Temporomandibular Disorder: Prevalence Among Hemophiliac Patients

Abstract

The objective was to investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular dysfunction -TMD -in severe and moderate hemophiliac A and B patients and healthy men as control group. Hemophilia complication is chronic arthropathy that results from repeated joint bleeding, leading to limited movement. Limitation of jaw movement is present in patients with TMD. Hemophiliac patients were recruited in the Hemophilia outpatient clinic at Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de So Paulo (UNIFESP). The control group was composed of voluntary subjects recruited among medical and dental students of UNIFESP. Both groups were screened for TMD symptoms according to the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders questionnaire. The Research Diagnostic Criteria further evaluated those considered positive for TMD. The results showed a similar prevalence of TMD in the hemophiliac group compared to the control group (n= 38, n= 79; p= 0.7). There were no significant differences in severity of sign and symptoms between the groups. In conclusion, patients with hemophilia do not have a higher prevalence of temporomandibular disorders, indicating absence of hemorrhage in temporomandibular joint.