Influence of arthroscopically observed fibrous adhesions before and after joint irrigation on clinical outcome in patients with chronic closed lock of the temporomandibular joint.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the state of arthroscopically observed fibrous adhesions (FA) after visually guided irrigation (VGIR) and the influence of FA on clinical outcome in patients with chronic closed lock of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Forty-eight TMJs of 48 patients with unilateral chronic closed lock were enrolled in this study. All 48 joints underwent VGIR twice. After the first VGIR (immediately before the second VGIR), clinical outcome was assessed as regards maximal interincisal opening (MIO) and self-evaluated TMJ pain (VAS). Thirty patients were symptom-free (good outcome group) and the remaining 18 patients had symptoms (poor outcome group). In each group, the changes of the MIO, VAS and severity of FA (FA score) after the first VGIR were studied. The influence of FA score in the first and second VGIR on clinical outcome was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. There was no joint with disappearance or reduction of FA after the first VGIR. In both groups, MIO and VAS were significantly improved after the first VGIR even though the state of FA became significantly worse. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of poor outcome for FA scores in the first and second VGIR were 0.89-times (95% CI: 0.33-2.40, P=0.82) and 1.76-times (95% CI: 0.54-5.73, P=0.35), respectively. The dose-response relationships between FA scores in the first or second VGIR were not significant. In conclusion, our results indicate that the presence of FA or a postoperative worsening of FA (including postoperative new FA formation) seems not to affect the clinical outcome as regards MIO and VAS in patients with chronic closed lock of the TMJ.

Surgical treatment of osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle in the adult. A 5-year follow-up.

Five adult patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and impaired mandibular function and with clinical and radiographic features of unilateral osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle was included in a 5-year prospective follow-up study. All patients were surgically treated with condylectomy and reshaping of the condylar neck which was then positioned underneath the preserved TMJ disk. The yearly follow-up evaluations comprised measurements of maximum interincisal opening and protrusive movements, assessments of occlusion and TMJ pain as well as tomographic interpretation of recurrent growth. No patient showed recurrence of growth at the 5-year follow-up and mandibular function and occlusion was normalized in all patients. The results indicate that this conservative surgical approach can be recommended for treatment of osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle.

Matrix glycosaminoglycans in the temporomandibular joint in patients with painful clicking and chronic closed lock.

The aim was to investigate the content of 4- and 6-sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in specimens from temporomandibular joint disc and posterior disc attachment in patients with painful clicking and chronic closed lock. Nineteen patients (19 joints) with a clinical diagnosis of painful clicking were compared with 22 patients (22 joints) with a clinical diagnosis of chronic closed lock. Specimens were obtained from the disc and the posterior disc attachment, and their content of glycosaminoglycans analysed by means of capillary zone electrophoresis. These were significant differences in the amount of glycosaminoglycans between the two groups, values in patients with painful clicking being comparable to those of normal individuals, while patients having chronic closed lock showed significantly reduced values. Both groups showed higher values in the posterior disc attachment when compared to the disc and similar pattern of glycosaminoglycan sulphation. The results suggest that these two patient groups have distinctly different patterns of tissue reactions. In patients with chronic closed lock there was an altered composition of matrix, this change involving both disc and posterior disc attachment.

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint: clinical, surgical and histological aspects.

Nine patients with histologically confirmed unilateral synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint were treated surgically with extirpation of loose bodies and partial synovectomy. In six of them the histological material was available for a systematic examination. The results of treatment were evaluated clinically and with MRI after a follow-up ranging between 1 and 17 years. Our findings suggest that synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular affects only the synovial lining of the upper compartment. The histological appearance is that of a benign chronic inflammation varying in severity and with metaplastic activity. The most specific clinical sign of synovial chondromatosis is swelling over the joint. Distension of the lateral capsule and fluid in the joint on the MRI are very suggestive of this diagnosis. Loose bodies also indicate synovial chondromatosis, but they are not always detected on the preoperative MRI. The surgical treatment should be conservative and include thorough removal of the loose bodies and partial synovectomy in areas with marked inflammation.

A comparison of discectomy and arthroscopic lysis and lavage for the treatment of chronic closed lock of the temporomandibular joint: a randomized outcome study.

PURPOSE: The study compared the efficacy of discectomy or arthroscopic lysis and lavage in patients with chronic closed lock of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a prospective, randomized clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic closed lock were prospectively randomized to either discectomy or arthroscopic lysis and lavage. The individual outcome in each patient was evaluated with a visual analog scale for pain and a questionnaire concerning mandibular functional impairment. The clinical evaluation included measurement of maximum interincisal opening and protrusion, recording of clicking and crepitation, and palpation for tenderness of the TMJ and jaw muscles. Recordings were made before the operation (baseline) and at the 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty patients completed the study. Discectomy and arthroscopic lysis and lavage significantly reduced pain and improved mandibular function. Discectomy reduced pain somewhat more effectively than arthroscopic lysis and lavage. The clinical recordings at the 1-year follow-up indicated similarly good outcomes after both procedures. CONCLUSION: Both discectomy and arthroscopic lysis and lavage are effective surgical methods for treatment of chronic closed lock of the TMJ. Considering that arthroscopic lysis and lavage is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, it should be used as the first choice in surgical treatment of this condition.

Surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint luxation.

Eminectomy with or without diskectomy was performed in 19 patients with temporomandibular joint luxation. Three of them were long-standing luxations (duration between three months and one year). The remaining 16 patients had recurrent luxations. The follow-up period was three years. No complications such as infection or permanent palsy of the facial nerve occurred. However, transient palsy of the temporal branch of the facial nerve, which resolved within three months was seen in 4 patients (21%). After treatment two patients had recurrent luxations. In the remaining 17 patients, two developed painful clicking of one TMJ, requiring additional surgery (one patient had arthroscopic lysis and lavage and the other one diskectomy). If these two are also regarded as unsuccessful cases, the overall long-term success rate was 79%. A comparison of the subgroups who underwent eminectomy alone and eminectomy with diskectomy showed that all unsuccessful cases occurred in the former group.

Synovial inflammation in arthroscopically obtained biopsy specimens from the temporomandibular joint: a review of the literature and a proposed histologic grading system.

Data indicate that the synovial lining of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in some respects differs from other joints. The normal variation in morphology of the synovial lining of the TMJ is quite great, whereas the variation in pattern of pathologic changes appears to be relatively small (ie, synovial inflammation is not of the severity as that in other joints). In the current review, a system for histologic grading of synovial inflammation is proposed. The system is based on semiquantitative evaluation of the following set of parameters: 1) synovial lining cell layers; 2) vascularity (number or size of vascular profiles); and 3) Inflammatory cell infiltrate (commonly lymphocytes).

Efficacy of arthroscopic lysis and lavage in patients with temporomandibular joint symptoms associated with generalized osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the efficacy of arthroscopic lysis and lavage in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms and generalized osteoarthritis (GOA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three GOA patients and 23 RA patients were evaluated after 1 year. RESULTS: Seventeen of 23 patients (74%) in the RA group improved after arthroscopic lysis and lavages compared with 10 of 23 (43%) of the GOA patients. Lateral joint tenderness, crepitation, maximal opening, and maximal protrusion showed most improvement in the RA group. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of this short-term follow-up study, arthroscopic lysis and lavage seem to provide an effective treatment for TMJ pain and dysfunction in RA patients but not in GOA patients.

Temporomandibular joint involvement in generalized osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical, arthroscopic, histologic, and immunohistochemical study.

Twenty patients having generalized osteoarthritis (GOA) and symptomatic temporomandibular joints (TMJs) were compared with 22 patients having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and TMJ symptoms, and also with an age-matched reference tissue material obtained at autopsy from 17 TMJs. Muscle tenderness was commoner in GOA. Arthroscopically, high frequencies of synovitis, degenerative changes, and fibrosis were observed in both groups, with more pronounced inflammatory and degenerative changes in RA patients, despite a shorter duration of TMJ symptoms. A correlation was noted between lateral joint tenderness and pronounced synovitis in RA patients. Histologic and immunohistochemical examinations added useful information to arthroscopy and showed similarly high frequencies of synovial inflammation in GOA and RA patients, differing clearly from those in the reference material. Connective-tissue degeneration was commoner in GOA patients. GOA and RA probably have different causes, but, interestingly, the tissue reaction was similar in the TMJs, although pronounced inflammatory and degenerative changes seemed to develop faster in RA.

Temporomandibular arthropathy: correlation between clinical signs and symptoms and arthroscopic findings.

The clinical signs and symptoms of temporomandibular arthropathy were correlated with arthroscopic features of temporomandibular joint disease in 200 consecutive patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the selected clinical signs and symptoms was also tested with arthroscopy as the standard, and sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Pronounced osteoarthrosis was more frequently associated with joint crepitus (P < 0.001). Adhesions were more frequently associated with reduced maximum protrusion (P < 0.001). Crepitation was the only clinical sign that showed acceptable values for SE, SP, PPV, and NPV, and only in diagnosing advanced osteoarthrosis. The values for mild osteoarthrosis were low.

Radiographic changes in the temporomandibular joint in patients with generalized osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

This is the first study concerned with radiographic characteristics in patients with generalized osteoarthritis and signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint involvement. For comparison, patients with rheumatoid arthritis and temporomandibular joint involvement were used. The patient material comprised 20 patients with generalized osteoarthritis (20 joints) and 21 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (21 joints). The radiographic methods were corrected sagittal tomography (hard tissue changes, joint space, and condylar position), frontal tomography (hard tissue changes), and individualized oblique lateral transcranial projections (condylar translation). Sixteen (80%) joints in the group of patients with generalized osteoarthritis and 15 (71%) joints in the group with rheumatoid arthritis revealed structural changes. The condyle was the predominant location. No radiographic criterion was pathognomonic for generalized osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. However, osteophytes, flattening of the condyle, or a reduced joint space was observed more often in joints with generalized osteoarthritis, whereas erosions in the condyle were more common in joints with rheumatoid arthritis. The radiographic findings in patients with generalized osteoarthritis are more similar to those seen in patients who have the common form of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis than to those in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Synovitis in internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: correlation between arthroscopic and histologic findings.

