Techniques and modifications for TMJ arthrocentesis: A literature review

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocentesis, first described in 1991, aims to provide less invasive treatment options.
• Numerous modifications to TMJ arthrocentesis techniques have been reported in the literature.
• Recent classifications aim to simplify the understanding of these diverse TMJ arthrocentesis methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocentesis techniques.
• To identify and categorize modifications of TMJ arthrocentesis as reported in scientific literature.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of single puncture arthrocentesis (SPA) and double puncture arthrocentesis (DPA) methods.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed.
• Search terms included "TMJ" and "arthrocentesis".
• The review focused on well-documented articles published in English.

Main Results:

• The search identified 12 distinct TMJ arthrocentesis techniques described across 12 articles.
• These techniques were categorized into 5 double puncture arthrocentesis (DPA) and 7 single puncture arthrocentesis (SPA) methods.
• A total of 17 well-documented articles specifically detailing SPA techniques were found.

Conclusions:

• TMJ arthrocentesis techniques have undergone significant evolution since their inception.
• The division of techniques into SPA and DPA groups in 2015 aimed to reduce complexity.
• Further analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each technique is warranted.