Determination of the proper Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) for the diagnosis of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) arthralgia: a magnetic ressonance and algometer - based study

• Grant number: 09/03832-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: April 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Paulo César Rodrigues Conti
• Grantee: Carolina Ortigosa Cunha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Temporomandibular Joint internal derangement is characterized by anterior disk displacement (ADD) and/or as arthralgias. An important clinical presentation in these cases is the painful tenderness to manual palpation or decreased Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), usually determined with an algometer. The present study aims to determined which is the PPT value that better discriminate healthy TMJs from those with inflammatory processes. Besides to determine if there are differences in PPT of healthy TMJs and TMJs with painless ADD. A sample of 60 individuals from both genders with age between 18 and 45 years will be evaluated by RDC/TMD criteria and divided into three groups paired for gender and age: 20 patients with clinical diagnosis of arthralgia (with or without ADD), 20 patients with clinical diagnosis of ADD's (without arthralgia) and 20 individuals without pains or noises in the TMJs (control group). All individuals will be submitted to an exam of magnetic ressonance imaging for analysis of the position of the disk and presence of articular effusion, indicative of inflammation, for confirm the physical exam and to validate the group distribution. After that an algometry exam will be perform on the lateral polar of TMJs for the entire sample. The insdividuals with joint pain will also fill out a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The results will be analyzed by especificity and sensibility, generating ROC's curves, for diagnosis power of the accomplished test. Thus, the intention is to determine ideal values of TMJ pressure palpation able to guide and standardize TMJ's physical exam, which is crucial to differentiate patients from asymptomatics subjects. Indeed, controlled and standardized palpation is imperative as a technique to analyse the efficacy of managment arthralgias

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CUNHA, Carolina Ortigosa. Determination of the proper Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) for the diagnosis of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) arthralgia: a magnetic ressonance and algometer - based study. 2011. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB/SDB) Bauru.