Is There a Relationship Between Age, Personal Factors or Surgical Findings, and Outcome After Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy?

PURPOSE: The variables involved in prognosis after treatment of internal derangement (ID) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are unclear. The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency and identify which factors are associated with treatment success (or failure) among patients with ID managed with arthroscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out of patients undergoing TMJ arthroscopy over a 9-year-period. The predictor variable was composed of a set of demographic, clinical, and operative findings, including, as primary variable, the patient's age. The primary outcome variable was based on the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (AAOMS) criteria of pain (measured by visual analogue scale (VAS)) and maximal interincisal opening (MIO) defined as VAS ≤ 3 and MIO greater 35 mm and grouped as success or failure. The improvement in pain and functional values were compared with the age by using the Pearson correlation coefficient, whereas categorical variables were tested using chi-squared analysis, and mean values were compared with Student t-test or ANOVA. Subsequently, a logistic regression model was used, and the odds ratios (OR) of the evaluated comparisons were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients were included in this study. In terms of arthroscopic findings, the presence of severe chondromalacia, adhesions or disc perforation (P < .001), was related with older patients. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between age and the postoperative improvement referred to pain or MIO. According to the AAOMS criteria, the procedure was successful in 54.24% of the cases. Two factors were related with a favorable outcome in the adjusted regression analysis: a higher presurgical MIO (OR 0.91, P < .001) and the presence of adhesions (OR 0.41, P = .003). CONCLUSION: Age has no influence on the outcome after arthroscopy. A higher presurgical MIO and the presence of adhesions provide, in the long-term, a favorable prognosis.

Nuevos avances en las prótesis ATM customizadas: nuestra experiencia en el Hospital Universitario La Princesa / New advances in customized TMJ prosthesis: our experience at La Princesa University Hospital

INTRODUCCIÓN: Presentamos nuestra experiencia y serie de casos en los que se ha utilizado la prótesis de ATM diseñada y desarrollada en España por el Dr. Carlos Goizueta (Hospital Sant Joan d'Alacant) junto con el Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias y Maxilaria. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Pacientes tratados con patología de la articulación temporomandibular y que han sido reconstruidos con una prótesis de ATM. Esta prótesis tiene cuatro componentes, dos de la fosa articular (una parte de titanio y la otra de polietileno) y dos del cuerpo de la prótesis (cabeza de cromo-cobalto y rama de titanio). RESULTADOS: Se presentan los resultados preliminares de los pacientes reconstruidos con prótesis de ATM en los últimos 2 años en nuestro centro. Se han colocado un total de 8 prótesis en 6 PACIENTES: El diagnóstico de los pacientes fue anquilosis en 4 de los casos, y disfunción ATM avanzada en los otros 2. Se vio una mejoría, tanto del dolor como de la apertura oral, en un seguimiento mínimo de 6 meses. CONCLUSIÓN: Esta prótesis de ATM, de desarrollo nacional, tiene varias ventajas como son la posibilidad de recambio de algún componente y también el diseño del mismo hace que las fuerzas masticatorias se transmiten a la rama mandibular y no a los tornillos de la prótesis

INTRODUCTION: We present our experience and case series in which we used a TMJ prosthesis designed and developed in Spain by Dr. Carlos Goizueta (Hospital Sant Joan d'Alacant), together with the Technological Institute of Canarias and Maxilaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint pathology who were reconstructed with a TMJ prosthesis. This prosthesis has four components, two of the articular fossa (one part of titanium and the other part of polyethylene) and two of the body of the device (condylar head of cobalt-chrome and ramus of titanium). RESULTS: We present the preliminary results of the patients reconstructed with a TMJ prosthesis in the past 2 years in our center. A total of 8 prosthesis were place in 6 PATIENTS: The diagnosis of the patients was TMJ ankylosis in 4 cases, and severe TMJ dysfunction in the other 2 cases. An improvement of both pain and also mouth opening was observed after a follow-up of at least 6 months. CONCLUSION: This TMJ prosthesis, developed in Spain, has many advantages, such as the possibility of replacement of some of the parts, as well as its design since the masticatory forces are transmitted to the mandibular ramus and not to the screws of the device

Influencia de la edad en los hallazgos y el resultado del tratamiento artroscópico de la disfunción temporomandibular. Un estudio basado en 162 casos / Influence of age on the findings and outcome of arthroscopic treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction. A study based on 162 cases

