ABSTRACT: Oropharyngeal intubation - contributing factor in the development of TMD website: 86th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR

ABSTRACT: 0831  

Oropharyngeal intubation - contributing factor in the development of TMD

D. ILLES, S. HUSEDZINOVIC, I. ALAJBEG, I. PELIVAN, I. HUSEDZINOVIC, and M. VALENTIC-PERUZOVIC, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Objectives: Endotrachel intubation is a procedure used to provide clear and an unobstructed airway during various medical procedures. The procedure itself can be somewhat aggravating especially for the tempormandibular joint (TMJ) and adjacent tendons and muscles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how this procedure as possible cintributing factor to TMD developement.

Methods: A double blind controlled study was conducted. An Axis II of RDC-TMD protocol was used to evaluate patients before and after the intubation. Patients involved in the study were intensive care patients, some of whom underwent the intubation procedure. The performing examiner didn't know whether the patients were intubated or not. The patients were examined before and after their medical procedure. Statistical analysis involved chi-square and the students' t-tests.

Results: 88 patients were examined, of which 68% were female with a mean age 50,4 years. There were no statistical differences in questions related to pain and joint sounds. However, a section of the RDC-TMD protocol which involves palpation and mouth movements was significantly different (p<0,05) between the subjects who had been intubated and those who were not.

Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences between intubated and non-intubated patients with consideration to the symptoms of temporomandibular disfunctions (TMD) (pain, TMJ sounds). The differences were obvious between TMD -signs (tenderness to palpation and mandibular excursions). So although we cannot say that intubation can cause TMD, there is evidence never-the-less that it can contribute or aggravate TMD associated conditions.

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