[Arthrocentesis--a highly efficient therapy for acute TMJ arthropathy]

This clinical study deals with the efficiency of arthrocentesis in acute arthropathy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

In total 142 patients (41.5 years average) were included in the examination. Inclusion criteria were a restriction of mouth opening <40 mm and/or TMJ pain >3 on a visual analog scale (VAS). The first examination took place the day before surgery; follow-up was performed 1 day and 4 weeks after arthrocentesis. Study parameters were active mouth opening, TMJ pain on preauricular or intra-auricular palpation, myalgia of the temporalis or masseter muscle, and a deviation clicking or crepitation during mouth opening. Arthrocentesis was performed in all patients under general anesthesia by a double puncture, continuous rinsing technique in an inferolateral approach as recommended by Murakami. The upper temporomandibular joint space was rinsed with 250 ml of a physiological sterile saline solution and a pressure of 200 mmHg.

Arthrocentesis resulted in a highly significant increase of mouth opening and a highly significant reduction of TMJ pain on palpation (p<0.001).

It can be postulated that TMJ arthrocentesis represents a highly efficient therapy of acute TMJ arthropathy. Whether the results have to be judged as a palliative short-time therapy or if even long-term results can be achieved has to be proved by long-term follow-up studies.