Efficacy of botulinum toxin-A versus stabilization occlusal splint in treatment against temporomandibular disorders : a clinical and quantitative electromyographic study

Abstract EN

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) therapy compared with stabilization occlusal splint in treatment against temporomandibular disorders clinically and by electromyographic quantitative interference pattern analysis (QIPA).

Patients and methods Twenty-four female patients with temporomandibular disorder symptoms and signs were enrolled in the study.

The patients were randomly assigned into two groups.

Patients in group 1 were injected with BTX-A in the affected masseter and temporalis muscles, whereas patients in group 2 were treated with occlusal splint therapy.

Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 8 and 12 weeks using the anamnestic dysfunction index, measurement of maximum mouth opening, and surface electromyographic QIPA.

Results On follow-up, anamnestic dysfunction index improvement and maximum mouth opening were significantly larger in the BTX-A group than in the splint group.

BTX-A injections produced a general reduction in the QIPA parameters of masseter and temporalis muscles at the first follow-up, which increased slightly on the second assessment.

In group 2, QIPA parameters were seen to have increased significantly at both assessments.

Conclusion BTX-A injection is more advantageous than stabilization splint, provided it is administrated at appropriate doses