Treatment of condylar osteophyte in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis with muscle balance occlusal splint and long-term follow-up: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Condylar osteophytes, a remodeling form of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA), mainly manifest as marginal angular outgrowths of the condyle. Previous researchers have advocated surgical removal of condylar osteophytes. Reports on the effect of occlusal splint on TMJ OA patients’ joints have mostly focused on treatment with this splint, which can reduce the absorption of the affected condyle and promote repair and regeneration. However, the effect of the splint on the dissolution of condylar osteophytes has not yet been reported.

CASE SUMMARY

A 68-year-old female patient suffered from occlusal discomfort with left facial pain for 2 years. Cone beam computed tomography showed a rare osteophyte on top of her left condyle. She was finally diagnosed with TMJ OA. The patient refused surgical treatment and received conservative treatment with a muscle balance occlusal splint. The pain experienced by the patient on the left side of her face was relieved, and her chewing ability recovered after treatment. The osteophyte dissolved, and the condylar cortex remained stable during long-term follow-up observations.

CONCLUSION

The muscle balance occlusal splint could be a noninvasive means of treating condylar osteophytes in TMJ OA patients.

Key Words: Condylar osteophyte, Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, Mechanical environment, Muscle balance occlusal splint, Treatment, Case report

Core Tip: Cylindrical osteophytes on the top of the condyle are rare. This is the first report to describe the treatment of condylar osteophyte with an occlusal splint, which may pose a challenge to the traditional application of surgical intervention in the treatment of osteophytes. The effect of occlusal splints on osteophytes is unclear.

INTRODUCTION

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) is a non-/low-inflammatory, progressive form of arthritis characterized by degenerative changes to the articular cartilage and the underlying bone, which can lead to pain, masticatory dysfunction, and maxillofacial deformity[1]. Although its exact cause is still unclear, TMJ OA is usually associated with joint trauma and overload; when the stress and functional requirements of the joint area are not balanced with the normal adaptability of the host TMJ, dysfunctional remodeling can occur[2-5]. The first choice of treatment for TMJ OA is usually non-surgical, such as lifestyle/diet adjustments, splint therapy, systemic or intra-articular drug therapy, or physical therapy[1,6]. Only when non-surgical treatment is ineffective and dysfunction and/or pain are moderate to severe is surgical treatment indicated[7].

Osteophytes are a dysfunctional-remodeling form of condyles in TMJ OA patients[8]. Most researchers have observed that condylar osteophytes usually present as marginal angular outgrowths with sclerotic borders and a volume of usually < 1 mm³[8-11]. Researchers have advocated surgical removal of condylar osteophytes. Dingman et al[12] noted the recovery of bone physiological morphology in the joint area and advocated the use of arthroplasty to remove irregular osteophytes from the joint surface and remodel its shape. This case report describes a 68-year-old female TMJ OA patient with a rare osteophyte about 2 mm high on the top of the condyle. The patient refused surgical treatment and received conservative treatment with a muscle balance occlusal splint. The patient said that the pain on the left side of her face was relieved, and her ability to chew returned after treatment. The osteophytes dissolved, and the condylar cortex remained stable during long-term follow-up observations. Herein, we discuss the effect of the splint on condylar osteophytes in patients with TMJ OA and provide reference for clinical intervention into these osteophytes.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

The patient was a 68-year-old woman who suffered from occlusal discomfort with left facial pain for 2 years.

History of present illness

The patient received splint treatment for left TMJ clicking 2 years ago. She complained that the clicking did not disappear, and she subsequently began to feel weakness in chewing, accompanied by left facial pain and difficulty in opening her mouth.

History of past illness

The patient had no history of systemic disease.

Personal and family history

The patient had no previous personal or familial history of TMJ OA.

Physical examination

The patient was anxious and depressed. Her maxillofacial region was symmetrical. We found no tenderness on palpation of the bilateral external auditory canal and condyle region; the same was true of bilateral TMJ mobility. There was a rebound clicking sound at the left TMJ at the beginning of mouth opening and the end of mouth closing. The mandible deflected vertically when opening; the opening range was about 30 mm. There was no limitation of mandibular protrusive or lateral movement. Local pain was evoked by palpation of the left anterior and middle temporal muscles, the middle and posterior masseter muscles, the upper and middle sternocleidomastoid muscles, the trapezius muscles, and the medial pterygoid muscles. After the splint was placed in her mouth, the patient could not close her mouth while at rest. During centric occlusion, only the premolars were in point contact, and the remaining anterior and posterior teeth did not contact one another (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Clinical presentation of the patient wearing the original splint. A: Intraoral photo of the patient; B: Right side of stone cast; C: Left side of stone cast.

Laboratory examinations

The patient did not undergo laboratory examination.

Imaging examinations

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) performed in March 2017 showed that osteophytes had formed at the anterior margin of the bilateral condyles. A central cylindrical osteophyte 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in height can be seen on top of the left condyle (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Cone beam computed tomography radiographs of the left temporomandibular joint (March 2017). A: Sagittal projection; B: Coronal projection.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Clinical diagnoses were: (1) TMJ disorder (TMD; masticatory-muscle dysfunction); and (2) Bilateral TMJ OA.

