Confiabilidade do teste de discriminação de dois pontos na face em adultos jovens com e sem DTM

Abstract

Background: The alteration in the processing of painful stimuli through the Central Nervous System has been considered as one of the factors involved in the onset and maintenance of pain in patients with chronic TMD. The variation in these response patterns of the cortical neurons can be clinically manifested by altering the tactile sensitivity and, therefore, being possible to be assessed by DDP. Objective: To evaluate intra-day and inter-day intra-day reliability of the two-point Discrimination test in the face, in young adults, with and without Temporomandibular Dysfunction. Methodology: A cross-sectional study where individuals were randomized. The evaluations were performed through the Diagnostic Criteria for Research in TMD (RDC / TMD), Fonseca's Anamnestic Index (IAF), Central Sensitivity Inventory (ISC), Visual Analog Pain Scale (EVA), Pressure Pain Threshold and Two-Discrimination test. Statistical Analysis: The intra-day (test) and inter-day (test-retest) Two-Discrimination Testing reproducibility was verified by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as well as the measurement error (SEM). Results: Poor intra-day reproducibility was found for the group with TMD (ICC: 0.11 to 0.80 and SEM: 1.26mm to 5.99mm) and for the healthy group (ICC: 0.32 to 0.79 and SEM: 2.07mm to 5.63mm ), as well as poor and poor inter-day reproducibility for the TMD group (ICC: 0.04 to 0.91 and SEM: 1.58mm to 6.18mm) and for the healthy group (ICC: 0.21 to 0.60 and SEM: 1.82mm to 7.03mm ). Conclusion: The Two-Point Discrimination test with the objective of determining the tactile acuity of the face in young adults, with and without Temporomandibular Dysfunction, presented values of poor and poor reproducibility, suggesting the non-reliability for its use in clinical practice.