[Arthroscopic diagnosis for intraarticular adhesion of temporomandibular joint]

To demonstrate the incidence ratio of intraarticular adhesion (ID), arthroscopic findings of adhesions were evaluated by means of its shape, location and degree. To evaluate the correlation between intraarticular adhesion and the following index, including patients' age, locking duration and interincisal opening preoperatively.

280 consecutive arthroscopically examined joints in 251 patients were evaluated. Two surgeons discussed and recorded the shape, location and degree of adhesion nine parts of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) upper compartment on the chart. The adhesion ratio in different regions and the relation between different grades and ID stages of adhesions were calculated. The patients with ID stage III, IV, V were divided into two groups, one with adhesion, and the other without. Interincisal opening, locking duration and age were compared between two groups using t-test.

Of all 280 joints, 157 joints had adhesions, which accounted for 56.07%. The adhesion of grade 1 accounted for 44.59%, grade 2 for 32.48%, grade 3 for 7.64%, and grade 4 for 15.29%. The proportions of different grades in different stage were as follows. The joints with adhesion in Stage II accounted for 10.81%, Stage III for 48.76%, Stage IV for 75.61%, and Stage V for 77.78%. There were 223 patients who suffered from ID III - V. All of 223 patients were divided into the group with adhesion (136 patients) and the other group without adhesion (87 patients). The patients' age, interincisal opening and locking duration between two groups were statistically significant difference (P < 0.001).

Arthroscopic findings confirmed that the incidence ratio of adhesion was high, mainly occurred in the older patients with longer locking duration and less interincisal opening. With the higher stage of ID, the adhesion' grades rise.