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Temporomandibular Joint Injury, Sports Medicine

Daniel C. Herman, MD, PhD, FAAPMR, FACSM, CAQSM and Giorgio A. Negron, MD Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries, although relatively uncommon, do occur in sport. Players in collision sports (e.g., football, field hockey, soccer, lacrosse) may be at particular risk, ...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Primarily based on history and physical exam findings

  • Exclude other causes of unilateral facial or head pain.

HISTORY

  • History of pain with jaw movement (particularly repetitive chewing), headac...

TREATMENT

  • Typically treated as outpatients with pain medication, muscle relaxants, and warm compresses

  • In general, symptoms from acute injury resolve within 7 to 10 days, although a significant percent...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

  • A soft diet may be effective in reducing pain severity during episodes.

  • Chewing gum also may make symptoms worse.

PROGNOSIS

Typically self-limited but can progress to a chronic state of ...

REFERENCES

1
Gauer RL, Semidey MJ. Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders. Am Fam Physician.  2015;91(6):378–386.
2
De Rossi SS, Greenberg MS, Liu F, et al. Temporomandibular disorde...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Marbach JJ. Tempomandibular pain dysfunction syndrome. History, physical examination, and treatment. Rheum Dis Clin North Am.  1996;22(3):477–498.

  • Tanaka E, Detamore MS, Mercuri...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Consideration of possible underlying psychosocial factors may significantly aid in the treatment of TMD.

  • The practitioner should take care at the time of presentation to evaluate for mo...

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