Fibromyalgia in patients with chronic CCD and CMD - A retrospective study of 555 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) and craniocervical dysfunction (CCD) are clearly defined musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Relationships with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have not yet been investigated. The aim of the present study is to establish possible relationships between FMS and CMD/ CCD. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 555 patients with CCD and CMD were investigated with respect to the diagnostic criteria of FMS. In addition to otolaryngologic and dental examination, an instrumental functional analysis for the diagnosis of CMD/CCD was performed. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-one (63%) of the 555 patients evaluated met the diagnostic criteria for FMS. Seventy-two percent of the patients had a widespread pain index of at least 7 and a severity scale score of at least 5. Twenty-nine percent had a widespread pain index of 3-6 and a severity scale score of at least 9. Using myocentric bite splint therapy and therapy with oral orthesis in combination with neuromuscular relaxation measures, a good to very good improvement of physical symptoms was seen in 84% of CMD-FMS patients, and an improvement of the symptoms in the jaw was achieved in 77% of cases. DISCUSSION: The substantial proportion of CMD and CCD patients who meet the criteria for FMS emphasizes the complexity of the two diseases. It must be assumed that FMS is a crucial factor for the formation of CMD and CCD. Conversely, CMD/ CCD could also be responsible for diverse clinical pictures of the FMS. FMS patients with synchronous CCD/CMD benefit from an interdisciplinary CMD/CCD treatment.

[Painful temporomandibular dysfunctions: diagnosis and -treatment]. / Pijnlijke temporomandibulaire disfuncties: diagnose en behandeling.

Painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD pain) are common among the general population. The most common sub diagnoses are myalgia (jaw-muscle pain) and arthralgia (temporomandibular joint pain). The aetiology of TMD pain has a multifactorial nature, and its diagnosis and possible treatment often require a multidisciplinary approach. The most recent insights in the diagnosis and treatment of TMD pain are based on the multidisciplinary guideline 'Chronic Orofacial Pain' that was developed by the Dutch Society of Headache Patients and was published in 2013. Dentists are required to follow the recommendations of this guideline. The authorisation of the guideline by the relevant academic and professional associations in the Netherlands implies that restraint is advised when adopting diagnostic procedures and treatment modalities that are not or are insufficiently based on solid evidence.

Automation and apps for clinical dental biomechanics.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research summary is to introduce the current and ongoing work using smartphone video, tracking markers to measure musculoskeletal disorders of cranial and mandibular origin, and the potential significance of the technology to doctors and therapists. METHOD: The MPA™ biomechanical measuring apps are in beta trials with various doctors and therapists. The technique requires substantial image processing and statistical analysis, best suited to server-side processing. A smartphone environment has enabled a virtual laboratory, which provides automated generation of graphics and in some cases automated interpretation. The system enables highly accurate real-time biomechanics studies using only a smartphone and tracking markers. RESULT: Despite the technical challenges in setting up and testing of the virtual environment and with interpretation of clinical relevance, the trials have enabled a demonstration of real-time biomechanics studies. The technology has prompted a lot of discussion about the relevance of rapid assessment tools in clinical practice. It seems that a prior bias against motion tracking and its relevance is very strong with occlusion related use cases, yet there has been a general agreement about the use case for cranial movement tracking in managing complex issues related to the head, neck, and TMJ. DISCUSSION: Measurement of cranial and mandibular functions using a smartphone video as the input have been investigated. Ongoing research will depend upon doctors and therapists to provide feedback as to which uses are considered clinically relevant.

[Craniomandibular disorder/dysfunction. Characteristics and disorders of the masticatory organ]. / Craniomandibularis diszfunkció. A rágószerv sajátosságai és muködési zavarai.

The practising physician often meets patients with pain located in different parts of the face and facial skull, mouth opening restriction or other motion disorder of the mandible. It is not always easy to identify and explain the cause. It is not widely known among doctors that most of these problems are due to masticatory dysfunction. There is a special group of patients showing functional disorders and there are some others who present a variety of different symptoms and visit several doctors. The masticatory organ, a functional unit of the human organism has a definite and separate task and function. In the early years of life it is capable of adaptation, while later on it tends to compensation. The authors outline the functional anatomy of the masticatory organ and the characteristics of multicausal pathology, the dynamics of the process of the disease and their interdisciplinary aspects. They discuss the basic elements of craniomandibular dysfunction. Based on the diagnostic algorithm, they summarize treatment options for masticatory function disorders. They emphasize the importance that physicians should offer treatment, especially an irreversible treatment, without a diagnosis. It occurs very often that the causes are identified after the patients become symptom-free due to treatment. The aim of this report is to help the general practitioners, dentists, neurologists, ear-nose-throat specialists, rheumatologists or any other specialists in the everyday practice who have patients with different symptoms such as pain in the skull, acoustic phenomenon of the joint or craniomandibular dysfunction.

