Clinical and imaging outcomes following non-invasive management of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: An exploratory retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective To describe one-year clinical and imaging outcomes in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJO) who received a standardized, phased, multimodal, non-invasive management protocol. Methodology An exploratory retrospective, non-concurrent cohort study was conducted using the records of 78 consecutive eligible patients with TMJO. Seventy patients completed the one-year evaluation. The predefined eligibility range included adolescents aged 13–19 years and adults aged 20–65 years; the observed age range in the final sample was 13–62 years. Current TMJ-related pain intensity was self-reported by each patient using a 0–10 visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline and at one year. CT and MRI findings, appointment attendance, and self-reported compliance with treatment recommendations were also recorded. Psycho-behavioral status was assessed at baseline using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in patients who were not receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment. Data were analyzed descriptively and compared using Wilcoxon tests (P < .05). Results Seventy of 78 patients completed follow-up. Mean patient-reported pain decreased from 4.41 ± 2.58 at baseline to 0.61 ± 1.28 at one year (P < .001). Forty-two patients completed the HADS assessment at baseline, whereas the remaining participants were already receiving mental health treatment. According to the HADS results, 50% of patients were probable cases of anxiety and 2.4% were probable cases of depression. Mean appointment attendance was 76.7%. Descriptive imaging findings suggested a reduction in the presence of synovitis. Conclusion In this exploratory retrospective cohort, patients receiving multimodal non-invasive management showed substantial reductions in patient-reported pain over one year.