PURPOSE: to evaluate the vestibular functioning in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. METHODS: 27 female patients were evaluated, with age varying from 30 to 53-year-old, referred from the Centre of Diagnosis and Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction to the Otoneurological Laboratory of Tuiuti University of Paraná. The following exams were carried out: anamnesis, otoscopy and vestibular evaluations through vectoelectronystagmography. RESULTS: the most frequent complaints were: difficulty or pain with movement of the neck (77.7%), pain irradiated to the shoulder/arm (77.7%), tinnitus and paresthesia of superior extremities (77.7%) in each one, dizziness and headaches (66,6%), anxiety (55.5%), empty head sensations, agitation during sleep and depression (51.8%) in each one. The vestibular exam showed alterations in 20 patients (74.0%) in the caloric test. There was a prevalence of alterations in the peripheral vestibular system. There was a prevalence of deficient peripheral vestibular syndrome. CONCLUSION: the importance of studying the relationship between the vestibular system and temporomandibular joint dysfunction is emphasized, since a high number of alterations in the labyrinthic exam have been noted in this research.
Temporomandibular Joint; Dizziness; Electronystagmography; Vertigo; Labyrinth Diseases