Introducción: El propósito del presente estudio fue analizar si los hallazgos artroscópicos y la mejoría clínica tras dicho tratamiento quirúrgico difieren en virtud de la edad de los pacientes afectos por disfunción temporomandibular. Material y métodos: Se revisaron de manera retrospectiva los datos correspondientes a los pacientes tratados durante 7 años en dos centros hospitalarios en los cuales el tratamiento artroscópico se realizó de acuerdo con el mismo protocolo. Se consideraron solo los pacientes con diagnóstico de bloqueo crónico (estadios IV y V, según clasificación de Wilkes-Bronstein). El estudio implicó el análisis de dos grupos de pacientes diferenciados: a) Grupo A menores de 45 años al diagnóstico, b) Grupo B mayores de 45 años al diagnóstico. Durante la fase diagnóstica del protocolo de artroscopia por disfunción temporomandibular, se recogieron los parámetros «sinovitis» y «condromalacia». Asimismo se analizó la presencia o no de adherencias y/o de perforación discal. En cuanto al resultado clínico del tratamiento de los pacientes, se consideró el dolor durante la función mandibular, la máxima apertura interincisal, el movimiento protrusivo y de lateralidad en sentido contralateral a la articulación afecta como variables de estudio. Dichos datos se consideraron durante el postoperatorio al mes, 3, 6, 9, 12 y 24 meses. El análisis de los datos se basó en un análisis de la varianza de una vía para las variables cuantitativas y el test de χ2 para el estudio de las variables cualitativas. Los valores se consideraron significativos para una p < 0,05. Resultados: La población de estudio incluyó 162 pacientes (Grupo A 90 pacientes, Grupo B 72 pacientes). Los hallazgos de sinovitis y condromalacia en fase avanzada fueron más frecuentes para el grupo B de estudio con diferencias estadísticamente significativas, mientras que los hallazgos de adherencias y perforación discal no difirieron entre ambos grupos. Tras la realización de artroscopia de la ATM, se observó un descenso significativo del dolor (desde el primer mes postoperatorio) junto con un incremento significativo de la máxima apertura interincisal (a partir de 3 meses de seguimiento poscirugía) en ambos grupos de estudio. Conclusiones: El tratamiento mediante artroscopia de la disfunción temporomandibular en fases avanzadas de la enfermedad produce una mejoría clínica tanto en pacientes mayores como menores de 45 años de edad. Los pacientes mayores de 45 años presentan cambios patológicos intraarticulares correspondientes tanto a sinovitis como a condromalacia en fases más avanzadas. Por el contrario, estos pacientes mayores no muestran un incidencia superior de otros signos de degeneración articular como presencia de adherencias o perforación discal

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyse whether the findings and clinical improvement after arthroscopic surgical treatment were different according to the age of the patients affected by temporomandibular dysfunction. Material and methods: A retrospective review was performed on the data corresponding to patients treated arthroscopically over a 7-year period in two hospitals using the same protocol. Only patients with a diagnosis of chronic closed lock (stage IV and V, according to Wilkes-Bronstein classification) were considered. The study involved the analysis of two different patient groups: a) Group A under 45 years of age at diagnosis, b) Group B over 45 years of age at diagnosis. During the diagnostic phase of the temporomandibular dysfunction arthroscopy protocol, the parameters "synovitis" and "chondromalacia" were collected for the evaluation of the synovial membrane and joint surface, respectively. The presence or absence of adhesions and/or disc perforation was also analysed. Regarding the clinical outcome of the treatment of patients, pain during mandibular function, maximum inter-incisal opening, protrusive movement, and laterality in contralateral direction to the joint involved, were considered as study variables. These data were collected at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after the surgery. Data analysis was based on a one-way variance analysis for quantitative variables and the χ2 test for the study of qualitative variables. The values were considered significant for a p < .05. Results: The study population included 162 patients (Group A 90 patients, group B 72 patients). Pathological findings of advanced-stage synovitis and chondromalacia were more frequent for group B, with statistically significant differences, while findings of disc adhesions and perforation did not differ between both groups. After TMJ arthroscopy, a significant decrease in pain (from the first postoperative month) was observed, together with a significant increase in maximum inter-incisal opening (from 3 months post-surgery follow-up) in both study groups. The rate of patients undergoing re-arthroscopy or open joint surgery in post-surgery follow-up was higher in Group A patients. Conclusions: Arthroscopic treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction in advanced stages of the disease shows a clinical improvement in patients over and under 45 years of age. Patients over 45 years of age showed intra-articular pathological changes corresponding to both synovitis and chondromalacia in more advanced phases. In contrast, these older patients did not show a higher incidence of other signs of joint degeneration, such as adhesions or disc perforation. Patients over 45 years of age did not have any differences in the percentage of failure and/or re-operation after arthroscopic treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction, compared to younger patients

Arthroscopic Management of Synovial Chondromatosis of the Temporomandibular Joint. Case Series and Systematic Review.

AIM: Synovial chondromatosis (SC) is a benign condition that is characterized by the formation of cartilaginous nodules within the synovial tissue of a joint that may detach and form loose bodies inside the articular space. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of surgical arthroscopy for the treatment of SC of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of six patients treated with arthroscopy (one patient requiring an open arthrotomy due to the size of the loose bodies) in our centre between 1997 and 2016 is presented and results are discussed. A systematic review of the literature of patients with SC treated with arthroscopy or arthroscopy-assisted open arthrotomy is also carried out. RESULTS: Pain, which was the main symptom in our patients, and maximum mouth opening both improved significantly after surgical treatment. Three of the patients were diagnosed with primary SC, and the other 3 had a previous diagnosis of internal derangement. None of the patients showed signs of relapse during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the extraction of loose bodies and even partial synovectomy of the affected membrane with good results and without recurrence of the disease. This technique can be useful in cases of SC with loose bodies measuring less than 3 mm or without extra-articular extension.