Which of the autologous blood products administered simultaneously with arthrocentesis is more effective in terms of clinical outcomes?

This study aimed to determine which of the autologous blood products administered simultaneously with arthrocentesis is more effective on clinical outcomes in patients with temporomandibular joint disorder. The study included 116 patients who underwent arthrocentesis alone, i-PRF (injectable- Platelet Rich Fibrin) with arthrocentesis, and PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) with arthrocentesis. A total of 35 patients underwent arthrocentesis (Group A), 47 patients underwent arthrocentesis with i-PRF (Group APRF) and 34 patients underwent arthrocentesis with PRP (Group APRP). All patients received local anaesthesia before the procedure, and then the upper joint cavity was irrigated with approximately 100 mL of saline solution. Subsequently, patients in Group APRF and Group APRP were administered 2 ml of autologous blood product. All patients' pain and maximum mouth opening values were compared statistically at each time point: before the procedure, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. The results demonstrated no significant difference among the groups in terms of pain. Nevertheless, in terms of maximum mouth opening, superior outcomes were observed in the early postoperative period in the PRP group, while superior outcomes were observed in the late postoperative period in the i-PRF group.

Does intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma/platelet-rich fibrin improve outcomes after temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) have been used as adjuncts to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocentesis but without any high-quality evidence. This systematic review collated data from published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to provide level-1 evidence on its efficacy. Trials published on the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science up to 4 August 2023 and comparing intra-articular PRP/PRF with control after TMJ arthrocentesis were eligible. Primary outcomes were pain and maximal mouth opening (MMO). Twelve RCTs were included. Pooled analysis showed that pain scores were significantly reduced with the use of PRP/PRF as compared with control at one month (MD: -0.96 95% CI: -1.58 to -0.35 I2 = 86%), three months (MD: -1.22 95% CI: -1.86 to -0.59 I2 = 85%), and ≥six months (MD: -1.61 95% CI: -2.22 to -1.00 I2 = 88%). Similarly, MMO was significantly improved in the PRP/PRF group at one month (MD: 2.40 95% CI: 1.02 to 3.77 I2 = 88%), three months (MD: 3.17 95% CI: 1.63 to 4.72 I2 = 91%), and ≥six months (MD: 2.98 95% CI: 1.86 to 4.10 I2 = 75%) as compared with the control group. Subgroup analysis for PRP and PRF failed to show any difference in outcomes. Moderate quality evidence suggests that PRP and PRF may significantly improve pain and MMO when used as adjuncts to TMJ arthrocentesis. Due to the small effect size, the clinical significance of the results is questionable. The high heterogeneity in PRP/PRF preparation methods is a significant limitation.

Estudo das diferentes formas de tratamento para disfunções temporomandibulares / Study of different treatment modalities for Temporomandibular Disorders / Estudio de diferentes formas de tratamiento para Trastornos Temporomandibulares

Introdução:Disfunções temporomandibularessão um termo coletivopara uma série de sinais e sintomas clínicos que envolvem os músculos mastigatórios, a articulação temporomandibular e estruturas associadas. O tratamento de pacientes deverá envolver uma equipe multidisciplinareparaquehajauma intervenção eficaz notratamento da disfunção é necessário que os profissionais envolvidos atuem emconjuntoetenhamplenoconhecimento das funções estomatognáticas.Objetivo:revisar aliteratura sobreas formas terapêuticas das disfunções temporomandibulares e sua eficácia.Metodologia:Trata-se de um estudosobre o panorama atual das terapêuticas utilizadas para o tratamento de disfunções temporomandibulares.Para compor o presente trabalho foi consultado o banco de dados da PubMed utilizando as palavras-chave "temporomandibular disorder" e "therapy" associados ao operador booleano AND. Os critérios de inclusão foram os artigos publicados, limitando-se ao período de 2020 a 2024 no idioma inglês. A busca computou um total de 545 artigos, dos quais foram excluídos os artigos que desviavam do tema proposto, artigos que abordavam técnicas com pouco embasamento científico e os artigos que não estavam disponíveis por completo.Resultados:os achados na literatura corroboram com a escolhaem primeiro plano de um tratamentoconservador, reversível e não invasivo. Dentre as opções destacam-se orientações de autocuidado, confecção de placa oclusal, terapias manuais, exercícios musculares, biofeedback e manejo farmacológico em casos de sintomas somáticos. A toxina botulínica tem sido sugerida para tratamento em casos de disfunções temporomandibularesmusculares, no entanto, com baixa evidência científicaquanto aos efeitos adversos. Técnicas cirúrgicas são indicadas em casos de não resolução com terapias conservadoras.Conclusões:Apesar dagrande diversidade nos protocolos,o tratamento conservador demonstra resolução do problema na maioria dos casos de disfunções temporomandibularese aquelestratamentos que combinam várias técnicasevidenciam melhores resultados do que tratamentos isolados (AU).