TREATMENT

The patient refused surgical treatment and began conservative treatment with a muscle balance occlusal splint (Figure 3) in June 2017. The splint was fixed to the maxillary dentition with clasps; its thickness was about 1.5 mm–2.0 mm at the central fossa of the maxillary first molar and about 3 mm–4 mm in the area of the anterior teeth. The occlusal surface of the splint was designed as a shallow concave structure that formed loose contact with the buccal and lingual cusps of the opposite teeth. The patient was asked to wear the splint all the time, except when eating, and followed every 1–3 mo for evaluation of symptoms and signs. At follow-ups, the clinician adjusted the occlusal surface of the splint so that it once again contacted both sides of the opposite dentition evenly during centric occlusion.

Figure 3 Clinical presentation of wearing the muscle balance occlusal splint. A: The splint was fixed to the maxillary dentition with clasps; B: Centric occlusion; C: Right posterior occlusion; D: Left posterior occlusion.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

One month later, the patient reported that her left facial pain had disappeared. At 3 mo, the patient’s mouth-opening range was improved (to about 35 mm). At 6 mo, the patient reported that her weakness in chewing had reduced and the pain had significantly relieved. She could chew both soft and crisp food.

At 9 mo, the patient’s rebound clicking sound was reduced and weakened, and she had no discomfort from chewing or facial pain. CBCT re-examination of the TMJ showed that the left condylar top bone had become smooth and the cylindrical osteophyte had disappeared (Figure 4E–H). Three-dimensional reconstruction and alignment of CBCT images before and after treatment can allow visualization of osteophyte dissolution (Figure 5). At 12 mo, the patient’s bilateral TMJ CBCT images (Figure 4I–L) were basically the same as those from the previous imaging session.

Figure 4 Cone beam computed tomography radiographs of the bilateral temporomandibular joint. A–D: Computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs obtained in March 2017; E–H: CBCT radiographs obtained in January 2018; I–L: CBCT radiographs obtained in May 2018; M–P: CBCT radiographs in obtained November 2018; Q–T: CBCT radiographs obtained in November 2020.

Figure 5 Three-dimensional reconstruction of cone beam computed tomography radiographs. A: The reconstruction models of the left condyle before treatment (gray model) and 9 mo after treatment (red model) were compared using 3D Slicer version 4.10.2 (https://download.slicer.org); B: We calculated the facial distance of the registration model and found that the 2-mm-high cylindrical osteophyte on top of the condyle had dissolved.

At 18 mo, the patient had no discomfort when chewing or speaking. Her bilateral TMJ CBCT images (Figure 4M–P) were basically the same as those from the previous imaging session. As the patient’s symptoms disappeared and the condylar cortex remained stable, we asked the patient to stop wearing the splint and be followed after 1 year.

At 3 years, the patient has not worn the splint for 1 year. We found no abnormality or discomfort in her TMJ or masticatory muscles. Bilateral TMJ CBCT showed that the bone conditions were basically the same as those from the previous imaging session (Figure 4Q–T).

DISCUSSION

Large condylar osteophytes are relatively infrequent in TMJ OA patients. Alexiou et al[8] studied the imaging features of 142 TMJs with OA and found that 26% of condyles had mild osteophytes < 1 mm, 18% had moderate osteophytes 1 mm–2 mm, and only 12% had severe osteophytes > 2 mm. In this case, CBCT showed the formation of a 1 mm–2 mm, beak-like osteophyte at the front edge of the condyle. These imaging findings corresponded to the size of a moderate osteophyte reported in the literature[8]. However, we could also observe a cylindrical osteophyte about 2 mm high at top center of the left condyle. Although Dingman et al[12] have reported the existence of exostosis on the condylar surface, the location and morphology of condylar osteophytes in this situation have not been reported in the literature.

The effect of osteophytes on the TMJ is still controversial. According to Krisjane et al[11], the establishment of marginal osteophytes enlarges and stabilizes the articular surface and helps support the loading forces. However, Lee et al[13] believed that the extensive formation of osteophytes might lead to condylar deformity. Kirk et al[14] analyzed the biomechanical principles of the TMJ and pointed out that osteophytes on the condylar surface and the lateral pole increase the shear force, which can damage the disc or capsule attachment. Li et al[15] found that the higher the degree of osteophytic formation, the more serious the articular-cartilage destruction. We speculate that the cylindrical osteophyte in this case might have been the main disruptor of the disc–condylar relationship, thereby interfering with the mandibular functional movement. However, because we did not perform arthrography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on this patient’s TMJ, we could not know the condition of the disc and capsule.

