval 1.380–2.148). Patients with JIA showed a significantly greater likelihood of developing TMJ disorders and craniofacial deformities compared to matched controls.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint with glenoid fossa erosion: Disk preservation for spontaneous anatomical recovery

Synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the temporomandibular joint is a pseudoneoplastic condition characterized by benign cartilaginous metaplasia of synovial tissue mesenchymal residues with intra-articular nodule formation. TMJ involvement is rare. Interposition of loose bodies in the articular space can generate pressure, leading to glenoid fossa erosion with intracranial extension.The aim of this study was to present six SC cases with intracranial extension treated using a surgical procedure.All the patients were treated with open surgery. The superior compartment of the TMJ was opened widely to carefully remove the metaplasic mass. Temporal synovectomy was then performed. Attention was paid to preserving the integrity of the articular disc. The exposed dura mater was also preserved. No material was used to reconstruct the gap in the glenoid fossa.A 1-year follow-up showed no swelling or pain. Patients demonstrated good recovery of mouth opening, with improvement over previous mouth limitations. Morphological studies, performed using MRI and CT, showed complete anatomical recovery of the TMJ and total bone reconstruction of the glenoid fossa.Simple removal of intra-articular nodules, with TMJ arthroplasty and articular disk preservation, represents an efficient treatment option for full anatomical and functional recovery in synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint with glenoid fossa erosion of less than 1 cm².     

Differential regulation of blood vessel formation between traumatic temporomandibular joint fibrous ankylosis and bony ankylosis in a sheep model

ObjectivesClinical and experimental studies show that the etiology of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) fibrous ankylosis and bony ankylosis are associated with the severity of trauma. However, how the injury severity affects the tissue differentiation is not clear. We tested the hypothesis that angiogenesis affects the outcomes of TMJ trauma, and that enhanced neovascularization after severe TMJ trauma would promote the development of bony ankylosis.MethodsBilateral condylar sagittal fracture and discectomy were performed for each sheep, with the glenoid fossa receiving either severe trauma to induce bony ankylosis or minor trauma to induce fibrous ankylosis. At days 7, 14, 28, and 56 after surgery, total RNA was extracted from the ankylosed callus. Temporal gene expressions of several molecules functionally important for blood vessel formation were studied by real-time PCR.ResultsHistological examination revealed a prolonged hematoma phase and a lack of cartilage formation in fibrous ankylosis. mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGFR2, SDF1, Ang1, Tie2, vWF, CYR61, FGF2, TIMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 were distinctly lower in fibrous ankylosis compared with bony ankylosis at several time points.ConclusionsOur study indicates that inhibition of angiogenesis after TMJ trauma might be a promising strategy for preventing bony ankylosis in the future.     

Protocol for the management of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a severely deforming, disabling condition as a result of craniomandibular fusion caused mainly by condylar fractures with displacement of the meniscus. Ankylosis may be fibrous, fibro-osseous, or bony, and unilateral or bilateral. The severity of the deformity is based on the onset, duration, and type of ankylosis. Various surgical techniques have been described for treatment, but no single treatment is recommended because of inconsistent results and the high rate of failure. While our total experience extends to 300 cases, we have developed a protocol using the most recent 193 patients to address our earlier high failure rate. The onset was during childhood in 168 patients, and 25 were adults. We describe the protocol that we developed for these two groups. Our management included gap arthroplasty, costochondral grafting, temporalis flaps, ramus osteotomies, and transport distraction.     

Efficacy of mandibular manipulation technique for temporomandibular disorders patients with mouth opening limitation: a randomized controlled trial for comparison with improved multimodal therapy

Purpose

Manual therapy has been used for the treatment of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with mouth-opening limitations. However, the curative effect of manipulation differs among researchers, and its necessity remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to confirm the efficacy of manipulation using a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

The impact of arthrocentesis with and without hyaluronic acid injection in the prognosis and synovial fluid myeloperoxidase levels of patients with painful symptomatic internal derangement of temporomandibular joint: a randomised controlled clinical trial