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders are a collectiveterm for a range of clinical signs and symptoms involving the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint, and associated structures. Treating patients with disorder temporomandibularshould involve a multidisciplinary team, and for effective intervention in dysfunction treatment, it is necessary for the involved professionals to work together and have a comprehensive understanding of stomatognathic functions. Objective: review the literature on therapeutic modalities for temporomandibular disorders and their effectiveness. Methodology:This is a study on the current landscape of therapies used for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders. To compose this work, the PubMed database was consulted using the keywords "temporomandibular disorder" and "therapy" associated with the boolean operator AND. Inclusion criteria were articles published in English from 2020 to 2024. The search yielded a total of 545 articles, from which articles deviating from the proposed theme, articles discussing techniques with little scientific basis, and articles not fully available were excluded. Results:Literature findings support the prioritization of conservative, reversible, and non-invasive treatment. Among the options, self-care guidance, occlusal splint fabrication, manual therapies, muscle exercises, biofeedback, and pharmacological management for somatic symptoms stand out. Botulinum toxin has been suggested for treatment in cases of muscular disordertemporomandibular, however, with low scientific evidence regarding adverse effects. Surgical techniques are indicated in cases where conservative therapies fail to resolve the issue. Conclusions:Despite the diversity in protocols, conservative treatment demonstrates resolution of the problem in most cases of disorder temporomandibular,and treatments combining multiple techniques show better results than isolated treatments (AU).

Introducción:Las disfunciones temporomandibulares son un término colectivopara una serie de signos y síntomas clínicos que afectan a los músculos masticatorios, la articulación temporomandibular y estructuras asociadas. El tratamiento de pacientes con disfunciones temporomandibularesdebe involucrar a un equipo multidisciplinario para una intervención efectiva, requiriendo que los profesionales actúen conjuntamente y conozcan bien las funciones estomatognáticas. Objetivo:revisar la literatura sobre las terapias paradisfunciones temporomandibularesy su eficacia. Metodología:Estudio comparativo de las terapias actuales para disfunciones temporomandibulares, utilizando la base de datos PubMed con las palabrasclaves "temporomandibular disorder" y "therapy" y el operador booleano AND, limitado a 2020-2024 en inglés. La búsqueda obtuvo un total de 545 artículos de los cuales fueron excluidos los que no abordaban el tema propuesto. Resultados:Los hallazgos respaldan un tratamiento conservador, reversible y no invasivo, destacando el autocuidado, placas oclusales, terapias manuales, ejercicios, biofeedback y manejo farmacológico. La toxina botulínica se sugiere para disfunciones temporomandibulares musculares, pero con poca evidencia científica de sus efectos adversos. Las técnicas quirúrgicas se reservan para casos sin resolución.Conclusiones: A pesar de la diversidad de protocolos, el tratamiento conservador resolveula mayoría de los casos de disfunciones temporomandibulares, y los tratamientos combinados muestran mejores resultados que los aislados (AU).

Synovial microenvironment in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: crosstalk with chondrocytes and potential therapeutic targets.

