IADR Abstract Archives
Head and Neck Pain Drawings: Diagnostic Value for Temporomandibular Disorders
Objectives: The use of head and neck pain drawings has been incorporated into the diagnostic gold standard for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, evidence is needed on the clinical use of this additional information. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial extent of pain in TMD patients and how it correlates with structural and psychosocial findings.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 121 patients (mean age = 39 years; range 18 - 82; n females = 94) were diagnosed using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Intra-articular disorders were confirmed or excluded by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants were instructed to mark all painful areas on a facial sketch. A grid template was then placed over the sketches, and each region containing markings was scored as painful. Spearman correlation and multivariable quantile regression were used to examine the relationship between the calculated pain area, pain lateralization, psychosocial variables (DC/TMD axis II), and intra-articular diagnoses.
Results: Pain was observed in all facial regions, but was primarily concentrated in the temporomandibular joint and masseter regions. When patients reported unilateral pain, it was associated with structural TMJ findings in the majority of cases. Individuals with bilateral pain and those with greater spatial extent had significantly higher scores on all Axis II variables (p < .05), except for functional limitation of the jaw.
Conclusions: Head and neck pain drawings may help to stratify patients with TMD. Greater pain extent and pain bilateralization are associated with higher levels of emotional distress, pain chronicity, and somatization, but not with functional limitation and not with structural findings of the temporomandibular joint.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 121 patients (mean age = 39 years; range 18 - 82; n females = 94) were diagnosed using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Intra-articular disorders were confirmed or excluded by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants were instructed to mark all painful areas on a facial sketch. A grid template was then placed over the sketches, and each region containing markings was scored as painful. Spearman correlation and multivariable quantile regression were used to examine the relationship between the calculated pain area, pain lateralization, psychosocial variables (DC/TMD axis II), and intra-articular diagnoses.
Results: Pain was observed in all facial regions, but was primarily concentrated in the temporomandibular joint and masseter regions. When patients reported unilateral pain, it was associated with structural TMJ findings in the majority of cases. Individuals with bilateral pain and those with greater spatial extent had significantly higher scores on all Axis II variables (p < .05), except for functional limitation of the jaw.
Conclusions: Head and neck pain drawings may help to stratify patients with TMD. Greater pain extent and pain bilateralization are associated with higher levels of emotional distress, pain chronicity, and somatization, but not with functional limitation and not with structural findings of the temporomandibular joint.