Hiperplasia do processo coronoide: relato de caso clínico / Mandibular coronoid process hyperplasia: case report

A hiperplasia do processo coronoide mandibular (HPCM) é uma condição rara, caracterizada pela limitação de abertura de boca. Causada pela impactação do processo coronoide na porção posterior do osso zigomático. Os autores apresentam um caso de uma criança de dois anos de idade em que a coronoidectomia por ser inviável, estimulou a busca por novos recursos terapêuticos para o tratamento e controle da condição. Sendo a coronoidectomia o tratamento de eleição sugerido pela literatura e não passível de realização, optou-se pela fisioterapia. Mediante uma revisão de literatura, foi possível concluir que os recursos fisioterápicos utilizados para as disfunções crâniomandibulares podem ser de grande ajuda para o controle da HPCM, tendo em vista que o principal sintoma da doença corresponde a um dos sintomas das DTMs...

The mandibular coronoid process hyperplasia (MCPH) is a rare condition characterized by the mouth opening limitation. Caused by an impaction of the coronoid process in the posterior portion of the zygomatic bone. The authors present a case of a child, 2 years old, which coronoidectomy treatment is unfeasible, therefore, stimulated the search for new therapeutic resources for the treatment and control the condition. Being the coronoidectomy the treatment of choice suggested by the literature and not possible to apply, we opted for the physiotherapy. Through a literature review, it was concluded that the physiotherapy resources used for craniomandibular dysfunctions can be a great help to control the MCPH, given that the main symptom of the disease corresponds to one of the symptoms of TMD...

Three-dimensional analysis of the cranio-cervico-mandibular complex during piano performance.

Piano players, as well as other musicians, spend a long time training to achieve the best results, sometimes adopting unnatural body positions that may cause musculoskeletal pain. This paper presents the preliminary results of a study targeting the analysis of the head and cervical postures of 17 piano players during musical performance. It was found, as a common feature, that the players tilt the head to the right and forward towards the score and keyboard. Players who know the score by heart tend to move their heads more compared to the ones who have to keep their eyes on the score.

[A pediatric case of hydatid cyst in the infratemporal fossa]. / Kyste hydatique de la fosse infratemporale chez un enfant.

INTRODUCTION: Hydatid cyst or disease is an anthropozoonosis due to the development of the larval form of the taenia Echinococcus granulosus in humans. It is endemic in Morocco. The location of a hydatid cyst in the infratemporal fossa (ITF) is extremely rare. The authors report a pediatric case. OBSERVATION: An 11 year old child was admitted to hospital with a history of left latero-facial swelling gradually increasing in volume for 2 months, CT scan of the face revealed a cystic formation of 7 cm diameter sitting at the left ITF, hydatid serology was negative. A transzygomatic approach allowed the excision of the cyst. The histopathological examination of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. DISCUSSION: The location at the infratemporal fossa of an expansive process such as hydatid cyst in children may have a particular impact on adjacent structures and a more meaningful clinical expression. The rate of growth of hydatid cysts is highly variable and ranges from 1 to 5 cm a year. Hydatid serology is often negative. CT examination is the gold-standard radiological examination. Surgical removal of the hydatid cyst is the most effective treatment. The transzygomatic approach allowed a sufficient access to the cyst and a good quality of excision.

Symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction in professional orchestra musicians.