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is considered to be a low-grade inflammatory disease involving multiple joint tissues. The crosstalk between synovium and cartilage plays an important role in TMJOA. Synovial cells are a group of heterogeneous cells and synovial microenvironment is mainly composed of synovial fibroblasts (SF) and synovial macrophages. In TMJOA, SF and synovial macrophages release a large number of inflammatory cytokines and extracellular vesicles and promote cartilage destruction. Cartilage wear particles stimulate SF proliferation and macrophages activation and exacerbate synovitis. In TMJOA, chondrocytes and synovial cells exhibit increased glycolytic activity and lactate secretion, leading to impaired chondrocyte matrix synthesis. Additionally, the synovium contains mesenchymal stem cells, which are the seed cells for cartilage repair in TMJOA. Co-culture of chondrocytes and synovial mesenchymal stem cells enhances the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells. This review discusses the pathological changes of synovium in TMJOA, the means of crosstalk between synovium and cartilage, and their influence on each other. Based on the crosstalk between synovium and cartilage in TMJOA, we illustrate the treatment strategies for improving synovial microenvironment, including reducing cell adhesion, utilizing extracellular vesicles to deliver biomolecules, regulating cellular metabolism and targeting inflammatory cytokines.

A case of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: multidisciplinary treatment and autoimmune etiological hypothesis.

BACKGROUND: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare neuro-mucocutaneous disorder characterized by recurrent edema, facial palsies, and nerve dysfunctions often associated with the plicata tongue. Although the etiology of MRS is not well understood, there is growing evidence suggesting an autoimmune involvement. CASE PRESENTATION: This paper presents a case report of a 25-year-old male with MRS as the initial symptom, followed by temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA). A comprehensive diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment approach including surgery, local injections, and oral medication were implemented, resulting in a favorable prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that MRS is a systemic granulomatous disease caused by autoimmunity, which may also influence the occurrence and development of TMJ-OA through immune-related mechanisms. This study emphasizes the significance of systemic immune regulation in the treatment of patients with MRS and TMJ-OA comorbid conditions.

Efficacy of High-intensity laser therapy in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to assess the effects of High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on individuals suffering from temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). A search was conducted across six electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on HILT for TMDs: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, the PEDro database and Google Scholar (last updated on July 18, 2024). Eligible studies were chosen by independent reviewers, and their quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB). The main outcome was pain intensity (VAS), with secondary outcomes including mouth opening (mm), disability (JFLS-20), and quality of life (OHIP-14). A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the pooled effect by calculating mean differences (MD) for these variables (95% confidence level). The heterogeneity of the meta-analyses was explored using the I2 statistic. Three studies met the selection criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The main RoB was the blinding of participant and treaters. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in favor of HILT were observed for VAS and maximum mouth opening. The pooled effect showed an MD of -14.8 mm (95% CI:-27.1,-2.5) for pain intensity and 3.7 mm (95% CI:0.9,6.5) for mouth opening, changes that were assessed as clinically important. According to GRADE, the evidence was rated as important, and the certainty was moderate due to the heterogeneity between studies. A sensitivity analysis was not performed to address heterogeneity, primarily due to the limited availability of RCTs. HILT has been found effective in short-term pain relief and improvement of jaw opening in TMDs, potentially enhancing quality of life by facilitating activities such as chewing, jaw mobility, and communication. However, further research is needed to confirm its long-term effectiveness. Combining HILT with interventions such as occlusal splints or therapeutic exercises could potentially enhance its effects, leveraging the existing evidence supporting these treatments. It is important to note that the high RoB associated with the lack of blinding of participants and treaters may influence data collection, compromising the internal validity of findings in some studies.

Evaluation of intra-articular injection of injectable platelet-rich fibrin, anterior repositioning splint and arthrocentesis in treatment of temporomandibular joint internal derangement.