Surgical treatment is the traditional intervention for condylar osteophyte. Kirk et al[14] pointed out that the use of arthroplasty to remove osteophyte can reduce disc–condylar relationship disorder and tissue damage in the articular cavity. Although arthroplasty may relieve symptoms, the long-term effects of surgical changes on TMJ remodeling and the function of stomatognathic system are still unclear[1]. In this case, the patient refused surgical treatment. We used a muscle balance occlusal splint for noninvasive treatment. TMJ is a bilaterally linked joint and needs to be balanced bilaterally to achieve a healthy state. Muscle coordination and balance are also concerns. Clinically, the balance of the muscles in patients with masticatory muscle dysfunction is disrupted. The muscles are considered to have reached a balanced state when clinical symptoms, such as pain, disappear. The muscle balance occlusal splint treatment is designed to guarantee stability of occlusion and jaw position, to avoid restricting the jaw position without affecting muscle memory and to allow the masticatory muscle to gradually achieve a balanced state at follow-up visits.

The patient’s compliance was good, and no adverse events occurred at any point during the treatment. The patient was satisfied with the therapeutic effect of the muscle balance occlusal splint. After splint treatment began, she felt that her facial-muscle pain was gradually relieved, her masticatory function recovered, and her anxiety relieved.

Osteophytic remodeling is affected by mechanical factors, biochemical factors, and the synergy of their actions. The biomechanical load exerted on the TMJ affects the internal and external shapes of the joint [11]. Overload is generally considered to be one of the main causes of TMJ OA[16,17]. Based on the theory of quantitative bone remodeling, He G and Xinghua Z[18] simulated the formation of osteophytes and found that the change to the joint mechanical environment led to the formation of an osteophyte at the edge of the joint. Osteophytic formation is a process in which the joint adapts to the changing mechanical environment, although it can be pathological. Animal studies have shown that the biochemical factors such as inflammation and metabolic imbalance of articular chondrocytes led to the changes in the microenvironment, which promotes osteophytic formation. The use of drugs such as high–molecular-weight hyaluronic acid[15] and corticosteroids[19] has been proven to reduce osteophytic formation in experimental OA in animals. Li et al[20] have published images of condylar osteophytic dissolution in patients with TMJ OA after injection of hyaluronic acid, which suggests that the formed osteophyte can still remodel after drug intervention. In this case, we used only the muscle balance occlusal splint and still observed dissolution of the osteophyte, indicating that occlusal-splint treatment might potentially affect condylar osteophytic remodeling.

The effect of the splint on condylar osteophytes might be due to changes to the mechanical environment of the joint. An anterior repositioning splint (ARS) has been reported to promote condylar osteogenesis. The reason might be that the ARS guides mandibular advancement and joint disc repositioning; the condylar cartilage is subject to tensile stress, leading to adaptive condylar remodeling[21]. The change to the bone mechanical environment is accompanied by changes to the bone structure and shape, which force the bone to adapt to the new mechanical environment[18]. Previous reports on the effect of occlusal splint on TMJ OA patients’ joint bone mostly focused on treatment with this splint, which can reduce absorption of the affected condyle and promote repair and regeneration[6,22-24]. The advantage of the occlusal splint (especially the stable occlusal splint) lies in the stability of occlusion and the uniform distribution of TMJ overload[25]. In patients with TMJ OA, overload to the TMJ is reduced, thereby reducing bone resorption of the joint[6]. However, the splint’s effect on the dissolution of condylar osteophytes has not yet been reported.

We cannot explain certain aspects of this case. The cause of osteophytic formation on top of the condyle was unclear. The patient had received treatment with a splint similar to the twin-block (TB) splint (Figure 1), but due to the lack of CBCT image comparisons before and after the splint treatment, we could not determine the relationship between such treatment and the osteophyte on top of her condyle. However, we have observed another case in which an adult patient with condylar resorption was treated with the TB splint and an osteophyte appeared on top of the condyle after treatment (Figure 6). In addition, the splint had different effects on the osteophyte in different condylar positions. Although the osteophyte on top of the condyle dissolved, the marginal osteophyte did not change significantly. Differences in stress in different areas of the joint might have caused the differences in bone remodeling. In future, the mechanical effect of the muscle balance occlusal splint on the joint should be explored in both basic and clinical research, so as to determine the effect of this splint therapy on condylar osteophytic remodeling.

Figure 6 Right condylar changes in a 24-year-old female patient with bilateral condylar resorption before and after treatment with the twin-block occlusal splint. A: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) sagittal radiograph before treatment; B: CBCT coronal radiograph before treatment; C: CBCT sagittal radiograph after treatment; D: CBCT coronal radiograph after treatment; E: Comparison of the condylar three-dimensional model before (gray model) and after (red model) treatment as viewed using 3D Slicer software. Osteophyte (orange arrow) formed on the medial part of the top of the condyle after treatment.

CONCLUSION

This case report suggests that the muscle balance occlusal splint could be a noninvasive means of treating condylar osteophytes in TMJ OA patients. The specific mechanism of the splint treatment on osteophytic remodeling is still unclear, and further basic and clinical research is needed.