A clinico-statistical study of temporomandibular disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

抄録

We investigated the incidence of temporomandibular joint disorders in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We studied the demographic data of 38 RA patients and examined their clinical and radiographic findings. In addition, we statistically examined the correlation between the duration of the illness, the radiographic findings, and the Larsen grade. We found no bony ankylosis of the TMJ, the maximum mouth opening was 38.3 mm, and there was almost no limitation in joint range of motion. Some form of changes in the bone and resorption were observed in the radiographic findings in condyles of 67 joints (88%). On statistical analysis, only a weak correlation was observed between the duration of illness and radiographic findings of the condyle (r=0.464), only a weak correlation was observed between Larsen's grade and radiographic finding (r=0.489), and a strong correlation was observed between left and right condyle deformation in the radiographic findings (r=0.795). These results suggest that the TMJ is less affected by RA than other joints. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2023; 57: 283-287)