What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively investigated the prognostic effect of temporomandibular joint involvement in 23 patients with necrotising external otitis who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy after failed medical and surgical treatment.
What They Found
Of 23 patients, 4 (17%) had temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement and showed gradual improvement in C-reactive protein, with all alive and discharged disease-free (except one lost to follow-up). In contrast, 4 patients (16%) without TMJ involvement died within 90 days, and 3 (13%) required recurrent hospitalization, while no patients with TMJ involvement experienced these negative outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective case series with a small sample size of 23 patients, and one patient with TMJ involvement was lost to follow-up.