Preliminary Findings of the Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in Temporomandibular Disorders: Uncontrolled Pilot Study

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders are a common pathology affecting up to 70% of the population, with a maximum incidence in young patients. We used a sample of twenty patients recruited in the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the University Hospital of Salamanca (Spain), who met the inclusion criteria, with unilateral painful symptomatology of more than three months’ duration. All patients were randomly treated by intramuscular and intra-articular injections of botulinum toxin (100 U) in eight predetermined points. Pain symptomatology was assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) at the different locations, together with joint symptomatology, at baseline and six weeks after treatment. Adverse effects were also evaluated. In 85% of the patients, pain upon oral opening improved and 90% showed improvement in pain upon mastication. A total of 75% of the patients reported improvement in joint clicking/noise. Headaches improved or disappeared in 70% of the patients treated. Despite the limitations of the study and the preliminary results, intramuscular and intra-articular infiltrations with botulinum toxin were effective in the treatment of symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), with minimal adverse effects.

Botulinum Toxin and Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis for the Treatment of Chronic Masticatory Myalgia

“…The efficacy of myofascial pain relief following BTA injection has not yet been established in the literature. We believe that one of the main reasons for this controversy is related to the wide disparity in the inclusion and exclusion criteria used in the reviewed studies [2,6,14,[30][31][32][33]. Because there are several diagnostic criteria for chronic masticatory pain, some studies have applied inclusion criteria that could have been carried out for the exclusion of patients in other studies.…”

Effect of manual therapy on tinnitus in patients with TMJ

“…TMD can affect up to 70% of the population with most of them being young patients. 12 Classic subpopulations of TMD are known as myofascial, disc displacement with or without reduction, and degenerative joint disease 13 . TMD can be caused by trauma, bruxism, malocclusion, and TMJ disk dislocation 11 .…”

Temporomandibular Disorder Treated With Chiropractic Therapy

“…Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) constitute pathological symptoms that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding musculoskeletal tissues [ 1 ]. Previously, TMD was known as TMJ dysfunction syndrome, functional TMJ changes, myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, and temporomandibular pain dysfunction syndrome.…”

“…The complex interplay between the aforementioned factors contributes to the wide range of TMD presentations and the diverse number of potential treatment responses possible [ 3 ]. Pain accompanied by functional impairments and noisy joints are the most common symptoms of TMD [ 1 ]. Non-invasive rehabilitative treatment options relieve pain in 40-90% of patients, including physiotherapy, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and electrotherapy [ 4 , 5 ].…”

“…Pain accompanied by functional impairments and noisy joints are the most common symptoms of TMD [1]. Non-invasive rehabilitative treatment options relieve pain in 40-90% of patients, including physiotherapy, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and electrotherapy [4,5].…”