Internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is characterized by displacement of the intra-articular disc, resulting in clicking and popping sounds. However, displacement of the articular disc does not always cause a mechanical obstruction. These conditions may be painless or may be associated with pain, especially during function. The most common causes are trauma, which results in an immediate displacement of the disc, or chronic parafunction, which results in degenerative changes in the articular surfaces, increased friction, and gradual disc displacement.

TMJ internal derangement has always been a therapeutic challenge for maxillofacial surgeons. Up to 25% of the entire population has internal TMJ derangement and are usually treated with nonsurgical methods including medications, physiotherapy, and occlusal splints in the initial period. When these methods are unsuccessful, TMJ is often managed by surgical methods. The mainstay of surgical treatment is based on changing the morphology or position of the disc or removal of the disc with or without replacement. There are variable reports of success with open surgical methodologies; these are associated with surgical risks and potential long term sequelae1.

New insights into the joint pathology of TMJ internal derangement were provided by observations made during TMJ arthroscopic lysis and lavage and outcomes after such treatment. The physical action of lysis and lavage in the superior joint space, rather than disc repositioning, is believed to be responsible for the success of arthroscopic surgery23. This has led to the use of TMJ arthrocentesis as a relatively less invasive alternative to reduce the inflammation in the superior joint space and restore normal range of motion (ROM)2. This study aimed to discuss the role of arthrocentesis in the treatment of TMJ internal derangement and evaluate the clinical variables affecting arthrocentesis outcomes.

This study was approved by the chairman of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Government Dental College, Srinagar, India (approval no. 2012-omfs-GDC Srinagar-1), and the written informed consents were obtained from all patients.

This prospective clinical study was conducted on fifty patients with TMJ internal derangement at our institution from June 2012 to January 2015. Criteria patient for selection was based on history and clinical findings characteristic of internal derangement4. All patients were initially treated with non-surgical methods and failed to respond to these conservative treatments. A screening TMJ view radiograph was taken in all cases to rule out gross degenerative joint diseases. Patients with degenerative joint diseases causing TMJ dysfunction including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout were excluded. Patients with previous surgical intervention for TMJ were also excluded. A total of 50 patients with TMJ internal derangement with failed conservative management were included in this study. Of the 50 patients, 20 had nonreducing disc displacement, 16 had reducing disc displacement, and 14 had reducing disc displacement with intermittent locking; all were treated with TMJ arthrocentesis. Arthrocentesis was performed in the superior joint space under aseptic precautions. Patients were seated at a 45° angle; the points of needle insertion were marked on the skin according to the method suggested by McCain and Hossameldin5. A Holmlund-Hellsing line was drawn from the middle of the tragus to the outer canthus. Entry points were marked along this canthotragal line.(Fig. 1) The first point corresponding to the glenoid fossa was marked 10 mm from the midtragus and 2 mm below the line, and a second point corresponding to the articular eminence was marked 10 mm from the first point and 10 mm below the line. Two mL of 2% lignocaine was injected to anesthetize the articular branch of the auriculotemporal nerve. Patients were asked to open their mouth wide and the mandible was held in the protruded position. A 19-gauge needle was then introduced at the first point, and 2 mL of Ringer lactate was injected through this needle to distend the joint space. Another 19-gauge needle was then inserted at the second point to establish a free flow of the solution through the joint space.(Fig. 2) A syringe filled with Ringer's lactate was injected under pressure into the superior joint space through the first needle; the second needle provided the outflow for the Ringer's lactate. A total of 100 mL solution was used to lavage the superior joint space and the needles were removed. The patient's lower jaw was gently manipulated in the vertical, protrusive, and lateral excursions to free up the disc. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and muscle relaxants were advised for 1 week postoperative. Preoperative and postoperative clinical assessments were performed by a single clinician for signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders which included pain, mouth opening, joint noises, and jaw deviation. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–10). Mouth opening was measured as the maximum interincisal distance in millimeters. The patients were assessed for all the parameters preoperatively, and postoperatively on day 1, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. All results are reported as mean and standard deviation, and a P-value <0.05 was considered significant (SPSS 15; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Patient age ranged from 18 to 60 years (n=50). Mean patient age was 28.96±11.034 years, and 36 patients were female. Mean preoperative pain VAS score was 6.49±1.560. There was statistically significant improvement at every follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up after arthrocentesis, the mean pain VAS score was 0.46±1.147 (a mean difference of 6.03 from the preoperative VAS score).(Table 1) There was significant improvement in pain in both males and females and in all age groups. The age group ≤25 years showed the highest preoperative pain score among all groups and the lowest postoperative pain score.(Table 2)

The mean preoperative maximum vertical opening (MVO) was 26.14±4.969 mm. Twenty-three patients had preoperative MVO <25 mm and 27 patients had >25 mm.There was statistically significant improvement in MVO at every follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up after arthrocentesis, the mean maximum mouth opening was 38.92±3.392 mm with a mean difference of 12.78 mm from preoperative MVO.(Table 3)

A multiple logistic regression analysis of pretreatment data was used for the simultaneous assessment of each potential clinical variable (age, sex, time since onset [TSO] ≤24 and >24 weeks, VAS pain level, and MVO). Age, VAS pain level, and MVO data were categorized and transformed into polychotomous test items prior to carrying out the regression analysis. The categories included were: age (<25 years, >25 and ≤40 years, >40 and ≤60 years), VAS pain level (≤5, >5 and ≤7, >7 and ≤10), and MVO (<25 and ≥25 mm).

