Cranio. 2002 Jan; 20(1): 23-7.

Long-term outcome after treatment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis with exercise and manual therapy.

Nicolakis P, Erdogmus CB, Kollmitzer J, Kerschan-Schindl K, Sengstbratl M, Nuhr M, Crevenna R, Fialka-Moser V.

University of Vienna, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wien, Austria. Peter.Nicolakis@akh-wien.ac.at

In a previous study, exercise and manual therapy demonstrated a 90% success rate in patients with osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joints in the short-term. The aim of this follow-up study was to assess the long-term effect of these treatment modalities. Seventeen patients were evaluated. All patients suffered from osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joints with pain in the temporomandibular joint at baseline and were treated successfully in a prior short-term study. The parameters were pain at rest and at chewing, impairment in daily life, and mouth opening. At follow-up, 11 patients (65%) experienced no pain and 13 patients (76%) had no pain at rest (Fisher's Exact Test: p<0.02). Thirteen patients (76%) had a normal incisal edge clearance, and ten patients (59%) felt no impairment due to the disease (Fisher's Exact Test: p=0.01). Thirteen patients (76%), who had been treated once successfully, have not needed treatment within the three years after cessation of their therapy. Exercise therapy is an effective tool to treat osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joints.