BACKGROUND: Up to 80% of professional musicians are affected by playing-related musculoskeletal disorders, but data regarding the frequency of craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) in professional orchestra musicians is scarce. AIMS: To evaluate the frequency of CMD and its relation to musculoskeletal pain in various body regions. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey approach assessing CMD symptoms and musculoskeletal pain in professional orchestra players was adopted. Relative prevalence rates and prevalence ratios for different instrument groups were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 408 musicians completed the questionnaire (response rate 57%). Playing-related pain in the teeth or jaw was reported by 19-47% of musicians and TMJ pain by 15-34%, depending on the instrument group. Current pain in the face indicating a painful CMD was reported in 6-10% and related symptoms such as teeth grinding in 25-34%, jaw clenching in 33-42% and jaw locking in 11-18% of musicians. Females were 2.4 times (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.49-3.84) more likely to report having had orofacial pain within the last month. Musicians reporting orofacial pain within the last month were 4.8 times (95% CI: 2.83-8.02) more likely to report pain in the neck and 2.5-3.8 times (P < 0.05) more likely to report pain in other body regions, including shoulders, right wrist, left fingers and the thoracic and lumbar spine. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms suggesting CMD were common in this study of professional orchestra musicians and were associated with pain in the neck, shoulder and hands. There is a need to enhance awareness of CMD to optimize early medical diagnosis and treatment.

[Quantitative Sensory Testing in the facial area: a review]. / Quantitative Sensorische Testung im Gesichtsbereich - eine Übersicht.

Quantitative Sensory Testing is an established method to evaluate somatosensory function. In the facial area, the procedures depend on the localisation of disorders and the modalities of interest. The test stimuli are of thermal or mechanical nature (touch, pain, vibration, or pressure stimuli). According to the protocol of the German Neuropathic Pain Network, comprehensive information on the function of afferent nerves can be generated in the facial area as well. Standard values have been obtained for the cheek and intraoral mucosa. For various orofacial pain conditions, studies concerning the somatosensory function are available. Changed functional patterns are not limited to neuropathic pain, but also occur in other orofacial pain conditions, indicating, for example, central sensitisation. The standardised collection of QST parameters may improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of orofacial pain and effect therapeutic approaches. Comprehensive studies may lead to the development of specific screenings that are feasible in a clinical setting.

A critical review of Dr. Charles S. Greene's article titled "Managing the Care of Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: a new Guideline for Care" and a revision of the American Association for Dental Research's 1996 policy statement on temporomandibular disorders, approved by the AADR Council in March 2010, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association September 2010.

Dr. Charles Greene's article, "Managing the Care of Patients with TMDs A New Guideline for Care," and the American Association for Dental Research's (AADR) 2010 Policy Statement on Temporomandibular Disorders, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) September 2010, are reviewed in detail. The concept that all temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) should be lumped into one policy statement for care is inappropriate. TMDs are a collection of disorders that are treated differently, and the concept that TMDs must only be managed within a biopsychosocial model of care is inappropriate. TMDs are usually a musculoskeletal orthopedic disorder, as defined by the AADR. TMD orthopedic care that is peer-reviewed and evidence-based is available and appropriate for some TMDs. Organized dentistry, including the American Dental Association, and mainstream texts on TMDs, support the use of orthopedics in the treatment of some TMDs. TMDs are not psychological or social disorders. Informed consent requires that alternative care is discussed with patients. Standard of care is a legal concept that is usually decided by a court of law and not decided by a policy statement, position paper, guidelines or parameters of care handed down by professional organizations. The 2010 AADR Policy Statement on TMD is not the standard of care in the United States. Whether a patient needs care for a TMD is not decided by a diagnostic test, but by whether the patient has significant pain, dysfunction and/or a negative change in quality of life from a TMD and they want care. Some TMDs need timely invasive and irreversible care.

Sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging and computed axiography in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders in a selected patient population.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity differences and interpretative agreement for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed axiography (CA) tracings in a patient population group with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A convenience sample of 173 patients (53 men, 120 women; mean age: 33.2 ± 2.6 years) diagnosed with TMD was selected for this study. Each patient underwent an evaluation as per the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders clinical form as well as MRI and CA. RESULTS: Use of the MRI results as the gold standard for the planned comparison led to the following observations: a CA sensitivity of 68% for joints without morphologic changes (so-called normal temporomandibular joints [TMJs]), sensitivity of 27% for those with disc displacement, and sensitivity of 8% for those with osteoarthritis. The kappa index, or agreement between the two examination methods, was weak for normal TMJs (0.16), acceptable for anterior disc displacement with reduction (0.28), little for anterior disc displacement without reduction (0.10), and very little for morphologic alterations (0.01). CONCLUSION: The sensitivity and agreement of the two examination methods was generally low. It was even worse when pathologic changes in the TMJ were more severe. MRI and CA are different examinations that could both be considered for severe TMD diagnosis.