The current research paper was designed to assess the impact of an intra-articular injection of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) following arthrocentesis and the use of an anterior repositioning splint (ARS) as a proposed treatment approach for addressing symptomatic internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This study comprised thirty patients who presented with bilateral disc displacement without reduction. The patients were evenly distributed into two groups: Group I underwent treatment involving ARS and arthrocentesis alone, while Group II underwent treatment with ARS, arthrocentesis, and the injection of I-PRF. Clinical assessment of all patients was done postoperatively in the following intervals; first week, first month, third month, and six months for maximum mouth opening (MMO), right and left lateral excursion, and pain score. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment for all joints was done at the sixth month postoperatively. Both groups demonstrated improvement in MMO, lateral excursion, and pain. Significant statistical differences were observed in the mean values of MMO and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), favouring the I-PRF group. MRI postoperatively showed no significant changes in disk position or morphology at the end of the sixth month. Administering an intra-articular I-PRF injection subsequent to arthrocentesis demonstrates effectiveness as a treatment approach for alleviating the signs and symptoms associated with internal derangement of the TMJ.

[Research progress in mesenchymal stem cell-related therapies in the treatment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis].

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a kind of organic disease with synovial inflammation, cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone remodeling as the main pathological changes. The current treatment is mainly to relieve symptoms, but cannot completely stop the progression of the disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have multi-lineage differentiation potential and have good prospects in the repair therapy of TMJOA. Intra-articular injection of MSC from bone marrow, adipose, umbilical cord, dental pulp, etc. has been shown to be effective in numerous animal studies. The above exogenous MSCs can also be used as seed cells to participate in tissue engineering and repair more severe defects. Recent studies have shown that exosomes are important mediators of MSC action and have some potential in the treatment of TMJOA. As the mechanisms of TMJOA are further investigated, there is some prospect that endogenous repair capacity can be activated by local injection of relevant drugs targeting the resident stem cells in the joint.

Knowledge and awareness about temporomandibular disorder among dentists in India: Questionnaire study and review.

AIM: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) comprise ailments involving the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and its associated anatomical structures. The complexity involved in TMD is primarily due to its broad spectrum of conditions, clinical signs and symptoms variability, and multifactorial etiology. Considering the above, the present study was performed to help understand the prevailing knowledge and awareness of TMD among Indian dentists in the context of the new specialty "orofacial pain". SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Questinnaire study and review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was distributed using a web-based portal nationwide among Indian dentists. Dentists were invited to participate, clearly stating that the intent and purpose of the questionnaire was to record the existing knowledge and awareness concerning temporomandibular disorders among Indian dentists. The questionnaire was segregated into three sections: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of TMDs. The questions were recorded using a Likert three-point scale (1=agree; 2=disagree; 3=not aware). 310 dentists participated in the survey, among which 105 were general dentists (BDS [Bachelor of Dental Surgery] graduates), and 205 were dentists with specialist training (MDS [Masters of Dental Surgery] graduates). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The results obtained from the study participants was used to calculate the percentage and frequency, following which tabulations were made based on graduate type and clinical experience. The values obtained from all three sections were recorded, and the responses were analysed using Pearson's Chi-Square test with statistical significance kept at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Results of the study disclosed that only 58.1% of general dentists and 46.8% of specialists were confident in handling temporomandibular disorder patients. Splint therapy was the preferred treatment modality for general dentists, whereas dentists with specialist training preferred occlusal rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The results of the current survey indicate that Indian dentists lack sufficient training in dental schools on all three sections and face difficulty diagnosing and treating TMDs.

Interprofessional care for temporomandibular joint disorders: the patient's perspective.

