Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injection is considered an available alternative treatment for myofascial pain. However, its efficacy in treating masticatory myofascial pain syndrome (MMPS) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the BTA injection into the affected muscles would significantly reduce pain and improve function, and to assess its efficacy, safety, and therapeutic indications in a randomized, single-center clinical trial. Sixty patients with MMPS were randomized into three groups evenly to receive a single session injection of saline solution (SS group), lidocaine (LD group), and BTA (BTA group) in the masseter, temporal, and pterygoid muscles after an electromyographic study. Patients’ pain was classified as localized or referred according to the DC/TMD classification. Assessments were performed on pre-treatment, and subsequently, on days 7, 14, 28, 60, 90, and 180. A significant reduction in pain and improvement of mandibular movements was found in the BTA group compared to the SS and LD groups. The response lasted until day 180 and was more intense in patients with localized myalgia and focused myofascial pain than in referred remote pain. No significant adverse reactions were observed. A single BTA injection can be considered an effective treatment option in patients with localized MMPS by reducing pain and improving mandibular movements, which persisted up to 6 months.
BackgroundTemporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) replacement has been used clinically for years. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes achieved in patients with two different categories of TMJ prostheses.Material and MethodsAll patients who had a TMJ replacement (TMJR) implanted during the study period from 2006 through 2012 were included in this 3-year prospective study. All procedures were performed using the Biomet Microfixation TMJ Replacement System, and all involved replacing both the skull base component (glenoid fossa) and the mandibular condyle.ResultsFifty-seven patients (38 females and 19 males), involving 75 TMJs with severe disease requiring reconstruction (39 unilateral, 18 bilateral) were operated on consecutively, and 68 stock prostheses and 7 custom-made prostheses were implanted. The mean age at surgery was 52.6±11.5 years in the stock group and 51.8±11.7 years in the custom-made group. In the stock group, after three years of TMJR, results showed a reduction in pain intensity from 6.4±1.4 to 1.6±1.2 (p<0.001), and an improvement in jaw opening from 2.7±0.9 cm to 4.2±0.7 cm (p<0.001). In the custom-made group, after three years of TMJR, results showed a reduction in pain intensity from 6.0±1.6 to 2.2±0.4 (p<0.001), and an improvement in jaw opening from 1.5±0.5 cm to 4.3±0.6 cm (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences between two groups were detected.ConclusionsThe results of this three-year prospective study support the surgical placement of TMJ prostheses (stock prosthetic, and custom-made systems), and show that the approach is efficacious and safe, reduces pain, and improves maximum mouth opening movement, with few complications. As such, TMJR represents a viable technique and a stable long-term solution for cranio-mandibular reconstruction in patients with irreversible end-stage TMJ disease. Comparing stock and custom-made groups, no statistically significant differences were detected with respect to pain intensity reduction and maximum mouth opening improvement.
Key words:Temporo-mandibular joint, temporo-mandibular joint replacement, prosthesis, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, computer-aided design and manufacturing.
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