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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
[Childhood septic temporomandibular arthritis]
K Hammoudi1, A Manceau, N Cazeneuve
1Service d'otorhinolaryngologie et chirurgie cervicofaciale, CHR d'Orléans, 14, avenue de l'Hôpital, 45100 Orléans La Source, France. hammoudi_interne@yahoo.fr
Objective:
To report a clinical case of acute otitis media in a child, complicated by septic temporomandibular arthritis and to present a review of the literature.
Patient And Methods:
We report a case of a 7-year-old boy who presented an altered general condition, major hyperthermia, associated with a left temporozygomatic mass in a context of recurrent bilateral acute otitis media lasting for 2 months. Emergency computed tomodensitometry (CT scan) showed left temporomandibular joint arthritis. Treatment consisted of a parenteral double antibiotic therapy and prevention of temporomandibula (TM) ankylosis.
Results:
After 20 months of follow-up, the child showed a normal ORL examination with no maxillofacial sequelae.
Conclusion:
All temporozygomatic masses presenting in a septic context should suggest the diagnosis of TM arthritis; computed tomodensitometry should be done immediately.
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