Avaliação por ressonância magnética de articulações temporomandibulares com ou sem derrame de pacientes sintomáticos objetivando a posição e morfologias do disco articular e morfologia da eminência articular e da cabeça da mandíbula / Evaluation of TMJ internal derangement by magnetic resonance imaging: correlation of joints structures and conditions in symptomatic patients

As desordens temporomandibulares são consideradas multifatoriais e pesquisas apresentam relações vinculadas de alterações dos padrões ósseos das estruturas articulares, dos discos articulares e a ocorrência de derrames articulares relevantes na identificação das degenerações internas articulares por meio de imagens de ressonância magnética. O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar a morfologia e o posicionamento do disco articular, a morfologia da eminência articular, a morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula e a presença de derrame articular, além de suas possíveis correlações. Para isso, foram avaliadas imagens por ressonância magnética de 142 articulações de 71 pacientes sintomáticos. O disco articular foi classificado em normal, alongado e dobrado em sua forma, e normal, deslocamento anterior com redução, deslocamento anterior sem redução, deslocamento posterior, deslocamento lateral e deslocamento medial quanto ao seu deslocamento; a cabeça da mandíbula foi dividida em arredondada, convexa, achatada e angulada; e a eminência articular foi classificada em caixa, sigmoide, aplainada e deformada. Os resultados apontaram que as formas mais frequentes para disco e eminência articulares e cabeça da mandíbula foram, respectivamente, normal, caixa e achatada; o posicionamento do disco articular, tanto anterior quanto lateral apresentou-se predominantemente normal; o derrame articular esteve ausente na maioria das articulações.Em se tratando das correlações, a morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula e morfologia da eminência não guardam relação; a morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula não está associada à morfologia de disco articular nem ao deslocamento lateral do mesmo. Há relação apenas entre a morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula e o deslocamento anterior do disco articular, sendo que os grupos com cabeça da mandíbula convexa e arredondada apresentaram relação relevante com o deslocamento discal com redução; a morfologia da eminência articular não está associada aos posicionamentos anterior e lateral de disco articular. Observou-se relação apenas entre a morfologia da eminência articular e a morfologia do disco articular, sendo que no grupo de eminência articular em formato caixa houve predominância de disco em formato normal; a presença de derrame articular não se mostrou associada à morfologia da eminência articular. Entretanto, foi associada à morfologia do disco articular, com prevalência de discos alongados e dobrados; ao deslocamento anterior do disco articular, com predominância em casos de deslocamento sem redução, ao deslocamento lateral de disco articular, com maior frequência de deslocamento medial; e à morfologia da cabeça da mandíbula, sendo frequente em articulação com cabeça da mandíbula achatada; a morfologia do disco articular mostrou-se associada aos posicionamentos anterior e lateral do mesmo: verificaram-se com maior frequência discos na forma normal (bicôncava) em articulação normal, discos alongados em casos de deslocamento discal com redução e dobrados em casos de deslocamento discal sem redução. Quanto ao posicionamento lateral, o disco articular apresentou-se na forma bicôncava na maioria dos casos.

Temporomandibular disorders are considered to be multifactorial, and some studies present alterations of bony structures and articular disc, added to joint effusion as import features of internal derangements that may be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging exams. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology and location of the articular disc, the morphologies of articular eminence and condyle, and the presence of joint effusion, in addition to possible correlations. Thus, magnetic resonance images from 142 joints of 71 symptomatic patients were evaluated. The articular disc was classified into normal, elongated and folded, relative to its form, and normal, anterior disc displacement with reduction, anterior disc displacement without reduction, posterior displacement, lateral displacement and medial displacement, relative to its location. The condyle was classified into rounded, convex, flattened and angled and the articular eminence, box, sigmoid, plain and deformed. The results showed that the most prevalent morphologies of articular disc, articular eminence and condyle were, respectively, normal, box and flattened. The disc location was predominantly normal, and joint effusion was absent of the major of joints. In the case of the possible correlations, there were no relations between condyle morphology and articular eminence morphology, articular eminence morphology and anterior or lateral location of articular disc, presence joint effusion and articular eminence morphology and condyle morphology, articular disc morphology and lateral location. The condyle morphology was related only to the anterior location of the articular disc: the groups of convex and rounded condyle presented anterior disc displacement with reduction more frequently.

