Cron RQ et al. – Treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis before the onset of obvious bone changes, facial asymmetry, and limited mobility can preserve normal jaw structure and function of JIA patients until they achieve disease remission. Screening for jaw involvement should be undertaken at the time of disease onset; medical imaging (specifically MRI, when possible) is required for an accurate diagnosis. Methods
Study to determine the point prevalence of TMJ arthritis in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) using both MRI and ultrasound
Results
75% of pts were diagnosed with acute TMJ arthritis by MRI
None of the cases was identified by ultrasound
Chronic TMJ arthritis was detected by MRI in 69% of the children, whereas ultrasound picked up chronic TMJ in only 28% of them
Of the pts with acute TMJ arthritis, more than 70% were asymptomatic and more than [60%] had normal findings on jaw examination
CT-guided intra-articular steroid injections had an improved maximal incisal opening after corticosteroid injection
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