Temporomandibular joint contracture in spastic quadriplegia: effect on oral-motor skills.

This study assessed the temporomandibular joint of 34 children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy for contractures to determine whether joint abnormalities were related to oral-motor dysfunction. Subjects were found to have restrictions in mandibular range of motion, increased overjet and decreased overbite. Increased overjet corresponds to retrognathia and decreased overbite relates to fixed posterior rotation of the mandible. The severity of many of these abnormalities correlated with the severity of oral-motor dysfunction. Abnormalities in overbite were particularly significant. The authors conclude that temporomandibular joint contractures in this population are related to problems in oral-motor function. It is hoped that further research in this area will lead to new therapies for children with feeding and swallowing problems.