The Indiana University School of Dentistry TMJ Institute is a multidisciplinary clinic designed to support the management of patients with challenging temporomandibular disorders. Professionals across dentistry, medicine, physical therapy, and social work collaborate to create a customised, interprofessional consensus to patient care. Compared with traditional, siloed healthcare models, are patients diagnosed with TMJ dysfunction satisfied with the quality of care received from an interprofessional approach? The objective of this study is to determine the level of patient satisfaction at the Institute using a 5-Point Likert scale patient questionnaire. A total of 93 questionnaires were distributed and 84 were collected. A total of 43% of patients travelled over 50 miles to be seen at the Institute. 'Strongly agree' was the most selected response for each prompt. The exception was whether patients preferred to meet with each clinician individually, to which 'strongly disagree' or 'disagree' was the most popular response, indicating that an interprofessional approach was preferred. The results and comments provided by patients revealed that most patients diagnosed with TMJ dysfunction were highly satisfied with the interprofessional approach used at the TMJ Institute. Our study suggests that positive patient satisfaction is an important factor in assessing the quality and efficacy of interprofessional, patient-centred clinic models.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Temporomandibular Joint Repair: A Systematic Review of Preclinical Studies.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a heterogeneous group of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), masticatory muscles, and associated structures. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapy for TMJ repair. This systematic review aims to consolidate findings from the preclinical animal studies evaluating MSC-based therapies, including MSCs, their secretome, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), for the treatment of TMJ cartilage/osteochondral defects and osteoarthritis (OA). Following the PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies. A total of 23 studies involving 125 mice, 149 rats, 470 rabbits, and 74 goats were identified. Compliance with the ARRIVE guidelines was evaluated for quality assessment, while the SYRCLE risk of bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias for the studies. Generally, MSC-based therapies demonstrated efficacy in TMJ repair across animal models of TMJ defects and OA. In most studies, animals treated with MSCs, their derived secretome, or EVs displayed improved morphological, histological, molecular, and behavioral pain outcomes, coupled with positive effects on cellular proliferation, migration, and matrix synthesis, as well as immunomodulation. However, unclear risk in bias and incomplete reporting highlight the need for standardized outcome measurements and reporting in future investigations.

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes alleviate temporomandibular joint disc degeneration in temporomandibular joint disorder.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD) is a chronic progressive disease that is commonly seen in clinical settings. TMJ disc degeneration is an important manifestation of TMD, and further aggravates the progression of TMD. However, treatments on TMJ disc degeneration are very limited till now. In this study, we first observed the effects of bone marrow stem cells (BMSC) conditioned medium on functions of TMJ disc fibroblasts. Then BMSC-derived small extracellular vesicles (BMSC-EVs) were isolated and exposed to TMJ disc fibroblasts. RNA-sequencing was used to further investigate the mechanisms. BMSC-EVs were finally injected into a rat model with TMD. Results showed that in the transwell co-culture system, the medium derived from BMSC reduced inflammation and enhanced chondrogenesis in TMJ disc fibroblasts. BMSC-EVs promoted proliferation, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation of TMJ disc fibroblasts, and inhibited apoptosis and inflammatory responses. Local injection of BMSC-EVs into the TMD model alleviated TMJ disc degeneration. Therefore, BMSC-EVs were a potentially effective, sustainable and clinically translational-promising option for TMJ disc degeneration, and further reduce the progression of TMD.

[Growth disturbances of the temporomandibular joint: causes, diagnosis and treatment]. / Groeistoornissen van het kaakgewricht: oorzaken, diagnose en behandeling.

Growth disturbances of the temporomandibular Joint are characterized by mandibular asymmetry, sometimes with secondary maxillar disturbances. Although the clinical symptoms are sometimes quite severe, patients usually have no pain. There are several growth disturbances, but in this article we discuss three particular causes of facial asymmetry, namely hemimandibular growth defects; overdevelopment, underdevelopment and neoplasms of the mandibular joint. Hemimandibular overdevelopment (hyperplasia) is a growth disorder characterized by progressive asymmetry of the mandibula. Hemimandibular hypoplasia, on the other hand, is a growth disorder involving underdevelopment of the condyle mandibulae due to impingement of the growth center and ankylosing. A pronounced asymmetrical face can cause aesthetic problems and always requires diagnostics, because in addition to the hyperplasia and hypoplasia mentioned above, other causes can explain the asymmetry such as, for example, an osteoarthritis or even a tumor emanating from the base of the skull, mandibula or soft tissues.

