Temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis and lavage

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Rheumatology
• Evidence-Based Dentistry

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders encompass a range of conditions affecting the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
• Arthrocentesis and lavage are minimally invasive procedures proposed for TMJ disorder treatment.
• Evaluating the efficacy of these interventions requires rigorous scientific investigation.

Discussion:

• The review included two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 81 participants.
• One trial had a high risk of bias, and the other had an unclear risk of bias, limiting definitive conclusions.
• Both arthrocentesis and arthroscopy reported mild, transient adverse effects, primarily injection site discomfort.

Key Insights:

• No statistically significant difference in pain reduction was observed between arthrocentesis and arthroscopy.
• Arthroscopy demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in maximum incisal opening compared to arthrocentesis.
• Current evidence is insufficient to support or refute the use of arthrocentesis and lavage for TMJ disorders.

Outlook:

• High-quality RCTs are essential to establish the effectiveness of arthrocentesis and lavage for TMJ disorders.
• Future research should focus on standardized outcome measures, including pain, function, and quality of life.
• Further investigation is needed to compare arthrocentesis with other TMJ treatment modalities.