Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthrosis and Temporomandibular Joint Hypermobility

ABSTRACT

For studying the relationship between condylar hypermobility of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and osteoarthrosis (OA), 13 patients with bilateral condylar hypermobility were evaluated clinically and radiographically, 30 years after non-surgical treatment. The evaluation included range of motion, joint and muscle tenderness to palpation, joint sounds and masticatory function. Radiographs of the TMJs were evaluated for the absence or presence of degenerative changes. The hypermobile group (HG) was compared with a control group (CG) (n= 13). The CG was evaluated in the same way as the HG. Statistics included t-tests (to compare ranges of motion in the HG over time and to compare ranges of motion in HG and CG), non-parametric tests (to compare tenderness of muscles and joints, joint sounds, masticatory function and radiographic changes over time in the HG). The tests were also used to compare the same variables between the HG and CG group. The groups' only difference was the presence of radiographic signs of OA. In the HG the number of joints with radiographic degenerative changes increased significantly over time and was significantly higher than the CG. Clinically and functionally, the HG and CG did not differ. Therefore, it is concluded that TMJ hypermobility is a subsidiary factor in the development of TMJ OA.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pieter U. Dijkstra

Pieter U. Dijkstra is a research associate in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Groningen. He qualified as physical therapist in 1978 and as a manual therapist in 1987. He presented national and international lectures on physical therapy related to temporomandibular joint problems.

Lambert G.M. de Bont

Dr. Lambert G.M. de Bont qualified as an oral surgeon in 1980 after his training in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Groningen. He completed his Ph.D. thesis on temporomandibular (TMJ) articular cartilage structure and function in 1985. As an associate professor, Dr. de Bont is involved in several research projects on the human TMJ. As a clinician, he is head of the TMJ and Pain Clinic in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Groningen. He is especially involved in TMJ arthroscopic and TMJ open joint surgery.

Reny de Leeuw

Dr. Reny de Leeuw received her D.D.S. degree from the University of Groningen Dental School in The Netherlands. She has been a research associate in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Groningen since 1988. She is involved in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) research and one of her manuscripts on TMJ osteoarthrosis was recently published.

Boudewijn Stegenga

Dr. Boudewijn Stegenga received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Groningen Dental School in The Netherlands. Since 1985, he has been involved in several research projects of the Orofacial Research Group at the University of Groningen specializing in diagnostics and therapeutic assessment relating to temporomandibular disorders. He completed his Ph.D. on this subject in 1991. Dr. Stegenga works at the TMJ and Pain Clinic in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Groningen.

Geert Boering

Dr. Geert Boering received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Groningen in 1954. He started his training in oral surgery at the Military Hospital in Utrecht and completed his training in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Groningen in 1958. Dr Boering received his Ph.D. degree in 1966 with a thesis entitled “Temporomandibular joint arthrosis. An analysis of 400 cases.” In the same year, he was appointed professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospital in Groningen. Dr Boering has written six textbooks and numerous articles in international journals. His special fields of interest are temporomandibular joint disorders and chronic facial pain syndromes.