We aimed to assess the relationship between myeloperoxidase (MPO) and internal derangement (ID) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and effects of arthrocentesis procedure, either alone or in combination with hyaluronic acid (HA) injection on the prognosis of ID of TMJ. A prospective randomised controlled trial has been conducted through patients, who underwent arthrocentesis for the treatment of ID of TMJ, were randomly divided into two groups. Group SS (n = 10) and Group HA (n = 14) patients were assigned 0·9% NaCl solution and sodium hyaluronate intra‐articularly, respectively. Synovial fluid samples were assayed for MPO at the time of arthrocentesis and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and maximum mouth opening (MMO) scores were recorded at pre‐ and post‐operative periods as well as first‐week, first‐month and third‐month intervals. There was a statistically significant decrease in MPO levels between the first to second arthrocenteses only in Group 2 (P = 0·001). Both VAS scores and MMO measurements decreased in the course of time following arthrocentesis and do not differ between the patients administered HA or SS. Similarly MPO levels do not change significantly between the two groups at either first or second arthrocenteses. In HA group, MPO levels significantly decreased from first to second sessions. In HA group, MPO levels decreased significantly only in patients with clinical success. Arthrocentesis procedure improves both pain VAS and MMO scores in the course of time, but these parameters do not differ between patients receiving either HA or SS. HA significantly reduces levels of MPO in synovial fluid, but SS does not. HA appears to alleviate inflammation inside the TMJ in patients with TMJ‐ID.     

Surgical strategy for long-standing dislocation of the temporomandibular joint: experience with 16 medically compromised patients

We evaluated the surgical outcomes in 16 patients with long-standing dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ): eight men and eight women, mean (range) age 72 (21-94) years. They all had multiple underlying diseases, either dementia or a mental disorder, and the joint had been dislocated for four weeks or longer. Manual reduction had been ineffective. They were operated on after assessments by the Department of Geriatric Medicine. The procedures were successful in 14 of the 16 patients: eminectomy (n = 5), eminectomy and discectomy or condylectomy (n = 2), eminectomy, discectomy, and condylectomy (n = 3), release of the lateral pterygoid muscle (n = 3), and curettage of a fibrotic scar in the mandibular fossa (n = 1). Reduction was “easy” (n = 4), “moderately difficult” (n = 3), or “very difficult” (n = 9). Complete reduction could not be achieved for two of the “very difficult” patients. After reduction, three patients had the mandibular condyle tethered to the mandibular fossa. Operation was successful in 12 of the 16 patients. Two patients died, one of cardiopulmonary arrest, and one of chronic pulmonary insufficiency, while reduction was incomplete in two. There were no recurrences. The difficulty of reducing the joint in most of our patients suggests that detailed preoperative surgical planning is essential, patients at risk should be carefully selected, and indications for techniques to prevent recurrence should be carefully evaluated.     

Everolimus-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw in the absence of bisphosphonates: a case report

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare, but severe, condition that has traditionally been associated with the use of bisphosphonates. We report what is, to our knowledge, the first case of ONJ secondary to the use of everolimus, in the absence of treatment with bisphosphonates in a 65-year-old man who was given it for immunosuppression after a renal transplant. After 18 months of treatment, he was diagnosed with severe ONJ and underwent radical debridement of the palate and complete dental clearance of the maxilla.     

An assessment of the usefulness of jaw kinesiography in monitoring temporomandibular disorders: Correlation of treatment-related kinesiographic and pain changes in patients receiving temporomandibular joint injections

BackgroundThe authors conducted a study in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis to assess whether treatment-related changes in pain levels and chewing ability coincide with a change in jaw kinesiographic (KG) parameters.MethodsThe authors selected 34 patients with a diagnosis of TMJ osteoarthritis that met Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) to undergo a cycle of five weekly arthrocentesis procedures with injections of 1 milliliter hyaluronic acid. They performed a permutation test to assess the correlation between changes across time (from baseline to end of treatment) in two clinical outcome parameters—pain level and chewing ability—and changes across time in the KG outcome parameters.ResultsThe authors observed improvement across time in both chewing ability (F = 8.328; P = .005) and pain level (F = 10.903; P = .002). The authors observed no significant changes in any KG variables. With minor exceptions, no significant correlations were shown between changes in the clinical and KG parameters during the treatment period.ConclusionsTreatment-related changes in pain levels and chewing ability in patients with TMJ osteoarthritis do not coincide with changes in KG parameters.Practical ImplicationsIf one assumes pain variables to be the primary outcome measures in assessing treatment of TMJ osteoarthritis, KG recordings of the jaw are not useful for monitoring TMJ osteoarthritis in the clinical setting.     

