[Arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint. Long-term results]

The studies carried out by Nitzan et al. (1991) to the assumption that the simple washing of the upper compartment of the temporo-mandibular joint, without introducing the arthroscope, associated to the application of a bite at night was sufficient to obtain a pain relieving effect and an improvement in the joint functionality in cases of internal derangement of TMJ. The purpose of this work is to assess the long-term results obtained in our department by using only the arthrocentesis without the association of other therapeutic procedures for evaluating the benefit brought by the simple washing of the upper compartment of the joint.

A sample of 10 patients subjected to arthrocentesis with an average follow-up of 23.8 months was examined. The evaluation of the patients was based on a clinical analysis and a series of instrumental tests including orthopanoramic X-rays, stratigraphies, RNM in some cases and an electrognatographic test. The parameters taken into consideration were maximum opening, articular noises, local pain in the articular region, the occurrence or not of headache.

In our opinion arthrocentesis is a method of simple application, well accepted by patients, leading to a clear improvement of symptoms, as far as pain relieving effect and functionality are concerned, thanks to the possibility to drain by washing the constituents of the inflammation and the mediators of pain; this method may be applied routinely, as therapeutic support, in those patients with clinical histories of condilo-meniscal uncoordination and presenting limitations in the opening of the mouth and articular pains.