Correlation analysis of craniomandibular index and gothic arch tracing in patients with craniomandibular disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Complex etiology and symptomatology of craniomandibular dysfunction make the diagnosing and therapy of this disorder more difficult. The aim of this work was to assess the value of clinical and instrumental functional analyses in diagnosing of this type of disorders. METHODS: In this study 200 subjects were examined, 15 with temporomandibular joint disorder. They were subjected to clinical functional analysis (Fricton-Shiffman) and instrumental functional analysis by using the method of gothic arch. The parameters of the gothic arch records were analyzed and subsequently compared among the subjects of the observed groups. RESULTS: In the examined group of the population 7.5% of them were with craniomandibular dysfunction. The most frequent symptoms were sound in temporomandibular joint, painful sensitivity of the muscles on palpation and lateral turning of the lower jaw while opening the mouth. By analyzing the gothic arch records and comparing the obtained values between the observed groups it was assessed that: lateral and protrusion movements, lateral amplitude and the size of gothic arch were much bigger in the healthy subjects, and latero-lateral asymmetry was larger in the sick subjects. Latero-lateral dislocation of apex was recorded only in the sick subjects with average values of 0.22 +/- 0.130 mm. The correlation between the values of Fricton-Shiffman craniomandibular index and the parameters of the gothic arch records and latero-lateral amplitude and dislocation of apex records were established by correlative statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: Functional analysis of orofacial system and instrumental analysis of lower jaw movements (gothic arch method) can be recommended as precise and simple methods in diagnosing craniomandibular dysfunctions.

Craniomandibular osteopathy with a unique neurological manifestation in a young Akita.

This report describes a 4 mo old intact male Akita that presented for evaluation of a life-long history of facial swelling and failure to thrive. Physical examination revealed an enlarged cranium with prominent bony swellings on the maxillary bone, excessive laxity and crepitus involving multiple joints, and proprioceptive deficits. Radiographs demonstrated multiple osseous abnormalities including endosteal thickening of the femurs and ilium. Necropsy revealed gross compression of the cerebellum and brainstem. Physical exam findings, radiographic abnormalities, and histopathology of multiple bony lesions were all consistent with craniomandibular osteopathy. In this unique case of craniomandibular osteopathy, the dog was affected with severe bony proliferations leading to generalized hyperostotic lesions and brainstem compression resulting in neurologic deficits.

Reduction in jaw opening: a neglected symptom of giant cell arteritis.

Reduction in jaw opening is a neglected symptom of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in clinical practice and in the scientific literature. We describe the case of a 71-year-old woman with GCA who was misdiagnosed as occipital neuritis and craniomandibular dysfunction because of headaches in the occipital region and reduction in jaw opening. The reported case reminds us not to overlook reduction in jaw opening as a symptom to reveal GCA in elderly patients.

Provocation testing to assist craniomandibular pain diagnosis.

Patients with TMD often present with complex pain symptoms, which can make it difficult to reach a diagnosis. Usually palpation of the masticatory muscles and TM joints, range of motion testing and imaging are used in the diagnostic process. Sometimes it is necessary to evaluate the jaw moving muscles from a functional prospective because they cannot be palpated due to inaccessibility or because they have other structures that are more superficial to them. In these instances, provocation testing can be a helpful adjunct in providing some insight into what is occurring in the area being tested and localizing a suspected source of pain. Anesthesia blocking can be used to confirm any positive findings. This article explores several provocation tests that can be used to evaluate conditions of the masticatory musculature, the TM joints and the stylomandibular ligament.

[An abbreviated version of RDC/TMD]. / Eine Kurzversion der RDC/TMD.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to develop a short diagnostic test for pain-related craniomandibular disorders (CMD) based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Participants included 1,177 CMD patients and 896 general population subjects who were examined according to the RDC/TMD. This new diagnostic short test consisted of a combination of the least amount of RDC/TMD items that distinguished between patients and subjects with a sensitivity of > or =70% and a specificity of > or =90%. The diagnostic test items were selected from all available RDC/TMD items using best subset logistic regression. RESULTS: The question about the presence of facial pain achieved a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 95%. The lower limits of the confidence interval for test accuracy measures exceeded the postulated thresholds specified for test development. Assuming a CMD pain prevalence of 10% in the general population this short test resulted in a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of >99%. CONCLUSION: A single question about facial pain is a strong predictor for a pain-related CMD disorder and could provide an effective CMD short test.