The role of diagnostic arthroscopy in the management of temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction may manifest itself clinically by a variety of presentations ranging from headache, pre-auricular pain or tenderness, otalgia, to mandibular hypomobility. Some symptoms may mimic forms of facial pain such as: temporal arteritis, migraine, cluster headache, trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgias, myofascial pain dysfunction, or muscle contraction (tension) headache. This article will focus on a relatively new diagnostic tool that may be used to examine the TMJ for intracapsular pathology which may be responsible for the presenting patients' symptoms.