Effect of an anesthetic injected into the temporomandibular joint space in patients with TMD.

Twenty-three adult female patients were studied before and after injection of one temporomandibular joint to relieve pain. These patients had exhibited a persistent history of pain within their mandibular, neck, and somatic muscles, despite repeated treatment involving occlusal splints, physical therapy, and biofeedback. Patients were also screened for possible condylar degeneration using corrected tomograms.

Adaptation of craniofacial muscles in subjects with craniomandibular disorders.

The purpose of this study was to examine muscle function in subjects with muscle pain. Forty-three subjects with pain in the craniomandibular muscles, clinically determined by manual palpation, were studied for alteration in recruitment of temporalis, masseter, and suprahyoid muscles during a series of phasic movements. Seventeen normal subjects were used as controls.