Temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome: A rare cause of headaches in adolescents

The temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome has received little attention in the literature on pediatric neurology. Five adolescents with this syndrome are reported, all of whom complained initially of headaches. In all cases the headaches were either continuous or daily and all patients had tenderness of the muscles of mastication and restricted or deviant jaw-opening. The literature is reviewed, and etiology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed. It is concluded that this is a rare but distinct syndrome which can cause headaches in adolescents, appears to have multiple etiologies and should be treated conservatively.