Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

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Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

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A 30-year-old man comes to the office to evaluate right ear pain for the past three months. The pain is constant, dull, and associated with recurrent right-sided jaw pain and headache. The pain worsens throughout the day and with chewing. He hears a “cracking sound” while eating. The patient’s partner says that he grinds his teeth at night. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows limited jaw opening and muscle spasms over the lateral right face. Otoscopic examination is within normal limits. Which of the following nerves contributes to this patient’s ear pain?  

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Temporomandibular disorders are a group of disorders that all involve the temporomandibular joint, which is located between the temporal bone of the skull and mandible, or jawbone; as well as the muscles and associated structures that are involved in chewing and speech.

Normally, between the temporal bone and the mandible is a synovial cavity, which is wrapped in fibrocartilage and filled with synovial fluid, which is a protein rich fluid that reduces friction between the sliding bones.

The synovial cavity is divided into an upper and lower compartment by an articular disc within the synovial fluid.

The lower compartment is bound, inferiorly, by the condylar head of the mandible.

The lower compartment allows the mandible to rotate, which lets the mouth open and close.

The upper compartment is bound, superiorly, by two regions of the temporal bone: the mandibular fossa, in the middle and back, and articular tubercle, in the front.

Separating these two compartments is the articular disc.

The upper compartment allows the condylar head to move forward and rotate.

The movements of the temporomandibular joint are coordinated by numerous muscles, including: the temporalis, which is a fan-shaped muscle on both sides of the cranium; the masseter, which connects to the mandible and the zygomatic arch of the temporal bone; the medial pterygoid, which connects to the mandible and medial aspect of the lateral pterygoid plate; and the lateral pterygoid, found at the condylar process.

These muscles are innervated by branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Now, the causes of temporomandibular disorders can be categorized as intra-articular, within the joint, or extra-articular, involving the surrounding musculature.

Intra-articular causes, are called temporomandibular joint disorders, and they include things like abnormalities of the bones in the joint, inflammation in the joint from conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis; disorders of the articular disk; laxity of the fibrocartilage allowing for temporomandibular hyper or hypo-mobility; or trauma that might result in structural damage or bleeding inside the joint.

Summary

Temporomandibular disorders are a group of musculoskeletal disorders that result from dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint or masticatory muscles controlling the jaw. It is characterized by pain or discomfort in the jaw, face, and neck, as well as difficulty with chewing, talking, and even yawning.

Some of the causes of TMJ dysfunction include injury to the jaw, arthritis, or stress that causes clenching or grinding of the teeth. It can also result from a misaligned bite, or a structural problem with the jaw joint itself. Treatment of temporomandibular disorder depends on the underlying cause, but the initial goal is to help reduce pain and restore normal jaw function. Also, physical therapy involving jaw exercises can help with pain and range of motion.

Sources

  1. "Robbins Basic Pathology" Elsevier (2017)
  2. "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Twentieth Edition (Vol.1 & Vol.2)" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  3. "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine 8E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  4. "CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2019)
  5. "Diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders: indication of imaging exams" Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (2016)
  6. "Temporomandibular Disorders: “Occlusion” Matters!" Pain Research and Management (2018)
  7. "Functional disorders of the temporomandibular joints: Internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint" The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences (2018)
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