Sonographic investigation of the temporomandibular joint in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A pilot study

Objective To evaluate whether there are any correlations between the clinical parameters of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis and pathologic ultrasound (US) findings of the TMJ in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods We conducted prospective clinical and US investigations of the TMJs of 48 patients with JIA. The US investigation was performed by a 12‐MHz high‐resolution transducer, which was positioned parallel to the ramus of the mandible overlying the zygomatic arch in a closed‐mouth position and maximum open‐mouth position. Results Patients with ≥5 peripheral affected joints showed significantly more sonographically diagnosed destructive changes in the TMJ than did patients with 23 months had a significantly higher rate of disc dislocation and destructive changes. Patients with a JIA duration >60 months had a significantly higher rate of destructive changes of the TMJ than patients with a disease duration