Temporomandibular Prosthetic Joint Infections Associated With Propionibacterium acnes: A Case Series, and a Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: The orthopedic literature has shown an increasing incidence of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) associated with Propionibacterium acnes (P acnes). These infections present serious diagnostic and management challenges to the treating surgeons. In this review, the authors report on cases of P acnes-related temporomandibular joint (TMJ) PJIs that have been diagnosed and treated at their institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After approval by the institutional review board, information was obtained through a retrospective chart review. Records were retrieved from clinic visits from January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2015 using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Data extracted included patient demographics, prostheses details, prosthetic infection history, interventions, diagnostic procedures, and culture processing methods. RESULTS: Of the 7 patients who met the search criteria, 4 (1 with bilateral prostheses) had cultures positive for P acnes. For the 5 TMJ PJIs with cultures positive for P acnes, tissue cultures were obtained in the operating room and processed using mass spectrometry. Symptoms identified in these 4 patients were vague and included pain and intermittent swelling; clinical and radiographic findings were nonspecific. Treatment regimens included oral and parenteral antibiotics and operative interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In this case series, the authors report on the management of 4 cases of P acnes-related TMJ PJI. When patients with TMJ prostheses report vague symptoms of swelling and pain that do not fit the typical infection scenario, the surgeon should consider P acnes as a source of infection. Additional case series and retrospective reviews will be necessary before developing prospective trials that could aid in the prevention and management of this infection.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint caused by rare bacteria Raoultella ornithinolytica.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an unusual disease in adults. Inoculation of the pathogen may occur through traumatic or iatrogenic injuries, or more often by haematogenous spread from a distant focus. The cause of infection is unknown in most cases. A case of ostensibly mild septic arthritis of the TMJ with a good response to antibiotic therapy and lavage, but that finally led to fatal destruction of the joint structures in a 38-year-old female patient, is reported herein. The infection was caused by Raoultella ornithinolytica - a rare bacterial species in humans, which has not been reported previously in any patients with joint problems. The arthritis manifested 5 weeks after an arthroscopy procedure, so the cause was not clear.

[Temporomandibular joint septic arthritis with secondary condylar resorption]. / Arthrite septique temporomandibulaire avec résorption condylienne secondaire.

INTRODUCTION: Septic arthritis are serious infections rarely observed for the temporomandibular joint. They are mainly hematogenous or transmitted by contiguity. OBSERVATION: Our patient presents the case of an infection of the temporomandibular joint by maxillary sinusitis of dental origin further complicated by cerebral abscess and empyema. Initial treatment consisted of an endonasal and intraoral drainage, intravenous empirical antibiotic therapy, a close clinicoradiological monitoring, and rehabilitation following a long-term active physiotherapy. Furthermore, the patient reported the onset of a dental articulation disorder with a left side premature contact and right lateral open bite, corresponding to a significant left condylar resorption. DISCUSSION: This infectious disease is very rare for temporomandibular location; however, its general and functional outcome is determined by the precocity of the treatment. It is important to know the diagnosis and the associated symptoms even if they are not very specifically described. It is essential to consider the diagnosis when facing atypical pain of the temporomandibular joint associated with trismus.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: bacterial diversity in temporomandibular joint synovial fluid in comparison with immunological and clinical findings.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) occurs in up to 80% of affected children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid, and to compare this with clinical and immunological findings in children with JIA, adults with persistent JIA, and adults with rheumatoid arthritis, in order to detect whether bacteria contribute to inflammation in TMJ arthritis. Synovial fluid and skin swab samples were collected from 30 patients (54 TMJs). Bacterial detection was performed using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing. Bacterial DNA was detected in 31 TMJs (57%) in 19 patients (63%). A positive statistically significant correlation was registered between bacterial DNA detected in TMJ synovial fluid and the following factors: total protein concentration in synovial fluid, interleukin 1ß, tumour necrosis factor alpha, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and adiponectin, as well as the duration of the general medical disease. Fourteen different bacterial species were detected in synovial fluid. Bacterial DNA in TMJ synovial fluid without contamination was detected in more than 50% of the patients. Studies are needed to evaluate the consequences of this bacterial DNA in synovial fluid with regard to TMJ arthritis.

