Tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement

Tinnitus has commonly been reported in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The aim of this study was to determine if there was any correlation between arthographically verified disk displacement of the TMJ and ear symptoms related to tinnitus. Fifty-three patients with unilateral tinnitus and disk displacement and 82 individuals with disk displacement, but no tinnitus, were analyzed. Disk displacement was found to be present in the ipsilateral joint in all 53 patients with unilateral tinnitus, while the contralateral joint was asymptomatic in 50 (94.3%) of them. Patients with tinnitus suffered more extensive and intense pain in the oro-facial area compared to patients without tinnitus. The results of this study revealed a significant correlation between internal derangement of the TMJ and tinnitus.