Evaluation of the health of the temporomandibular joint in patients with hemophilia and rare factor deficiency

Hemophilia and rare factor deficiencies are diseases that can affect the body joints. It has been reported that temporomandibular joint (TMJ) health may be affected in patients with coagulation factor deficiency. There are very few studies in the literature evaluating the TMJ health of patients with hemophilia or rare factor deficiency. This study was conducted to evaluate the health of TMJ in patients with hemophilia and rare factor deficiency. The study consists of two groups; the patient group and the control group. The patient group consists of 44 individuals with 6 females and 38 males (average age 16,95±7,9). The control group consists of 45 healthy individuals with 6 females and 39 males (average age 17,00±7,29). The TMJ health status was evaluated by comparing the results obtained through the questions directed to individuals, clinical and radiological (past panoramic radiography and MRI) examination between the groups. In addition to TMJ health, the importance given by individuals to oral health was also evaluated. It was found that subjective symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) were higher in the patient group. Complaints of pain in the jaw, temporal side or around the ears, TMJ sounds and closed locking were significantly more common in the patient group (p<0,05). Among the objective symptoms, deviation, TMJ sounds caused by mandibular movements, termination of opening while opening the mouth, muscle or TMJ sensitivity with palpation were found to be higher in the patient group. It has been determined that joint sounds that occur during opening-closing in the right TMJ occur significantly more frequently in the patient group (p<0,05). Although the mean limits of mandibular movements (pain free opening, maximum unassisted opening, maximum assisted opening, protrusion) were similar between the groups, the mean of the right and left lateral movement limits were found to be significantly less in the patient group (p<0,05). It was found that there was no significant relationship between malocclusions with a risk of affecting TMJ health and TMD-related findings, which were found to be significantly more common in the patient group (p>0,05). It was found that condylar changes were observed at a higher rate in the patient group in the panoramic radiography examinations. Common MRI findings of 3 individuals in the patient group who have MRI are disc degeneration or deformation. In the clinical examination of all 3 of these patients, deviation and joint sounds during mandibular movements were observed. In addition, it has been observed that the individuals in the patient group attach less importance to oral hygiene and health. The results obtained in this study revealed that patients with hemophilia or rare factor deficiency are more likely to develop TMD.