Diagnosis and perfection of the complex treatment of patients with neuromuscular dysfunction syndrome of the temporomandibular joints

Abstract

Aim. To improve the complex treatment of patients with neuromuscular dysfunction syndrome of the temporomandibular joints. Methods. Clinical examination, electromyography of masticatory muscles, computed tomography in 24 patients (main group) with a neuromuscular dysfunction syndrome of the temporomandibular joints. The control group included 10 healthy individuals aged 18 to 32 years with intact tooth rows, orthognatic bite, and without pathology of the temporomandibular joints. In cases of deviation of the mandible at the time of opening the mouth in 7 (29.2%) patients the complex of therapeutic measures included a myo-gymnastic exercise, which consisted of shifting the mandible with the palm of the hand towards the opposite side of the deviation. During zigzag movements of the mandible in 12 (50%) patients assigned was myo-gymnastic exercise, aimed at keeping the lower jaw with the palms of both hands in the sagittal plane during a vertical opening of the mouth. In 5 (20.8%) patients with a small limitation of mouth opening and lateral displacement of the mandible myo-gymnastics were used that included exercises designed to stretch and cause reflex relaxation of the masticatory muscles, as well as the displacement of the mandible in the palm of the hand to the side opposite to its deviation. All patients from the start of treatment were prescribed a course (10 sessions) of therapeutic massage of the masticatory muscles and 10 sessions of transcranial electrostimulation in 8 (33.3%) patients to relax the chewing muscles in its hypertonicity, to relieve spasm of the lateral pterygoid muscle, and removal the significant pain syndrome. Results. By the 5-6th session of transcranial electrostimulation the pain and tension in the masticatory muscles on the affected side with neuromuscular dysfunction disappeared, the range of motion of the mandible was restored, atypical movement of the mandible stopped. Examination of 24 patients at 2 years after treatment showed that 22 patients had a sustained, positive result, no complaints or recurrences were observed. In 2 patients after treatment noted was significant tension in the masticatory muscles, they were re-appointed for transcranial electrostimulation. Conclusion. Developed and proposed was an improved method of complex treatment of patients with neuromuscular dysfunction syndrome of the temporomandibular joints without the use of drugs, which has shown high effectiveness.