Surgery remains important option for severe jaw pain

AORN Journal,  Oct, 2005  

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Although many temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can be treated by nonsurgical means, surgery remains an important option for many who suffer from this painful disorder, according to an Aug 4, 2005, news release from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. A prospective, multicenter, comparative study examined surgical outcomes of patients suffering from severe TMJ. Patients who qualified for surgery had severe TMJ pain and dysfunction that persisted after standard conservative treatment with diet changes, anti-inflammatory medications, and control of chronic tooth grinding. In addition, the patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging to confirm the presence of an internal derangement (ie, a painful disruption between the piece of cartilage essential for smooth jaw movement and the rounded top of the lower jaw bone).

Approximately 90% of patients who underwent one of four procedures (ie, arthroscopy, condylotomy, disc repositioning, discectomy) experienced a substantial reduction in pain and improvement in the ability to eat solid foods. Researchers compared baseline measurements with changes in overall degree of pain, hours of pain experienced daily, diet, and range of motion in the jaws one month and one year after surgery. Using a visual analog scale, patients rated their pain one month after surgery. They reported scores that were markedly lower than baseline levels and remained at these levels one year after surgery. All four procedures resulted in virtually indistinguishable outcomes, according to the researchers.

When All Else Fails, Surgery a Good Option for Severe Jaw (TMJ) Pain, Study Shows (press release, Rosemont, Ill: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Aug 4, 2005) http://www.prnewswire.com (accessed 5 Aug 2005).

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