title: The incidence of TMJ dysfunction in patients who have suffered a cervical whiplash injury following a traffic accident.
abstract: Forty consecutive patients with a cervical whiplash injury were examined and compared with 40 matched controls. The incidence of signs and symptoms was high in both groups. Temporomandibular joint pain (P < .001), limitation of mouth opening (P < .01), and masticatory muscle tenderness (P > .01) were found significantly more frequently in the patient group, while the presence of joint sounds, deviation during mouth opening, and the overall presence of a symptom were not significantly different between groups. When asked whether they would seek treatment for the observed signs and symptoms, a significantly higher number of the whiplash group responded positively when compared to the control group. These findings warrant further study and suggest the benefit of a routine examination of the temporomandibular joint and masticatory system in patients with cervical whiplash injury.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, The Mater Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kronn
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013016:Sound; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications*