The craniocervical connection: A retrospective analysis of 300 whiplash patients with cervical and temporomandibular disorders

Because the concept of whiplash as a causative factor for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is highly controversial, we decided to do a retrospective analysis of patients treated in our office who had sustained whiplash injur ies and were treated for cervical and temporomandibular disorders, The reco rds of 300 patients with TMD preceded by a motor vehicle accident were exam ined retrospectively. The most common presenting symptoms, in order, were: jaw pain, neck pain, post-traumatic headache, jaw fatigue, and severe tempo romandibular joint (TMJ) clicking. The most common TMD diagnoses were: mass eter trigger points, closing jaw muscle hyperactivity, TMJ synovitis, openi ng jaw muscle hyperactivity, and advanced TMJ disk derangement. Based prima rily on the physical examination, we concluded that the TMJ and surrounding musculature should be examined similarly to other joints, with no preconce ived notion that TMD pathology after whiplash is unlikely.