Success with temporomandibular joint arthroscopic surgery

Although most new surgical procedures are criticized during their embryonic stages of development, TMJ arthroscopy should be considered with a great deal of respect when used. Owing to its proximity to the brain, ear, and major nerves and vessels in the facial region, all TMJ surgery has been looked upon as a "last resort" in treating TMJ dysfunction. This has been the case with open arthrotomies and is the case, at this time, with arthroscopy. The goal of TMJ therapy has always been to recapture the disk or surgically reposition it. In TMJ arthroscopy, this entire concept has, for the most part, been abandoned. All that most surgeons desire to accomplish with TMJ arthroscopy is breaking up of adhesions, lavaging out the joint space, and obtaining joint mobility. Most of the pioneers in open TMJ surgery are reporting excellent results with TMJ arthroscopy. TMJ arthroscopy is not meant for all TMJ disorders. When used in the appropriate situation, success in the hands of the experienced surgeon seems inevitable. One of the greatest concerns is "Who is trained to provide this service and how does one become properly trained?" The answer to this is being formulated by such conferences as the yearly International Conference on TMJ Arthroscopic Surgery and by all of the major TMJ surgeons worldwide. Also, courses have been designed to provide cadaver experience. Of course, if a surgeon is not trained or is poorly trained in this procedure, a catastrophe could most likely ensue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)