Characteristics and treatment outcome of diagnostic subgroups of CMD patients: retrospective study.

The records of 193 randomly chosen patients with CMD referred 2.5 yr previously were examined retrospectively for anamnestic, clinical and radiological findings and observations related to treatment. These data were supplemented with information from questionnaires sent to all treated patients in which their opinion on the treatment outcome was asked. Within the patient group, four diagnostic subgroups were distinguished. Three subgroups consisted of patients with the diagnoses CMD with a mainly myogenous component, osteoarthrosis and internal derangement respectively, whereas the fourth subgroup consisted of patients who did not fit into one of these categories. Differences between the four groups were found concerning mean age, the prevalence of a limited range of motion, headache, psychosocial factors, loss of posterior tooth support and objective treatment outcome. The patients with CMD with a mainly myogenous component showed the highest percentages of CMD associated disorders, the least successful treatment outcome and the highest percentage of renewed treatment. The patients with internal derangement showed the lowest mean age, the highest prevalence of a limited range of motion and the best treatment outcome. The patients in the osteoarthrosis group showed the highest mean age and the highest percentage of loss of posterior tooth support. It may be concluded that the evaluation of diagnostic subgroups of CMD patients has to be preferred in the assessment of a heterogeneous group of patients with CMD.