TY - JOUR T1 - Assessing Arthritis in the Temporomandibular Joint JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 2000 LP - 2002 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.151088 VL - 42 IS - 11 AU - ROTRAUD K. SAURENMANN AU - CHRISTIAN J. KELLENBERGER Y1 - 2015/11/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/42/11/2000.abstract N2 - A variety of characteristics make the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) distinct from other joints: (1) The bony connection with the contralateral TMJ, through the mandible, and the great variety of movement directions and trajectories make movements in this joint extremely complex and render an exact assessment of the range of motion of each single TMJ impossible; (2) the tight temporomandibular ligament, part of the lateral joint capsule, impedes the palpatory assessment of joint swelling or effusion; (3) the joint surface is covered with fibrous cartilage, below which immediately follows a zone of pluripotent proliferating cells promoting the growth of the whole mandible, the bone with the highest growth rate of the head; and (4) although pain from the temporomandibular region is not uncommon, it is highly unspecific and not a reliable indicator for TMJ arthritis1.In this issue of The Journal, Stoll, et al present their study about intraarticular (IA) infliximab therapy for TMJ arthritis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)2. Because of the lack of convincing treatment strategies for TMJ arthritis, especially in children, this report is of high interest. While for most other joints IA steroid injections are a recommended treatment option3, there is increasing awareness of severe negative effects of steroid injections … Address correspondence to Dr. R.K. Saurenmann, Department of Rheumatology, University Children’s Hospital, Steinwiesstr. 75, Zurich, Switzerland, CH-8032; E-mail: traudel.saurenmann{at}kispi.uzh.ch ER -