Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthrosis and Internal Derangement 30 Years After Non-Surgical Treatment

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the long-term condition of temporomandibular joints (TMJs) affected by osteoarthrosis and internal derangement, 99 patients treated non-surgically between 1958 and 1962 were recalled for follow-up. The patients, 16 men and 83 women (mean age 58.2 years) with either reducing or permanent disk displacement, were submitted to a structured interview concerning previous treatment, masticatory function, and the presence of symptoms of osteoarthrosis and internal derangement of the masticatory system, and of complaints of the musculoskeletal system in general. A control group, consisting of eight men and 27 women (mean age 58.9 years) without complaints of the masticatory system, matching the patient group for sex, age and state of dentition, was included in the study to avoid simply documenting age-related joint conditions. Satisfaction with the treatment outcome was high. Chewing ability of the patients did not differ from that of the controls, although patients more often expected pain and difficulty with opening the mouth wide. The main TMJ symptoms of the patients had decreased significantly; patients reported joint noises more often than controls. It is concluded that, despite some persisting symptoms, the non-surgical treatment approach of TMJ osteoarthrosis and internal derangement provides long-lasting satisfactory subjective results and is well-accepted by the patients.

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Notes on contributors

Reny de Leeuw

Dr. Reny de Leeuw received her D.D.S. degree from the University of Groningen in 1988. Since then, she has been involved as a research associate in several projects concerning the temporomandibular joint. Her main topics are the long term development and the natural course of TMJ osteoarthrosis and internal derangement. She works at the TMJ and Pain Clinic in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital 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 in the Department of the Military Hospital in Utrecht and completed his training in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Groningen in 1958. Dr. Boering received his Ph.D. in 1966. In the same year, he was appointed as professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Groningen.

Boudewijn Stegenga

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

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, University Hospital Groningen. He received his Ph.D. in 1985. As an associate professor, he 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, University Hospital Groningen.