title: Temporomandibular joint dysfunction following tonsillectomy.
abstract: We report a prospective, controlled trial to assess temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction following the use of a Boyle-Davis mouth gag during tonsillectomy. TMJ function was evaluated in patients undergoing tonsillectomy and a control group undergoing nasal surgery preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively. The main outcome measures were symptoms and signs of TMJ dysfunction and interincisal distance. A mean reduction of 0.89 mm in interincisal distance (P < 0.01) was noted postoperatively in the tonsillectomy patients. There was no statistically significant reduction of interincisal distance in patients undergoing nasal surgery. There was a statistically significant reduction in interincisal distance in the post-tonsillectomy patients, caused by fibrous healing of the tonsillar bed or fibrous ankylosis of the TMJ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Glan Clywd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, North Wales, UK. sangeetamaini@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maini
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: H M S
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Fadl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spyridakou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ogunyemi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation