Otological manifestation of temporomandibular joint disorder in Ekiti, a sub-Saharan African country

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, sociodemographic features, and clinical presentation of temporomandibular joint disorder in otorhinolaryngological practice. METHODS: This prospective hospital-based study involved patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder in our institution’s ear, nose, and throat department. Data for this study were obtained from the patients using pretested interviewer-assisted questionnaires. RESULTS: The prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorder in this study was 1.3%. The study population included 17 (26.2%) male patients with a male:female ratio of 1.0:2.8. Joint disorder accounted for 75.4% of all disorders, while both mastication muscle and joint disorder accounted for 21.5%. A majority of the patients (47.7%) presented between weeks 1 and 13 of the illness. Unilateral temporomandibular joint disorder accounted for 98.5% of all disorders. The main otologic clinical features were earache and a dull tympanic membrane in 100% and 35.4% of patients, respectively. Middle ear assessment revealed type A in 73.8% of patients and type B in 20.0% according to Jerger’s classification system of tympanometry. Most patients (81.5%) were referred by their family physician. All patients had undergone prehospital treatment prior to presentation. CONCLUSION: Temporomandibular joint disorder is a common presentation in medical practice. Common clinical features include ear, joint, and mastication muscle disorders.