[Electrical pain thresholds of face and finger in patients with chronic masticatory muscle pain].
OBJECTIVE
To compare electrical sensory threshold (EST) and electrical pain threshold (EPT) of bilateral masseters, temporal muscles and finger region of chronic masticatory muscle pain (MMP) patients and the controls, and to analyze the mechanism of pain threshold change.


METHODS
Twelve patients with MMP and 12 matched controls participated in this study. EST and EPT of bilateral masseters, bilateral temporal muscles, and left middle finger were recorded and compared within group and between groups.


RESULTS
Compared to the controls, the EPTs of patients significantly decreased [left masseter (5.9 +/- 1.1) mA,right masseter (5.7 +/- 1.0) mA, left temporal muscle (5.3 +/- 1.4) mA, right temporal muscle (5.5 +/- 1.7) mA,finger (5.2 +/- 1.0) mA] (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in EST between patients and the controls. No relationship was found among VAS, ESP, and EPT.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased pain thresholds of masseters, temporal muscles and fingers in MMP indicated that peripheral sensitization was induced in MMP patients. Decreased pain threshold in patients meant that MMP might influence the central modulation of nervous system.
Cao
Ye
Y
Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
Xie
Qiu-fei
QF
Yang
Zhao-hui
ZH
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005145:Face; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D055815:Young Adult