The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in patients with late whiplash syndrome who experience orofacial pain: A case-control series study

BackgroundThe authors conducted a study to compare the frequency of specific temporomandibular disorder (TMD) diagnoses in patients who had late whiplash syndrome (LWS) with that in a control group.MethodsThe authors recruited 65 patients who had orofacial pain and a previous diagnosis of LWS and 65 age- and sex-matched control patients who had chronic orofacial pain without a history of whiplash injury (WI) for a case-control series study. All patients completed a questionnaire pertaining to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and underwent a clinical examination.ResultsThe authors compared the frequency of TMD diagnoses in case patients with that in control patients by using a χ² test; they set the α level a priori at .05. The number of patients diagnosed with myofascial pain (MP) and disk displacement with reduction (DDWR) was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (P = .002 and P = .001, respectively).ConclusionsThe results of this study show a higher frequency of MP and DDWR in patients with LWS than in patients with chronic orofacial pain and no history of WI.Practical ImplicationsClinicians should be knowledgeable about the correlation between WI and TMD so they can inform and treat patients accurately.     

A randomized controlled clinical trial comparing guided with nonguided implant placement: A 3-year follow-up of implant-centered outcomes

Statement of problemImplant-based prosthetic solutions can be time consuming. If implants can be placed successfully with a guide, surgery time can be reduced.PurposeThe purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to assess implant outcomes, both clinical and radiological, comparing guided with nonguided implant placement after 3 years of follow-up.Material and methodsA total of 314 implants were placed in 72 jaws (60 participants). The jaws were randomly assigned to 1 of the 6 treatment groups: Materialise Universal/mucosa (Mat Mu), Materialise Universal/bone (Mat Bo), Facilitate/mucosa (Fac Mu), Facilitate/bone (Fac Bo), freehand navigation (Freehand), and a pilot-drill template (Templ). Radiographic and clinical parameters (bone loss, pocket probing depth, bleeding on probing, and plaque scores) were recorded at the time of implant placement, prosthesis installment (baseline), and 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year follow-up. Analysis was performed using a linear mixed model, and correction for simultaneous hypothesis was made according to Sidak (α=.05).ResultsThree participants left the study before the 3-year follow-up; hence, 302 implants in 69 jaws were included in this study. None of the implants failed. The mean marginal bone loss after the third year of loading was 0.7 ±1.3 mm for the guided surgery group and 0.5 ±0.6 mm for the control group. No significant intergroup or follow-up period differences were observed (P>.05). In the guided surgery groups, the mean number of surfaces with bleeding on probing and plaque at 3-year follow-up was 1.7 ±1.5 and 1.7 ±1.7, respectively; for the control groups, this was 1.6 ±1.4 and 1.6 ±1.6, respectively. The mean pocket probing depth was 3.0 ±1.3 mm for the guided group and 2.6 ±1.0 mm for the control group. No significant differences were found (P>.1).ConclusionsWithin the limitation of this study, no statistically significant differences could be found between the guided group and the control group at the 3-year follow-up.     

Distraction osteogenesis in the management of mandibular hypoplasia secondary to temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Long term follow up

PurposeThe aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term skeletal and soft-tissue stability after MDO with or without genioplasty, as well as the stability of the achieved maximum inter-incisal opening (MIO) in patients with mandibular hypoplasia secondary to TMJ ankylosis.Patients and methodsTwenty patients with mandibular hypoplasia secondary to TMJ ankylosis were managed by a two-stage surgical protocol, gap arthroplasty as the first stage, followed by MDO. The patients were analyzed for skeletal and soft-tissue stability as well as the maintenance of the achieved MIO. Lateral cephalograms were evaluated at four time intervals: pre-distraction (T1), after a consolidation period with or without genioplasty (T2), after one year following consolidation (T3), and at the longest follow-up (T4). Statistical analyses compared the skeletal and soft-tissue changes at different intervals in every group.ResultsAll the ankylosed joints except three were treated with gap arthroplasty without costochondral graft. The MIO was increased from 8.2 ± 2.1 mm preoperatively to 40.2 ± 1.7 mm postoperatively. After the consolidation period, MIO decreased to 23 ± 6.5 mm. The patients were instructed to restart active physiotherapy after removal of the distractors to regain the pre-distraction MIO, which was maintained during the short-term follow-up. The mean follow-up period was 8.5 ± 1.5 years. At the end of the follow-up, two patients showed recurrence of ankylosis. Cephalometric analysis revealed great improvements in the hard- and soft-tissue structures after MDO with or without genioplasty. Several significant long-term relapses could be observed in all groups; however, they did not reach their pre-operative values.ConclusionTMJ ankylosis leads to severe, multidirectional mandibular hypoplasia, which is significantly corrected with the MDO. The MDO provides a stable short-term improvement in the facial esthetics at the first postoperative year, but a significant relapse occurs during the long term follow-up. Nevertheless, a satisfied facial esthetic is maintained for up to seven to 12 years postoperatively. During the activation period, the MDO minimizes the gained MIO after release of ankylosis, but the MIO is successfully restored with physiotherapy.