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Objective: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a very common and costly pain problem concerning the temporomandibular joint. A previous study has shown that for the treatment of acute myogenic TMD, TheraBite® (TB) offers a faster and greater effect than usual care consisting of physical therapy (PT). This study estimates the cost-effectiveness of TB compared to PT.Methods: Differences in costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) between TB and PT are analyzed using a decision model.Results: The point estimate for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is -28,068 EUR (-30,191 USD) per QALY (dominant) for TB versus PT. At the willingness-to-pay ratio of 20,000 EUR (21,513 USD) per QALY, TB has a 97% probability of being cost-effective compared to PT.Conclusion: TB is expected to be cost-effective compared to PT for the treatment of acute myogenic TMD, offering faster recovery of quality of life for patients, at a lower cost to society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a very common and costly pain problem concerning the temporomandibular joint. A previous study has shown that for the treatment of acute myogenic TMD, TheraBite® (TB) offers a faster and greater effect than usual care consisting of physical therapy (PT). This study estimates the cost-effectiveness of TB compared to PT., Methods: Differences in costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) between TB and PT are analyzed using a decision model., Results: The point estimate for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is -28,068 EUR (-30,191 USD) per QALY (dominant) for TB versus PT. At the willingness-to-pay ratio of 20,000 EUR (21,513 USD) per QALY, TB has a 97% probability of being cost-effective compared to PT., Conclusion: TB is expected to be cost-effective compared to PT for the treatment of acute myogenic TMD, offering faster recovery of quality of life for patients, at a lower cost to society.

Objectives/hypothesis: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients may develop oropharyngeal dysfunction as result of volume loss or muscle atrophy of the tongue or pharyngeal musculature following treatment with surgery and/or chemoradiotherapy. If intensive swallowing therapy offers no further improvement, and the functional problems persist, transplantation of autologous adipose tissue (lipofilling) might restore functional outcomes by compensating the existing tissue defects or tissue loss., Study Design: Case series., Methods: In this prospective pilot feasibility study, the application of lipofilling was studied in seven HNC patients with chronic dysphagia. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia in several sessions using the Coleman technique. Swallowing outcomes were evaluated with standard videofluoroscopy (VFS) for obtaining objective Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) and residue scores. Subjective Functional Oral Intake Scale scores and Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire were also completed. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate the post-treatment injected fat., Results: Five patients completed the intended three lipofilling sessions, whereas two completed two injections. One patient dropped out of the study after two injections because of progressive dysphagia requiring total laryngectomy. Four of the six remaining patients showed improved PAS scores on post-treatment VFS assessments, with two patients no longer showing aspiration for a specific consistency. Two patients were no longer feeding tube dependent. Patient-reported swallowing and oral intake improved in four out of six patients., Conclusions: Based on the results, the lipofilling technique seems safe and, in selected cases, of potential value for improving swallowing function in this small therapy-refractory HNC patient cohort., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 126:2672-2678, 2016., (© 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)