[Minimally invasive treatments and open joint surgery for disorders of the temporomandibular joint]. / Minimaal invasieve behandelingen en opengewrichtschirurgie voor aandoeningen van het kaakgewricht.

The initial treatment of symptomatic disorders of the temporomandibular joint typically consists of a conservative approach, in which medication (painkillers and muscle relaxants), orofacial physiotherapy and splints are most important. In most cases, minimally invasive treatment options, such as arthrocentesis, arthroscopy or joint injections, are only considered when conservative methods provide insufficient symptom reduction. There is, however, an ongoing debate about the optimal treatment strategy due to an increasing body of evidence concerning the superior effectiveness in symptom reduction of minimally invasive treatment options with regard to conservative treatments. If these minimally invasive treatment options are also ineffective, open joint surgery may be considered as a last option for a select group of patients.

A systematic review of the clinical outcomes for various orthodontic and physiotherapy appliances used for the management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is associated with restricted mandibular movements, with deviation to the affected side. The management of TMJ ankylosis involves surgery to mitigate the effects of ankylosis, and adjunctive appliance therapy to supplement the results achieved through surgery. Several appliances have been used to help maintain jaw mobility postsurgery, but have been rarely documented in the literature. Our systematic review aimed to examine the clinical outcomes of various appliances for TMJ ankylosis management. A comprehensive electronic search of the literature was performed in July 2022 to identify eligible articles that had tested the use of orthodontic or physiotherapy appliances for the management of TMJ ankylosis. In total, 13 publications were included in the narrative synthesis. Both generic and custom-made appliances were used, with overall findings suggesting that using these appliances improved mouth opening and reduced chances of re-ankylosis. In this review no universally accepted appliance was found to be utilized, and the criteria used for appliance selection were unclear. The field of research in developing appliances for the treatment of TMJ ankylosis is open to advancement, and this review will help guide future research in this area.

Is there a superiority between arthrocentesis and stabilizing occlusal splint for the treatment of anterior disc displacement with reduction and intermittent block and anterior disc displacement without reduction in TMJ? Randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior displacement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc is a disorder in which the articular disc is dislocated from its correct position relative to the mandibular condyle and mandibular fossa. Traditionally, the initial treatment of disc displacements involves various conservative measures, including the use of a stabilizing interocclusal splint. However, in cases where there is associated limited mouth opening, as in the case of anterior disc displacement with reduction and intermittent block (ADDwRIB), and anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDw/oR), arthrocentesis has been suggested as another modality of initial treatment due to its faster effect in preventing disease progression to a more advanced stage, as well as reducing the chances of pain chronification and central sensitization. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze whether there is a preponderance in efficacy between treatments with a stabilizing interocclusal splint or arthrocentesis in these patients. METHODS: A randomized, prospective, longitudinal clinical trial was conducted. The sample was obtained by convenience, between June 2021 and January 2023. Twenty-four patients with diagnoses of ADDwRIB and ADDw/oR were included. The diagnosis and clinical evaluations followed the DC/TMD criteria, and TMJ MRI was performed. Patients were randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups. Group 1 (n = 13): stabilizing interocclusal splint. Group 2 (n = 11): arthrocentesis. Patients were evaluated after 1, 2, 3, and 6 months for clinical parameters of pain, functionality, and psychosocial status. RESULTS: Both treatments were effective in reducing pain levels, with no statistically significant differences. Group 1 showed significantly greater mouth-opening levels compared to Group 2 (P = .041). CONCLUSION: Both groups showed significant improvements in various parameters evaluated throughout the study, indicating they are equally effective in pain control and most functional and quality of life parameters. However, the stabilizing interocclusal splint treatment was superior in restoring mouth opening.

