Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2025
Knee Arthrocentesis in Adults
Published on: February 25, 2022
Needle orientation for temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis in Koreans
Atapol Yongvikul1, Jae-Young Kim1, Jeong-Kui Ku1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
Objective:
To investigate the highest opportunity skin puncture point and needle orientation according to facial asymmetry and classification.
Methods:
Computed tomography of 136 patients was analyzed. Horizontal and vertical angles and distances from the canthal-tragal line were investigated to determine the puncture point and needle's angle.
Result:
All patients' average points were 7.39 (±2.85) mm anterior to the tragus and 3.44 (±4.18) mm below the canthal-tragal line with an angle of 8.53 (±6.90)° anteriorly and 32.26 (±7.23)° superiorly. Regarding asymmetry, there was a statistical difference in horizontal angle, depth, and canthal-tragal distance between the deviated and non-deviated sides. Especially, vertical distances were 4.44 (±4.66) mm and 2.59 (±4.11) mm in the deviated and non-deviated sides, respectively (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
In closed-mouth, the puncture point was closer to the tragus and lower than the conventional point. The point in the deviated side should be considered lower than the non-deviated side.
