• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 1984

For the study of the temporomandibular joint in rheumatoid arthritis 30 patients were selected who were diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis through the clinical, radiographic examination and laboratory findings. Temporomandibular joint involvement was evaluated through the clinical, radiographic examination. The results were as follows; 1. TMJ was involved in 15 patients of 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. (50% involvement). 2. Duration of rheumatoid arthritis was more longer in patients with TMJ involvement than in patients without TMJ involvement. 3. Osseous changes in TMJ were in order of frequency erosion, flattening, osteophyte, sclerosis, deformity, and most common involved site was mandibular condyle. 4. Most common positional change of condyle was forward position in centric occlusion, and restricted movement of condyle in 1inch mouth opening. 5. TMJ involvement of rheumatoid arthritis was almost bilateral. 6. Main symptoms of TMJ were pain, stiffness, tenderness, limitation of mouth opening, crepitation 7. There was not the case of ankylosis. 8. There was statistically insignificant correlation between mandibular deviation and TMJ involvement, but some cases showed severe deviation on mouth opening.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.511-517
• /
• 1995

Bone scan is a very sensitive diagnostic imaging test for detecting bone and joint disorders. So it might be useful in the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders of the joint origin. Thus, the effectiveness of bone scan for detecting temporomandibular joint(TMJ) diseases and differentiating the TMJ disc displacement from the TMJ arthritis was evaluated. Bone scan was done in 21 patients with TMJ disc displacement(13 unilaterally affected, 8 bilaterally affected), 25 patients with TMJ arthritis(23 unilateral, 3 bilateral), and 39 volunteers with no signs, symtoms, or history of TMJ disease. TMJ simple uptake rate(SUR) and difference of both TMJ SUR were calculated from the 100,000 count lateral image of head and neck region in 99mTc MDP bone scan. Transcranial and panorama X-ray examination was also done in all patients. TMJ SUR(%) were $1.673{\pm}0.606$ in TMJs affected with arthritis, $1350{\pm}0.351$ in TMJs affected with disc displacement, and $1.084{\pm}0.172$ in TMJs of controls. Significant differences were demonstrated among them(p<0.01) Difference of bith TMJ SUR was highest in patients with unilateral TMJ arthritis($0.608{\pm}$0.533, p<001), and there is no significant difference between that of controls and that of unilateral TMJ dist displacement patients($0.062{\pm}0.063$ vs $0.122{\pm}0.100$). TMJ SUR of Joint with bone change on X-ray finding was not significantly different from that of joint with normal X-ray finding. Those in patients with unilateral TMJ disc displacement(696% and 87% vs 23.1% and 23%). The proportions of patients with increased TMJ SUR and difference of both TMJ SUR(>mean+2SD of controls) in unilateral TMJ arthritis patients were significantly higher than those in patients with unilateral TMJ disc displacement(69.6% and 87% vs 23.1% and 23%). Conclusively, bone scan nay help to detect TMJ disease and differentiate TMJ disc displacement from TMJ arthritis.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate osseous changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to correlate the imaging findings with the severity of TMJ dysfunction, clinical findings, and laboratory findings. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 28 subjects, including 14 RA patients and 14 controls, who were scheduled to undergo CBCT imaging for the diagnosis of a complaint not related to or affecting the TMJ. The Fonseca's questionnaire was used to assess the severity of TMJ dysfunction. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were assessed in the RA patients. CBCT was then performed in all subjects and osseous TMJ abnormalities were assessed. Results: According to the Fonseca's questionnaire, 14.3% of the patients had no TMJ dysfunction, while 50%, 21.4%, and 14.3% had mild, moderate, and severe dysfunction, respectively. RF was positive in 64.3% of patients, and the ESR level was high in 100%. Imaging findings revealed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of erosion (85.7%), flattening (89.3%), osteophyte formation (32.1%), subchondral cyst (32.1%), sclerosis (64.3%), and condylar irregularities (28.6%) in the RA patients than in the controls. No correlations were found between CBCT findings and the clinical findings, the severity of TMJ dysfunction, disease duration, or laboratory results. Conclusion: RA patients might show extensive osseous abnormalities with no/mild clinical signs or symptoms of TMJ dysfunction that necessitate TMJ imaging for these patients. CBCT is a valuable and efficient modality that can assess osseous TMJ changes in RA patients.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 2019

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an uncommon disease caused by microbial pathogens through hematogenous infection, local spread, or iatrogenic infection. As the symptoms have an insidious onset, the early stage of septic arthritis is often confused with other diseases. A 49-year-old man was referred for increasing preauricular pain, swelling, and restricted mouth opening. He had been initially diagnosed as having a conventional temporomandibular joint disorder and trigeminal neuralgia and had been treated for the same. Imaging studies including panoramic view, lateral tomography, computed tomography with contrast enhancement, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Erosive bone change with displacement of the involved condyle, diffuse swelling of adjacent soft tissue, and fluid collection in the joint space were noted. Needle aspiration of the joint space and bacterial culture confirmed the diagnosis of septic arthritis of the TMJ and he was treated with antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage. Clinicians should always consider the diagnosis of septic arthritis of the TMJ in patients with preauricular pain or swelling.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2021

As for temporomandibular joint arthritis (TMJ OA), managing the contributing factors at an early stage through accurate diagnosis is necessary to prevent irreversible bone changes. TMJ OA, which is a multi-organ disease caused by various pathophysiological mechanisms, is developed mainly due to mechanical overload. It is a disease characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage and subchondral bone as a low-level inflammatory arthritis condition developed by dysregulation of catabolic and anabolic activity of chondrocytes. Age, mechanical overload sensing of cartilage, chondrocyte apoptosis, catabolic enzymes, inflammatory factors, abnormal remodeling of subchondral bone, and estrogens may be involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation is needed to diagnose and manage progressive cartilage degeneration, subchondral bone remodeling, and associated symptoms of TMJ OA.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 2023

