Phonophoresis with Hydrocortisone in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Abstract

Phonophoretic application of hydrocortisone has been studied by many researchers. In 1954, Fellinger and Schmid first reported the successful treatment of polyarthritis of the digital joints of the hand by using phonophoretically driven hydrocortisone to the inflamed areas.¹ In 1963, Griffin and Touchstone reported in vitro research on pig tissue demonstrating that ultrasound could drive cortisol into skeletal muscle and paravertebral nerve.² Griffin and co-workers, in 1967, presented the comparison of ultrasonically driven hydrocortisone versus a placebo.³ In their study, 68 percent of those receiving hydrocortisone plus ultrasound had a significant increase in range of motion. The 1975 study of Kleinkort and Wood found a 10 percent hydrocortisone preparation to be more effective than a 1 percent preparation in reducing pain in a variety of inflammatory conditions.⁴ The following case report describes the use of phonophoretically driven hydrocortisone for a patient with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.