[Experimental and clinical evaluation of the temporomandibular joint arthroscopy]

To evaluate the clinical value of the TMJ arthroscopy, 10 monkeys and 48 patients were examined. No special injuries and serious complications were revealed. The field of vision of arthroscopy is wide enough to observe the upper compartment, but there is some difficulty in inspecting the lower one. Meanwhile, different kinds of pathological changes were observed on the disc, fossa, eminence and synovial membrane through the arthroscopy in the patients with TMJ disorder. Thus it can be concluded that the TMJ arthroscopy is very important and useful to inspect the joint cavity and to diagnose the TMJ diseases.