Odds ratios (ORs) were used to describe the proportional benefit that an individual with a given clinical feature would belong to the successful treatment group. For the OR to be clinically relevant or even clinically noticeable, we assumed it would need to be larger than 2. There was a significant difference between categories by age (P=0.0019) and VAS pain level (P=0.006).(Table 4)

Logistic regression analysis showed a significant increase in successful outcomes for the age group <25 years (OR, 12.01; P=0.012), a VAS pain level of >7 (OR, 11.25; P=0.039), and a MVO of <25 mm (OR, 7.70; P=0.038).(Table 5)

There is clinical evidence supporting the existence of disc displacement in TMJ internal derangement. However, the current consensus suggests that a change in the position of the disc is not a primary factor in TMJ pain and dysfunction. However, alterations in joint pressure (negative intra-articular pressure), a variety of biochemical substances, and constituents of the synovial fluid (and thereby failure of lubrication) may lead to clicking and TMJ derangement267.

Lavage of the upper joint space reduces joint pain by removing inflammatory mediators, increasing mandibular mobility by removing intra-articular adhesions, eliminating the negative pressure within the joint, recovering disc and fossa space, and improving disc mobility, which reduces the mechanical obstruction caused by the anterior position of disc89101112. Arthrocentesis under sufficient pressure can also remove adhesions, widen the joint spaces, and improve mouth opening1213.

Mean preoperative pain VAS score was 6.49±1.560, and mean preoperative MVO was 26.14±4.969 mm. There was statistically significant improvement at every follow-up. At the 6-month postoperative follow-up after arthrocentesis, the mean pain VAS scale was 0.46±1.147 with a mean difference of 6.03 from the preoperative value. The MVO was 38.92±3.392 mm with a mean difference of 12.78 mm from preoperative opening value. The overall success rate at 6-month follow-up was 84%, which is in accord with studies by Carvajal and Laskin (88%), but their study follow-up was from 10 to 96 months114.

The success rate of arthrocentesis in our study was 84%; the rest of the cases were classified as unsuccessful because of persistent pain and decreased mouth opening. The results of the present study showed patient age in the unsuccessful outcome group was significantly higher than that in the successful outcome group. This observation is consistent with other studies, which showed mean patient age in failed instances was older than that in successful outcomes151617.

The consistent age difference in successful outcomes may be attributed to biologically based differences in TMJ status.

Patients with a successful outcome had a higher VAS pain level and a more restricted ROM than those with an unsuccessful outcome13. One hypothesis is that in these instances pronounced inflammatory processes associated with alterations in the constituents of the synovial fluid were the main underlying mechanisms. Pain and maximum mouth opening and dysfunction are interrelated. More pain results in severe reduction in mouth opening.

The present study also evaluated the contribution of age, TSO, VAS pain level, and MVO to TMJ arthrocentesis outcomes. Age <25 years, VAS pain level >7, and MVO <25 mm significantly contributed to the change in arthrocentesis prognosis which is in accord with the study by Emshoff13. Although these features may not be considered the unique and dominant factors in the definition of arthrocentesis outcome groups, the contribution of these variables was not 0, and the elevation in the ORs indicates that they are probably contributing biologically. Further investigations are necessary to determine the extent these factors and additional morphological and psychological features contribute. In the present study age, VAS pain level, and MVO were associated with TMJ pain and MVO. Arthroscopic studies have provided evidence that inflammatory processes in the synovium, capsule, or retrodiscal tissues are the underlying mechanisms for TMJ pain1516171819.Therapeutic procedures including arthrocentesis were described to correct the dysfunctional state by washing away inflammatory products, lubricating joint surfaces, and promoting healthy synovial fluid production18.

Arthrocentesis is more effective in TMJ disorders with pronounced inflammatory components, and those with a less pronounced inflammatory component affect arthrocentesis outcomes720.

The findings of the present study support that the prediction of a specific outcome is not a matter of simple linearity, but rather is a function of a complex interaction among different variables. Therefore, efforts to predict which patients are most likely to benefit from specific treatment approaches have important clinical prevention and treatment implications.

Transient swelling of the neighboring tissues due to perfusion of Ringer's solution into the surrounding tissues may occur during arthrocentesis. In our study, immediate postoperative swelling was encountered in a majority of patients, but the swelling subsided overnight in all the cases. Transient temporal branch palsy resulting in the inability to close the upper eyelid also occurred in some cases but was self-limiting1820. Otherwise there were no serious postoperative complications. Arthrocentesis prognosis may be diverse and complex due to different the prognostic factors involved; however, arthrocentesis improves disc displacement. Since arthrocentesis is simple, the procedure can be repeated21.

Arthrocentesis a simple and intermediate procedure between medical and open surgical treatment. Arthrocentesis is minimally invasive with less intraoperative and postoperative complications. Lavage of the superior joint space with Ringer's lactate results in significant reduction in pain and improvement in mouth opening. Preoperative evaluation of clinical variables may help in identifying patients likely to benefit from arthrocentesis.