Temporomandibular joints (TMJ) involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): longitudinal evaluation after orthopaedic treatment

TMJ involvement has been largely observed in all subsets of patients with JIA. The reported prevalence of detectable X-ray changes varies from 30% to 63%. From 50 to 80% of JIA children, may have TMJ arthritis by MRI and by sonographic exam (SE) (effusions, synovial enhancement, condylar flattening and/or erosions, thickness of masseter muscle) before evidence of X-ray damage. TMJs injections with steroids or/and anti-TNF alpha blockers have been used at the first signs of inflammation. When joint damage is evident orthopaedic treatment (brace) may be helpful in preventing its further evolution. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of orthopaedic treatment in a cohort of JIA adolescents/young adults with TMJ arthritis.