Presentations 2020: OMFS

348 - The Use of Botulinum Toxin in the Treatment of Facial Arthromyalgia

TJB Bradshaw AJ Cronin
Presented by: Tristan Bradshaw
Cardiff Dental Hospital

Introduction Facial arthromyalgia, also known as myofascial pain or temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome, is an increasingly more common condition found in 33-40% of the population. Presenting as pre-auricular pain which may radiate to the temporal region, or through the muscles of mastication, this condition can be very debilitating for patients. While conservative management methods can be very effective, the use of botox to relieve symptoms has been shown to provide significant relief in approximately 1/3 of sufferers, with a mild risk of adverse side effects. Methods Patients were identified from the logbook of botulinum toxin infiltration on the oral surgery clinic. A retrospective audit of patients treated with the botulinum toxin from 2014 to 2018 was then carried out. Age, initial management, number of treatments with botox, injection sites and dosages, and final outcomes were all recorded. Results Botox injections to relieve the symptoms of arthromyalgia was successful in 79% of the cases treated during the 4-year period. However 65% of these successfully treated cases experienced relapse requiring further treatment. Often, multiple, regular courses of treatment were needed to keep patient symptoms low. Conclusion Botox treatment for arthromyalgia is very effective in relieving symptoms for patients where initial, conservative management has been ineffective. However, patients require regular review and intervention in order to ensure that they remain pain free and should be made aware of the long-term management of their condition during initial discussions about botox treatment. Treatment is an ongoing process, and not a one-off.
Consent Statement: There are no details on individual patients reported within the abstract.

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