Evaluation of hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values in temporomandibular joint ankylosis patients in comparison to nonankylosed patients

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to find if there is any correlation between the hematological parameters and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis and severity of the disease in such patients when compared with the nonankylosed patients. Materials and methods: A total of 70 patients with age ranging from 10 to 40 years were included in the study after excluding the subjects according to the inclusion criteria. We categorized the subjects into two major groups: group I: control (nonankylosed/ healthy subjects) and group II: study group (ankylosed subjects) with each group containing 35 subjects (n = 35) respectively. A detailed personal and medical history was obtained. The pharynx diameter was also recorded for each patient, and blood investigations using venous blood were done, which included hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values. Results: The results of study population showed a mean age of 22 ± 2.2 years. The most common etiology reported was trauma (65.7%) followed by infections, in which Noma was the most common one (80%). The difference of the mean values for hemoglobin and hematocrit concentration, between both the groups, was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the hemoglobin concentration and duration of ankylosis. Conclusion: This study was an attempt to find a relation between the hemoglobin and hematocrit values in TMJ ankylosis patients so that the clinical treatment and management of such patients during surgeries be improved and may be beneficial for the patient. Clinical significance: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis patients have to undergo complex surgical treatment, where the risk of excessive blood loss is high. Therefore, considering the complications of blood transfusions, such as infections and other risk factors, these patients can be good subjects for autologous blood transfusions, which help in improvement of the overall well-being of the patient.