The Effects of Viscosupplementation Using Synvisc in Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint

Study start date: February 1, 2004

INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: We will recruit patients with TMJ OA defined by the Research Diagnostic Criteria. Patients are required to have chronic preauricular pain for more than 3 months, even though they have received some palliative treatment (NSAIDs and/or stabilization splint therapy). Radiological imaging is indicated in addition to clinical evaluation to confirm the diagnosis of TMJ OA. Radiographic evidence of OA includes flattening of condyle, increased opacity of cortical bone of condyle, or osteophyte formation. Prior to being admitted to the study, patients will be screened with standard temporomandibular joint radiological imaging, including panoramic, tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Radiological imaging will not be repeated at the end of the study unless medically indicated. The patients are required to have mouth opening limitation (less than normal) and moderate to severe joint pain aggravated by jaw movement. Patients who have undergone any TMJ surgery within the preceding 6 months will be excluded, as well as those who have taken analgesic, anti-inflammatory, steroids or narcotic medications during the last 15 days. Further exclusion criteria will be patients who have any TMJ growth disturbances. Patients with red, hot, swollen, tender TMJ, or those with history consist of infectious arthritis, crystal induced arthropathies, and musculoskeletal disorders will also be excluded. Patients with rheumatic disease will also be excluded, this will be determined by baseline blood tests (CBC, chem. 7, ESR, Rheumatoid factor). Patients will be screened for any positive history of liver or kidney dysfunctions. Any patients with a medical history of diabetes, congestive heart failure, any chronic infections will also be excluded. Subjects that have primary psychiatric disease or score above average in comparison with normative scores on Symptom Checklist (SCL-90R) will not be able to participate. Pregnant women will not be included in the study, this will be determined by a pregnancy test, and subjects will be required to use 2 forms of contraception for the first 3 weeks of the study (to cover the synvisc injections). It is a standard practice in chronic pain study not to include patients who are involved in litigation. Patients with sepsis or with known hypersensitivity to hyaluronan and any of its components will be excluded to the study.