Arthrocentesis and temporomandibular joint disorders: clinical and radiological results of a prospective study

Purpose. We evaluated the efficacy of arthrocentesis in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Material and
Methods. In this prospective clinical case series, 30 consecutive patients with TMJ disorders underwent arthrocentesis using
saline and sodium hyaluronate injections. Outcome measures were TMJ pain, maximum mouth opening (MMO), joint noises,
and anatomical changes in the TMJ architecture. Patients were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the beginning of treatment and 60 days after the last arthrocentesis. Pretreatment and
posttreatment clinical parameters were compared using paired and unpaired t-tests, and McNemar’s test was used to evaluate
CBCT and MRI changes ( < 0.05). Results. At 1-year follow-up examinations, visual analogue scale scores indicated that pain was
reduced significantly and mean postoperativeMMO was increased significantly. CBCT findings showed no significant change, and
MRI showed only slight reductions in inflammatory signs. Conclusions.Within the limitations of this study, we can conclude that
arthrocentesis is a simple, minimally invasive procedure with a relatively low risk of complications and significant clinical benefits
in patients with TMJ disorders.This trial is registered with NCT01903512.