Bilateral septic arthritis of the temporo mandibular joint: case report.

Septic arthritis of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) is a rare disease that has been reported infrequently. To the best of the authors' knowledge, only one case of bilateral TMJ septic arthritis has been reported. The contamination may result from direct extension of adjacent infection (dental or ENT), from hematogenous spread of blood-borne organisms or from direct inoculation. The most common presenting are trismus and pain, although swelling, tenderness and erythema have also been described. In addition, patients may develop fever, regional lymphadenopathy and malocclusion. Through a successively bilateral case of TMJ arthritis, without obvious portal of entry of the bacteria, we will analyze characteristics and treatment of this disease.

An intriguing case of locked jaw secondary to melioidosis.

A 56-year-old woman presented with fever, pain and restriction of movement of the right temporomandibular joint. She was premorbidly diagnosed to have type 2 diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis. Local examination revealed a poorly demarcated severely tender, erythematous swelling in the right preauricular region. All haematological and biochemical investigations were within normal limits. MRI of the neck revealed the presence of a masticator space infection with intramuscular abscess involving the masseter and the temporalis muscles along with intracranial extension. Osteomyelitic changes were detected in the right mandibular condyle, temporal bone and in the temporomandibular joint. Melioidosis was suspected due to this unique clinical presentation of an abscess at an unusual and atypical site. Blood cultures identified the Gram-negative bacilli Burkholderia pseudomallei, which established the diagnosis of Melioidosis. Remarkable improvement was attained with antibiotics meropenem and cotrimoxazole, deferring the need for any surgical intervention.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint caused by Aspergillus flavus infection as a complication of otitis externa.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a very rare complication of otitis externa that can lead to ankylosis and destruction of the joint. We report the case of a 74-year-old man who developed aspergillosis of the TMJ following otitis externa. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of TMJ septic arthritis secondary to otitis externa caused by Aspergillus flavus. The patient was successfully managed with condylectomy, debridement, and drug treatment with voriconazole.

Tuberculosis of the temporomandibular joint.

INTRODUCTION: Extrapulmonary and extra-spinal tuberculosis (TB) is rare, even in countries where the disease is endemic. Ten percent of these localizations are cervico-facial. Involvement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is very unusual. We present the features of such a case. REVIEW: We looked for patients managed for TMJ TB in 2 Maxillofacial Surgery departments and in 1 Pneumology & Phthisiology Department since 1992. The second part of the study was a literature review. One case was found in our departments and 15 other cases were found in published data. Most patients were women with mean age of 39.9 years (5 to 68). Pre-auricular swelling was the predominant functional sign, often without fever or change in the health status. The biological and radiological abnormalities were non-specific (osteolysis, joint pinching, etc.). No lung involvement was observed. The joint recovered its normal function after appropriate management. DISCUSSION: Tuberculosis of the TMJ is difficult to diagnose given its rarity and the non-specific nature of clinical and paraclinical signs. It must be considered in the differential diagnosis for common diseases of the TMJ whether TB is endemic or not.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint is a rare acute infectious disease that requires attention from physicians and, once misdiagnosed, can have several implications for a patient. The most common microorganisms related to this disease are Staphylococcus aureus, Neisseria, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus. The infection of the joint may be caused by a direct spread of a local infection or by hematogenous inoculation from a distant focus. General predisposing factors, such as immunodepression, can eventually be found. The aim of the current study was to report a case in which a patient with an articular infection resulting from hematogenous dissemination from a distant site was successfully treated using joint drainage and systemic antibiotics. Secretion culture from the temporomandibular joint space was positive for S. aureus. After 1 month of antimicrobial therapy, the patient was asymptomatic and mandibular function was normal. Literature related to this topic was reviewed and discussed.

