Septic Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint in a Geriatric Patient: A Case Report

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint is a rare pathology. There is no consensus in the literature regarding etiopathogenesis and treatment. Pain, swelling, trismus, and mandibular deviation are common. If diagnosis is delayed and appropriate treatment is not given, complications such as osteomyelitis, ankylosis, and systemic spread may develop. This article presents the case of an 85-year-old male patient with septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint, including clinical, laboratory, and radiological features, accompanied by relevant literature. Since treatment was started early and there were no comorbidities, the disease was controlled without the need for surgical intervention or any complications. The case presented in this article is one of the oldest patients in the literature. Decreased oral intake due to loss of function of the temporomandibular joint in geriatric patients may predispose them to systemic spread.