EVALUATION OF IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS PATIENTS IN TERMS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the type and incidence of TMD in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) disease. Methods. The sample consisted of 50 patients, selected using simple random sampling, and included 26 females and 24 males (mean age: 13.5 ± 2.1 years) from Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University. Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders: Clinical Protocol and Assessment Instruments (DC/TMD) form was utilised to assess the signs and symptoms of TMD in idiopathic scoliosis patients. The pressure pain threshold (PPT) values for the muscles were measured through a hand-held pressure algometer. Parameters and obtained values were evaluated statistically by using paired samples t-test and independent samples t-tests. Results. According to the results, 94.7% of the samples had pain related TMD, 36.8% had headache on temporal region, and 81.6% had no intra-articular or degenerative joint disorder. A statistically significant difference was found regarding muscular TMD between genders (Female: 95.2%, Male: 68.2%) (p=0.02). In patients with myalgia, it was determined that the most painful muscle was the masseter. Conclusion. It can be concluded from this study that diseases which can cause postural changes like scoliosis in the region of the head and shoulders have relationship to the adaptation of the muscles and following alterations in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area. Therefore, patients with IS should be routinely controlled in terms of TMD and necessary measures should be taken early to reduce the need for further treatment options.