Primary tuberculosis of the TMJ: presentation of a case and literature review.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a frequent health problem. The prevalence of extrapulmonary TB has increased in the last couple of years. Head and neck tuberculosis forms nearly 10% of all extrapulmonary manifestations of the disease. TB of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is rare; only a few cases have been reported. The clinical appearance of TB infection of the TMJ has been described as unspecific, resembling arthritis, osteomyelitis, cancer or any kind of chronic joint diseases. This article describes a 22-year-old woman with pain and left preauricular swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed an expansive process with destruction of the left condyle and condylar fossa. A fine needle aspiration examination of the swelling showed non-specific granulomatous inflammation. In the following days, a preauricular fistula developed, of which a swab and biopsy specimens were taken. Histological and microbiological examinations revealed an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The initial antituberculosis treatment consisted of a combination of four antibiotics and could be reduced to two antibiotics in the course of treatment. The treatment was completed successfully after 9 months.

Reactive arthritis and internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if temporomandibular joint (TMJ) samples positive for Chlamydia trachomatis have a greater presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) when compared with Chlamydia-negative samples. STUDY DESIGN: Posterior bilaminar tissue samples removed during TMJ surgery from 70 patients were evaluated. Cryosections were stained using monoclonal antibody that identifies C. trachomatis. The presence of IL-6 and TNFalpha were evaluated by immunostaining in 15 samples positive and in 25 samples negative for the presence of C. trachomatis. RESULTS: Of the 70 TMJ samples, 32 (46%) were positive for C. trachomatis. In 15 samples positive for C. trachomatis, 10 (67%) were positive for TNFalpha and 7 (47%) for IL-6. In 25 samples negative for C. trachomatis, only 4 (16%) were positive for TNFalpha and only 2 (8%) for IL-6. Differences in C. trachomatis-positive samples versus negative were significant for both TNFalpha (P < .002) and IL-6 (P < .008). CONCLUSION: The presence of C. trachomatis in the TMJ is associated with a significantly increased presence of TNFalpha and IL-6.

Malignant external otitis: treatment with prolonged usage of antibiotics and Burow's solution.

Malignant external otitis is a severe infection of the external auditory canal, generally caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in elderly diabetics patients. We describe a case of malignant external otitis in a 63-year-old man with severe otalgia, purulent otorrhea and polypoid granulation of the external auditory canal. Local debridement, insulin treatment and 6-week intravenous antibiotic therapy with carbapemens were very effective and the granulation tissue disappeared completely. However, the patient readmitted for recurrent disease 3 weeks later, despite the oral and ear drop administration with new quinolone. No recurrence has been noted after 4-week additional treatment with intravenous carbapenems followed by 3-week treatment with Burow's solution as ear drops.

Hematogenous infection of the human temporomandibular joint.

Objective This study was designed to discover the relationship between bacteremia and the presence of specific bacterial species in the synovial fluid of the human temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Study design Sixteen volunteers (female to male, 1:2.2; average age, 30.00 +/- 9.93 years) who received operations via intraoral incision participated in this study. Samples from the blood and TMJ synovial fluid of the patients were taken preoperatively and postoperatively and analyzed by PCR assays with specific primers for the clinically important bacteria Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus mitis , and beta-hemolytic Streptococcus . Results PCR-based assays revealed the occurrence of S aureus in 68.8% and 50% of the total blood and synovial fluid samples collected immediately after the operations, which statistically differed from the preoperative samples ( P < .05). However, the frequency of the other bacteria, S mitis and beta-hemolytic Streptococcus , in pre- and postoperative blood samples had no such a difference ( P > .05). The chi-square test showed a significant association between the presence of S aureus in the blood and in TMJ synovial fluid (chi 2 = 6.409, P < .05), and the probability of hematogenous infection of the TMJ was estimated as 55.5%. Conclusion Hence, the data obtained provided evidence that the invasion of S aureus into TMJ synovial fluid was due to the presence of these bacteria in the blood. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the bacteremia-related mechanism of S aureus invasion in the human TMJ.

