The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment in Septic Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint: A Case Report

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (SATMJ), primarily caused by bacterial infections, is a rare condition with a diverse etiology that is inadequately documented in the literature, resulting in the absence of standardized treatment protocols. Its nonspecific clinical presentation often leads to misdiagnosis as other temporomandibular disorders, delaying diagnosis and treatment and potentially causing severe complications in the absence of established therapeutic guidelines. The main objective of this article is to report a case of a 61-year-old female with diabetes who was undergoing prolonged corticosteroid therapy and presented with pain, swelling in the right pre-auricular area, and progressive limitation in mouth opening, with no history of facial trauma, where the early diagnosis and isolation of Staphylococcus aureus after a single-port arthrocentesis prompted the timely adjustment of the treatment regimen, significantly influencing the outcome by mitigating the risk of complications. Additionally, this report includes a comprehensive literature review, highlighting the crucial importance of this prompt intervention to achieve a favorable clinical outcome.