OBJECTIVES: To detect whether stabilization splint (SS) treatment of painful myofascial type temporomandibular diseases (TMD) changes the masseter muscle morphology using ultrasound (US). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-five patients with painful myofascial TMD receiving SS treatment were studied. Masseter thickness, length, internal echo-fibrillary structure and vascularization were evaluated using gray-scale and power Doppler US just before and 3 months after the SS application. Visual analog scale (VAS) and mouth opening measurements were used to measure the outcome of treatment. RESULTS: A significant shortening in the masseter muscle length (R: -3.67 mm, P: .010; L: -3.97 mm, P: .005) and thickness (R: -0.93 mm, P: .005; L: -0.90 mm, P: .016) was noted. No change in the internal echo-fibrillary structure or vascularization was detected. A significant decrease in VAS scores (Median: 5-0.5 P < .05) and mouth opening (42.77 ± 7.86 mm to 38.69 ± 6.21, P < .05) was also detected. CONCLUSION: SSs modify and reduce the dimensions of masseter muscle.
OBJECTIVES: To detect whether stabilization splint (SS) treatment of painful myofascial type temporomandibular diseases (TMD) changes the masseter muscle morphology using ultrasound (US). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-five patients with painful myofascial TMD receiving SS treatment were studied. Masseter thickness, length, internal echo-fibrillary structure and vascularization were evaluated using gray-scale and power Doppler US just before and 3 months after the SS application. Visual analog scale (VAS) and mouth opening measurements were used to measure the outcome of treatment. RESULTS: A significant shortening in the masseter muscle length (R: -3.67 mm, P: .010; L: -3.97 mm, P: .005) and thickness (R: -0.93 mm, P: .005; L: -0.90 mm, P: .016) was noted. No change in the internal echo-fibrillary structure or vascularization was detected. A significant decrease in VAS scores (Median: 5-0.5 P < .05) and mouth opening (42.77 ± 7.86 mm to 38.69 ± 6.21, P < .05) was also detected. CONCLUSION: SSs modify and reduce the dimensions of masseter muscle.
Authors: Andrea Deregibus; Martina Ferrillo; Maria Grazia Piancino; Maria Chiara Domini; Alessandro de Sire; Tommaso Castroflorio Journal: Turk J Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2021-03-04