Arthrocentesis versus occlusal coverage splints in the management of disc displacement without reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR) can cause pain and limitations in mouth opening, with a significant impact on function. The optimal management strategy for DDwoR is unclear. Treatments include conservative management such as mandibular manipulation, occlusal splints, and patient education/self-management, as well as arthrocentesis, which is a minimally invasive procedure. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to ascertain whether there is a role for arthrocentesis in the management of DDwoR. Studies analysing the outcomes pain and maximum mouth opening (MMO) in patients with DDwoR treated by arthrocentesis or occlusal coverage devices were eligible for inclusion. Following a database search, six studies with a total of 343 participants were found to be eligible for analysis (three prospective observational studies, one retrospective observational study, one non-randomized single-blind clinical trial, and one unblinded randomized clinical trial). When compared to occlusal coverage splints, arthrocentesis demonstrated a slight improvement in pain, although this was statistically non-significant (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.04 to 0.05, P = 0.07; I2 = 81%), and a significant improvement in MMO (SMD 0.79 mm, 95% CI 0.24-1.35 mm, P = 0.005; I2 = 79%). However, due to the significant heterogeneity between studies and the high risk of bias, along with the paucity of double-blind randomized controlled clinical trials, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn for this clinical question.

Effectiveness of Laser Acupuncture for Reducing Pain and Increasing Mouth Opening Range in Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Laser acupuncture (LA) demonstrates promising results in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. However, its effects on temporomandibular disorder (TMD) are not yet fully understood. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of LA on pain intensity and maximum mouth opening range (MMO) related to TMD. A search was carried out in 11 electronic databases and references of included studies to locate randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that evaluated LA as a primary treatment for TMD. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool. Network meta-analysis was conducted on the MetaInsight platform, considering the pain intensity and counseling (C) as the outcome of reference. The GRADE system was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. RECENT FINDINGS: Five studies evaluated pain intensity, four with a high risk of bias and one with a low risk. Two studies evaluated pain intensity on palpation (one with high and one with low risk of bias), and one study with high risk of bias evaluated MMO. Laser parameters were: 690-810 nm, 40-150 mW, and 7.5-112.5 J/cm2. Occlusal splint (OS) [- 2.47; CI 95% - 3.64, - 1.30] and Physiotherapy (PT) [-2.64; CI 95% - 3.94, - 1.34] reduced pain intensity compared to C. The ranking of treatments in order of effectiveness was PT > OS > LA > C > CR (craniopuncture). The certainty of the evidence was very low or low. The data do not support the indication of LA for the treatment of TMDs and new placebo-controlled RCTs must be conducted to demonstrate its effectiveness more precisely.

Nasal septum-derived chondroprogenitor cells control mandibular condylar resorption consequent to orthognathic surgery: a clinical trial.

Condylar resorption is an aggressive and disability form of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) degenerative disease, usually non-respondent to conservative or minimally invasive therapies and often leading to surgical intervention and prostheses implantation. This condition is also one of the most dreaded postoperative complications of orthognathic surgery, with severe cartilage erosion and loss of subchondral bone volume and mineral density, associated with a painful or not inflammatory processes. Because regenerative medicine has emerged as an alternative for orthopedic cases with advanced degenerative joint disease, we conducted a phase I/IIa clinical trial (U1111-1194-6997) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous nasal septal chondroprogenitor cells. Ten participants underwent biopsy of the nasal septum cartilage during their orthognathic surgery. The harvested cells were cultured in vitro and analyzed for viability, presence of phenotype markers for mesenchymal stem and/or chondroprogenitor cells, and the potential to differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes, and osteoblasts. After the intra-articular injection of the cell therapy, clinical follow-up was performed using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) and computed tomography (CT) images. No serious adverse events related to the cell therapy injection were observed during the 12-month follow-up period. It was found that autologous chondroprogenitors reduced arthralgia, promoted stabilization of mandibular function and condylar volume, and regeneration of condylar tissues. This study demonstrates that chondroprogenitor cells from the nasal septum may be a promise strategy for the treatment of temporomandibular degenerative joint disease that do not respond to other conservative therapies.