TEMPOROMANDIBULAR PAIN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME IN PATIENTS ATTENDING LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, LAGOS, NIGERIA

EWEKA OM, *OGUNDANA OM , AGBELUSI GA

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ABSTRACT

Background: Temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome (TMJPDS) is the most common temporomandibular disorder. This condition presents with symptoms of pain, restricted jaw movement and joint noise. Other symptoms include otalgia, headache, neck pain and trismus.

Aim: To determine the pattern of Temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndromepatients managed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Methodology: A descriptive study of patients with signs and symptoms of pain dysfunction syndrome attending the Oral Medicine Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Results: Twenty-one patients with Temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome were enrolled into the study, out of which 10(48%) were females and 11(52%) were males. The age range was 23-81years with a mean of 45.2 ± 18.9 years. Majority of the patients 20(95.2%) complained of pain around the joint, in the pre-auricular region, in the muscles of mastication and the ear. While 7(35%) complained of clicking sounds, 10(47.6%) complained of pain on mouth opening and during mastication only. In all 5(23.8%) had impaired movement of the jaws, mouth opening was normal in 18(85.7%) but reduced in 3(14.3%) patients. Over half of patients 12(57%) experienced clicking sounds, there was tenderness around the temporomandibular joint in 16(76.2%) cases, pain in the ear of 7(33.3%) patients and 13(61.9%) people presented with tenderness of the muscles of mastication. Conservative management of all the cases resulted in resolution of the symptoms.

Results: Mean heart rate increased by 19.1%, 25.7%, and 41.4%, SBP increased 13.3%, 21.6% and 26.9%, MAP by 12.2%, 19.1% and 30.2%, RPP by 28.1%, 45.8% and 78.7% in groups E, L and C respectively post intubation. There were no complications attributable to the use of either agent.

Conclusion: Temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome has diverse clinical presentation and though distressing, it responds to prompt and effective conservative management.

Key Words: Temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome, Diverse presentation, Conservative management, Good outcome.

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