Interdisciplinary guidelines to optimize the treatment of childhood arthritis at global level. To this point, there no uniform guidelines have existed for the treatment of arthritis of the jaw, a potentially debilitating consequence of juvenile arthritis.

Doctors world wide lack insight into how best to treat arthritis of the jaw, which is a frequent and serious consequence of juvenile arthritis.

Now, a team of researchers from Aarhus University, in collaboration with experts from a wide selection of international skilled groups, have developed a set of interdisciplinary guidelines to optimize the treatment of patients with the disease.

The rules have a special deal with early diagnosis and screening, they usually can profit children everywhere in the world, based on Peter Stoustrup, associate professor at Department of Dentistry and Oral Health at Aarhus University.

A more timely initiation of treatment will end in a greater treatment final result. Untreated, arthritis of the jaw could cause major problems in maturity, but treatment of the condition has lagged considerably on account of uncertainty amongst health professionals and health systems, so this study is vital for all children with jaw arthritis.”

Peter Stoustrup, Associate Professor, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Aarhus University

Complicated joint – complicated treatment

Around 1,500 children in Denmark have a diagnosis of juvenile arthritis, which regularly leads to inflammation of the jaw joint. This results in pain, reduced joint function, and growth disruption within the face, which in severe cases may give rise to sleep apnoea and a necessity for surgical operation of the patient’s jaw.

Up until now, it has proved difficult to seek out an efficient treatment for arthritis of the jaw, because it is an advanced joint, and optimal treatment requires the involvement of many alternative groups of medical professionals, including radiologists, paediatric rheumatologists, physiotherapists, maxillofacial surgeons and orthodontists.

But now, a gaggle of experts from these disciplines has come together to provide common recommendations and guidelines for interdisciplinary collaborative treatment in reference to arthritis of the jaw.

“Health systems are organized in alternative ways world wide, and the treatments offered have subsequently been a bit random. Now, guidelines have been drawn up for optimal collaboration in treating this condition, which might guide the treatment of the person patient, but additionally help the health systems to arrange themselves in such a way that this interdisciplinary approach to treatment is feasible,” explains Peter Stoustrup.

The brand new recommendations and guidelines are based on the knowledge and evidence available in the realm.

The study on which the rules are based provides a basis for follow-up research and knowledge work, and the rules will likely be revised as recent knowledge becomes available.

Of great value in countries without health insurance

In Aarhus, the interdisciplinary approach to treatment has been normal practice for several years, and researchers from Aarhus University have subsequently been the driving force behind the event of the rules in the realm.

With the recommendations in hand, Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup says it’ll be easier to determine centers that practice multidisciplinary treatment for youngsters and young individuals with arthritis of the jaw.

This will likely be particularly priceless for patients in countries without public health insurance – for instance USA.

“Now we have on board centers like Boston Kid’s Hospital and hospitals in Atlanta and Calgary, who’re rolling out the organizational and interdisciplinary approach to this treatment that we’re proposing. It’s our hope that this will provide inspiration for other centers,” says Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup.

Source:

Journal reference:

Stoustrup, P., et al. (2022) Management of orofacial manifestations of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Interdisciplinary consensus-based recommendations. Arthritis & Rheumatology. doi.org/10.1002/art.42338.