Iatrogenic TMJ difficulty: cervical traction may be the etiology

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics and Dental Biomaterials
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background:

• Patients undergoing cervical traction for cervical spine syndromes often report exacerbated symptoms.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are a potential, often overlooked, cause of this symptom exacerbation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the link between TMJ symptoms and patient-reported worsening of cervical traction.
• To propose an intervention for managing these concurrent conditions.

Main Methods:

• Clinical observation of patients receiving cervical traction.
• Consideration of TMJ symptomology in differential diagnosis.
• Recommendation for occlusal splint prescription in specific patient cohorts.

Main Results:

• A subset of patients experiencing cervical traction discomfort may have undiagnosed TMJ symptoms.
• Occlusal splints can potentially mitigate adverse effects by altering stress distribution.

Conclusions:

• Physicians should consider TMJ evaluation in patients experiencing symptom worsening during cervical traction.
• Occlusal splints offer a potential therapeutic avenue for managing combined cervical and TMJ issues, particularly in edentulous patients.