[A clinical study on septic arthritis of temporomandibular joint: culture and identification of pathogenic bacteria].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenic organism of septic arthritis of temporomandibular joint and the culture condition of the available bacteria. METHODS: Joint fluid was aspirated from 30 patients in recent 5 years. Smear and Gram stain of joint fluid were done immediately, then cultured in blood agar, bacteria-preserving culture medium, trypticase soy agar(TSA) or trypticase soy broth(TSB) under aerobic or anaerobic condition, respectively. Pathogen identification was performed with biochemical methods. RESULTS: Microorganism were found with Gram staining in 15 out of 30 cases, but the culture of bacteria only succeeded in 5 cases. Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus aureus were the bacteria isolated. Bacteria was isolated in TSB mostly. CONCLUSIONS: 2 kinds of microorganism were isolated from joint fluid, and S. saprophyticus was reported for the first time. However, the positive rate was low, and the better technique for culture was expected.

The presence of bacteria in the synovial fluid of the temporomandibular joint and clinical significance: preliminary study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to find any relation between the presence of specific bacterial species in the synovial fluid of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and clinical parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 43 patients (male-to-female ratio, 1:1.69; average age, 34.37 +/- 14.55 years). Thirty-three patients had a displaced disc in the TMJ (DD group), and 10 patients did not have a displaced disc of the TMJ or any symptom related to TMJ disorders (NDD group). Clinical examinations were made to determine maximum mouth opening, joint sounds, previous trauma history, systemic disease, and TMJ pain. Six bacterial species that were reported in other studies were chosen to evaluate the presence of bacteria in the TMJ for this study. RESULTS: Mycoplasma genitalium was most frequently detected in synovial fluid (86.0%). Staphylococcus aureus, Mycoplasma fermentans/orale, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus mitis were detected in 51.2%, 37.2%, 25.6%, and 7.0% of samples, respectively. beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus was not detected. The prevalence of S aureus was significantly higher in the DD group than in the NDD group (P <.05). The patients who had M. fermentans/orale were 5.40 times more likely to be younger than 30 years than were those without M. fermentans/orale (P <.05). Those with M. genitalium were 5.81 times more likely to be female than were those without M. genitalium (P <.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of S. aureus in TMJ synovial fluid was related to TMJ disorder symptoms and clinical parameters seemed to be influenced by bacterial presence in TMJ synovial fluid.

Aspergillosis of the temporomandibular joint following irradiation of the parotid region: a case report.

We report a case of aspergillosis in the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with a history of parotid carcinoma and post-irradiation otitis. Previous treatment attempts with surgery and antibiotics were unsuccessful. Radical debridement of the glenoid fossae, supplemented with amphotericin B and adjunct hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, was provided to resolve the symptoms. This case report highlights the need to be aware of the possibility of invasive mycosis in immunocompromised patients.

Identification of Chlamydia trachomatis in the human temporomandibular joint.

PURPOSE: Reactive arthritis (ReA) as a consequence of triggering Chlamydia trachomatis infections has been extensively studied to better understand inflammatory arthritis. This study investigated whether the presence of C trachomatis can be shown in the TMJ of patients with internal derangement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Posterior bilaminar tissue removed from 31 patients (29 F, 2 M) during TMJ articular disc repositioning and posterior ligament repair was tested for the presence of C trachomatis. Cryosections were stained using a monoclonal antibody that identifies all chlamydial serovars. Highly specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays independently targeting two genes of C trachomatis also were performed; these assays also identify all serovars of this organism. RESULTS: TMJ tissue from 6 of 30 patients (20%) showed the presence of C trachomatis in the posterior bilaminar tissue on immunostaining. PCR screening identified 12 of 31 patients (39%) as having C trachomatis DNA in tissue, including four of six positive by immunostaining. All chlamydia-positive patients were female, with an average age of 36.7 years (15 to 48 years). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of C trachomatis in the human TMJ has not been previously shown. The presence of this organism may serve as the pathogenetic mechanism for TMJ dysfunction, as demonstrated in other joints. Nonapparent chlamydial infection in females may also explain the marked prevalence of TMJ symptoms in women.

Infectious temporomandibular joint disease in the horse: computed tomographic diagnosis and treatment of two cases.

Diagnostic imaging and treatment of unilateral destructive temporomandibular joint disease in two horses is described and discussed. Computed tomography appeared to be the best imaging technique for these lesions. The disease can be followed by functional recovery after the infection has resolved.