Evaluation of body painful areas in patients with muscular temporomandibular disorder: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Among temporomandibular disorder classifications, masticatory muscles myofascial pain is the most frequent. Its multifactorial etiology makes its treatment difficult. Identifying other painful sites related to temporomandibular disorders may help controlling comorbidities and, as a consequence, improving their symptoms. This study aimed at evaluating the presence of body pain in temporomandibular location. METHODS: We have evaluated 328 medical charts of the Dental Research Center São Leopoldo Mandic, with diagnosis of muscular temporomandibular disorder. Patients were evaluated by means of a body map to locate pain complaints. RESULTS: From 328 analyzed medical charts, 180 (55%) had body pain (160 females, 20 males), and 148 (45%) had facial pain only (116 females, 32 males). Areas with most frequent pain reports were cervical, lumbar and shoulders.Females had more body pain (with pain n=160, without pain n=116, p≤0.001) as compared to males (with pain n=20, without pain n=32) with statistical difference.In most cases pain has affected both body sides (bilateral face 67%, bilateral body 92%). CONCLUSION: Most patients with temporomandibular disorder had pain in body parts different from the face. Regions marked in human body drawings with more pain were cervical followed by lumbar and shoulders. RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Dentre as classificações das disfunções temporomandibulares, as dores miofasciais nos músculos da mastigação são as mais frequentes. Sua etiologia multifatorial dificulta o tratamento. Reconhecer outros locais de dor relacionados à disfunção temporomandibular pode ajudar no controle das comorbidades e consequentemente melhorar o seu quadro. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença de dor no corpo em pacientes com disfunção temporomandibular, a frequência desses relatos e sua localização. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 328 prontuários do Centro de Pesquisa Odontológica São Leopoldo Mandic, com diagnóstico de disfunção temporomandibular muscular. Os pacientes foram avaliados por meio de desenhos de mapa corporal para determinar a localização de queixas de dor. RESULTADOS: Dos 328 prontuários analisados, 180 (55%) apresentaram registro de dor pelo corpo (160 mulheres, 20 homens), e 148 (45%) apresentavam dor apenas na região da face (116 mulheres, 32 homens). As áreas com maior relato de dor foram: cervical, lombar e ombros. O gênero feminino apresentou maior frequência de dores no corpo (com dor n=160, sem dor n=116, p