This report presents the case of a 14-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in both temporomandibular joints (TMJs), in whom a bone scan and laboratory tests were used to confirm the diagnosis. The patient visited the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at the affiliation hospital with a complaint of a 1-year history of bilateral TMJ pain and sound. Clinical examination revealed bilateral TMJ and masseter muscle pain during mouth opening and palpation. Radiological examination revealed no significant morphological changes in either TMJ. The patient was prescribed medications at the first visit to address the pain, inflammation, and stiffness. A bone scan and laboratory tests were planned/scheduled for differential diagnosis between simple arthralgia and osteoarthritis. The bone scan revealed increased radiotracer uptake in both TMJs. The laboratory tests revealed a RA factor of 82.4 IU/mL, which is more than four times the normal range. The final diagnoses were bilateral TMJ early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. We created a stabilization splint and referred the patient to the Department of Rheumatology for further evaluation of the ERA. After fitting of the stabilization splint and giving instructions regarding its use, the patient has been receiving monthly follow-up checks for symptoms and undergoes follow-up blood tests every 3 months. About 14 months after the initial visit, the pain had significantly decreased from a Visual Analog Scale score of 5 to 1, and the RA factor decreased to 66.6 IU/mL. A regular follow-up check will continue until the end of growth.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.227-230
• /
• 2016

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a rare disease. The most common symptoms of this disease are acute malocclusion, limited mouth opening, swelling, and tenderness of affected TMJ. These symptoms are often confused with internal derangement of the articular disc, rheumatoid arthritis, retrodiscitis, or osteoarthritis. Therefore, differential diagnosis by image examination is required. Usually, antimicrobial treatment and surgical drainage by needle aspiration, arthroscopy, or arthrotomy are effective treatment approaches. In this study, a patient who was diagnosed with septic arthritis was treated with arthrocentesis and antibiotics without significant complications. We present a case report with a review of the literature.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.231-236
• /
• 2006

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is an of autoimmune inflammatory systemic disease. It is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of synovial tissue and a wide array multisystem comorbidities. The disease may involve any joint of the body, but often statrs in the peripheral joints. It was reported that more than 50% of RA patients exhibit clinical involvement of TMJ. This report is a case report of dental management and progression for 16 months in patients who had severe bony change in TMJ involved rheumatoid arthritis Dental management was included palliative treatment such as interocclusal splints, physical therapy, mouth opening exercise. Although it was progressed rapidly osteolytic bone change during follow-up, no more advanced occulsal change and improved symptom and jaw motion. Further investigations about rule of dentistry in TMJ involvement in RA maybe needed.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.174-182
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Joint injuries frequently lead to progressive joint degeneration that causes articular disc derangement, joint inflammation, and osteoarthritis. Such arthropathies that arise after trauma are defined as post-traumatic arthritis (PTA). Although PTA is well recognized in knee and elbow joints, PTA in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has not been clearly defined. Interestingly, patients experiencing head and neck trauma without direct jaw fracture have displayed TMJ disease symptoms; however, definitive diagnosis and treatment options are not available. This study will analyze clinical aspects of PTA in TMJ and their treatment outcomes after joint arthrocentesis and lavage. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with history of trauma to the head and neck especially without jaw fracture were retrospectively studied. Those patients developed TMJ disease symptoms and were diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. To decrease TMJ discomfort, arthrocentesis and lavage with or without conservative therapy were applied, and efficacy was evaluated by amount of mouth opening and pain scale. Statistical differences between pre- and post-treatment values were evaluated by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Patient age varied widely between 20 and 80 years, and causes of trauma were diverse. Duration of disease onset was measured as 508 post-trauma days, and 85% of the patients sought clinic visit within 2 years after trauma. In addition, 85% of the patients showed TMJ disc derangement without reduction, and osteoarthritis was accompanied at the traumatized side or at both sides in 40% of the patients. After arthrocentesis or lavage, maximal mouth opening was significantly increased (28-44 mm on average, P<0.001) and pain scale was dramatically decreased (7.8-3.5 of 10, P<0.001); however, concomitant conservative therapy showed no difference in treatment outcome. Conclusion: The results of this study clarify the disease identity of PTA in TMJ and suggest early diagnosis and treatment options to manage PTA in TMJ.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 1997

Mandibular trauma is developed due to traffic accident, fall down, industrial injury, and others. TMJ disorder is usually also developed after facial traumatic injury. Many authors suggested that disc displacement or tearing, acute synovitis, TMJ ankylosis, traumatic arthritis, or effusion are developed after facial trauma. It is still very controversible what is the best treatment of TMJ injury such as condylar fracture and meniscal injury. In TMJ injury, synovial inflammation is developed and pain mediators such as prostaglandin E2 or leukotriene B4 are released from the synovial membrane. This can be a cause of TMJ disorder. I present a variety of experimental study about the condylar fracture and meniscal injury and enzyme-immunoassay of synovial fluid after mandibular trauma that have been studied since 1992 and establish the treatment criteria of traumatic TMJ injury. I think that the treatment option of condylar fracture depends upon the surgeon's criteria exclusively. There are no significant differences between conservative and surgical treatment. If the aggressive functional physical therapy and long-term followup be performed, the favorable functional recovery of TMJ can be obtained. And I think that the initial surgical management of meniscus of TMJ is unnecessary in condylar fracture. And also arthrocentesis can be available to release the patient's subjective symptoms and improve the healing of injured TMJ.