[Diagnosis and therapy of myo-arthropathy (Costen's syndrome)]

The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome was first described by Costen in 1936. It is a muscular-skeletal pain-disease. The pain is caused by hypertonia of the masticatory muscles and is projected into various regions of the head and neck. There is a primary dysfunctional etiology as well as a secondary etiology based on other diseases, particularly of the ENT region. Diagnostically, therefore, a process of exclusion is required. The symptoms can range from diffuse headache and facial pain to strictly localized or even neuralgic pain. Otogenic symptoms may be pain or various noises in the ear. For differential diagnosis, most of the painful diseases of the head area must be considered because of the multiform clinical manifestation of the TMJ syndrome. The treatment of the TMJ syndrome follows a multistep scheme that includes behavior therapy, physiotherapeutic methods, and occlusal therapy.