PURPOSE: To define arthroscopic criteria for synovitis (SYN) reflecting specific histologic changes. Arthroscopic observations in the temporomandibular joint of patients with internal derangement were compared with histologic patterns in synovial biopsies obtained during arthroscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Arthroscopic biopsies were obtained in 31 joints of 31 patients using an oriented semiblind technique. The histologic changes in the biopsies were compared with those in age-matched reference material obtained at autopsy. RESULTS: Microscopic examination of the reference material showed inflammation in three specimens (18%), whereas it showed inflammation in 22 patient specimens (71%). Biopsies from the patients also exhibited more pronounced inflammation. According to conventional criteria, arthroscopy showed mild SYN (increased vascularity) in 51%, moderate changes in 39%, and more pronounced changes in 10% of the joints. The presence of moderate or pronounced arthroscopic signs of SYN (capillary hyperemia and synovial hyperplasia), correlated well with the histologic diagnosis of SYN. This was in contrast to patients with mild arthroscopic SYN (increased vascularity). CONCLUSION: Increased vascularity seen during arthroscopy must be questioned as a sign of SYN. More reliable criteria seem to be capillary hyperemia and synovial hyperplasia.

Diskectomy in treatment of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. Follow-up at 1, 3, and 5 years.

The efficacy of temporomandibular joint diskectomy without implants was evaluated clinically in patients with internal derangements. Seventy-two patients were examined preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively; 40 were also examined 3 years postoperatively and 15 at 5 years after surgery. Success rates were calculated according to a modification of the criteria established in 1984 by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The success rate was 83% at the 1-year follow-up. Temporomandibular joint pain was alleviated and chewing capacity was normalized in 60 patients. The outcome in 12 patients was classified as unsuccessful, mainly on the basis of residual muscle and joint pain. At the 3-year follow-up only two patients were classified as unsuccessful and none at the 5-year follow-up. Unsuccessful patients had higher frequencies of muscle soreness and osteoarthrosis than successful patients. Postoperative complications were infrequent and minor.

Surgery for TMJ internal derangement. Evaluation of treatment outcome and criteria for success.

Most follow-up studies of surgery for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement are retrospective and do not specify inclusion and exclusion criteria, methods for assessment, definitions of outcome criteria, etc. This paper reviews the literature on treatment evaluation and methods for assessment. Recommendations with special reference to TMJ surgery are given. The use of randomized clinical trials is emphasized.

Rheumatoid arthritis and disk derangement of the temporomandibular joint. A comparative arthroscopic study.

Consecutive patients with clinical diagnoses of disk derangement and rheumatoid arthritis with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) signs and symptoms were compared by clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic examination. Synovial biopsies were obtained from patients with arthroscopic features of synovial inflammation. No clinical sign or symptom was found to be specific of rheumatoid involvement although joint crepitation was most frequently found in rheumatic patients (p less than 0.001). Tomographic features of subchondral bone involvement were more frequently revealed in TMJs of rheumatic patients (p less than 0.001). At arthroscopy rheumatic patients often showed pronounced arthrotic changes and inflammation. In contrast to patients with disk derangement, fibrosis of the TMJ was frequent (p less than 0.001). Histologic examination of obtained synovial specimens correlated well with arthroscopic findings, and more pronounced inflammation was present in specimens from rheumatic patients.

Disk derangement and inflammatory changes in the posterior disk attachment of the temporomandibular joint. A histologic study.

Temporomandibular joint disk derangements were investigated in 42 patients (47 joints) with respect to occurrence and degree of histologic inflammation in the posterior disk attachment and compared with reference material obtained at autopsy. Sensitivity and specificity for arthroscopy versus macroscopic observation at arthrotomy in regard to inflammation were also investigated. On histologic examination, inflammation was found in 1 joint (5.5%) in the reference material and 30 joints (64%) in the patients where pronounced inflammation was found in 6 joints (20%). Arthroscopy revealed inflammation more accurately (sensitivity 0.94%, specificity 0.86%) than macroscopic observation at arthrotomy (sensitivity 0.58%; specificity 0.90%).

Arthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint-technique and indications.

Temporomandibular joint arthroscopy has gained wide interest in reviews of recent literature. With this technique a proper understanding of the anatomical landmarks is important to ensure success. The technique for anesthesia, puncture and the arthroscopic examination are fully described. An inferior lateral approach to the joint compartment is advocated. A description of the equipment used for this procedure together with the functional elements of the instruments are emphasised. Indications for diagnostic arthroscopy together with the possible postoperative complications are presented.