Acute Septic Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint: A Case Report

Abstract

We describe our experience with a case of acute septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint （TMJ） from contiguous spread of odontogenic infection. An 80-years old woman was referred to our hospital because of swelling over the right TMJ and trismus. On the basis of clinical and imaging findings, acute septic arthritis of the TMJ associated with severe post-extraction infection and acute osteomyelitis of the right side of the mandible were diagnosed, surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy （ABPC/SBT and CLDM） were performed. Our experience suggests that cases with trismus are required for adequate differential diagnosis including imaging examination.