Efficacy of arthroscopic surgery and midlaser treatments for chronic temporomandibular joint articular disc derangement following motor vehicle accident

Arthroscopy versus arthrocentesis and versus conservative treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of arthroscopy compared to arthrocentesis and to conservative treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders. Thirteen controlled studies on various patient outcomes were included after a systematic search in seven electronic databases. Meta-analyses were conducted separately for arthroscopic surgery (AS) and arthroscopic lysis and lavage (ALL), and short-term (<6 months), intermediate-term (6 months to 5 years), and long-term (≥5 years) follow-up periods were considered. No significant differences in pain reduction and complication rates were found between AS or ALL and arthrocentesis. Regarding improvement in maximum mouth opening (MMO), both AS at intermediate-term and ALL at short-term follow-up were equally efficient when compared to arthrocentesis. However, at intermediate-term follow-up, ALL was superior to arthrocentesis for MMO improvement (mean difference 4.9 mm, 95% confidence interval 2.7-7.1 mm). Trial sequential analysis supported the conclusion of the meta-analysis for MMO improvement for ALL versus arthrocentesis studies at intermediate-term follow-up, but not for the other meta-analyses. Insufficient evidence exists to draw conclusions regarding other patient outcomes or about comparisons between arthroscopy and conservative treatments. Due to the low quality of the primary studies, further research is warranted before final conclusions can be drawn regarding the management of temporomandibular joint disorders.

Efficacy of stabilisation splint and low-level laser therapy for patients with chronic closed lock from non-reducible displaced temporo-mandibular joint discs: A parallel randomised clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Stabilisation splint therapy (SST) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) are effective-invasive treatment for temporo-mandibular disorder (TMD) patients. However, the specific efficacy of each therapy in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL) from temporo-mandibular joints (TMJ) disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the efficacy of SST and LLLT alone or in combination in patients with CCL from TMJ DDwoR.

METHODS

This parallel randomised clinical trial included 42 patients who were diagnosed with CCL from TMJ DDwoR. Patients were allocated equally and randomly into three treatment groups: group I received combined SST and LLLT, group II received LLLT and group III received SST. Maximum mouth opening (MMO), visual analogue scale (VAS), muscle and joint palpation scores and time required to achieve normal state were evaluated at baseline, 1, 2, 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Data were collected and analysed using SPSS software.

RESULTS

Regarding MMO and VAS, a statistically significant improvement was found between group I versus group II and versus group III at all evaluation times. Regarding muscle and joint palpation scores, a statistically significant difference was found between group I versus group III, while non-significant difference was found between group I and group II. A statistically significant faster improvement was found in group I versus group III and versus group II.

CONCLUSION

All treatment modalities can be effective in management of CCL from a TMJ DDwoR cases, but the combined SST and LLLT group seems to provide the best and quickest improvement.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05548894.

Rearthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint: A retrospective study of 600 arthroscopies

PURPOSE

Arthroscopic surgery is an effective treatment for patients with temporomandibular disorders, releasing symptoms and restoring the mandibular function. In patients with poor arthroscopic outcomes, several options of treatment can be considered such as conservative nonsurgical therapy, open surgery, or a second arthroscopy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our results after 619 arthroscopies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical data of 619 arthroscopies performed between 1996 and 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Outcome assessments were based on reductions in pain, measured using a visual analog scale (VAS), and improvement in maximal interincisal opening (MIO). The minimum follow-up period was 24 months.

RESULTS

The incidence of TMJ reoperation in the 371 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery was 5.9%, with a mean time between surgeries of 66.73 months. Significant improvement between presurgical and postsurgical pain and presurgical and postsurgical MIO at months 6 and 12 were evident. The mean of preoperative MIO was 30.84 mm, which increased to 35.92 mm 1-year postsurgery, these results being statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In most of the cases the result of a new arthroscopy is satisfactory. Rearthroscopy of the TMJ is a valid and effective method for patients with a first unsuccessful arthroscopy.

Traumatisme cervical et dysfonctionnement de l’appareil manducateur

Attributing dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to whiplash injury is a difficult problem to solve. TMJ disorders do not seem to be secondary to direct articular trauma but rather caused by a postural disorder of the cervical spine. Occlusal disorders and stress further complicate the picture. Four clinical cases illustrate a new hypothetical approach.

A systematic review of low level laser therapy with location-specific doses for pain from chronic joint disorders

We investigated if low level laser therapy (LLLT) of the joint capsule can reduce pain in chronic joint disorders. A literature search identified 88 randomised controlled trials, of which 20 trials included patients with chronic joint disorders. Six trials were excluded for not irradiating the joint capsule. Three trials used doses lower than a dose range nominated a priori for reducing inflammation in the joint capsule. These trials found no significant difference between active and placebo treatments. The remaining 11 trials including 565 patients were of acceptable methodological quality with an average PEDro score of 6.9 (range 5-9). In these trials, LLLT within the suggested dose range was administered to the knee, temporomandibular or zygapophyseal joints. The results showed a mean weighted difference in change of pain on VAS of 29.8 mm (95% CI, 18.9 to 40.7) in favour of the active LLLT groups. Global health status improved for more patients in the active LLLT groups ( relative risk of 0.52; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.76). Low level laser therapy with the suggested dose range significantly reduces pain and improves health status in chronic joint disorders, but the heterogeneity in patient samples, treatment procedures and trial design calls for cautious interpretation of the results.

The incidence of reoperation after temporomandibular joint arthroscopic surgery: a retrospective study of 450 consecutive joints

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of reoperation after temporomandibular joint arthroscopic surgery in 315 consecutive patients (488 joints).

STUDY DESIGN

The clinical data and operative reports of all patients who underwent arthroscopic procedures from 1995 to 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients had a preoperative clinical and panoramic radiographic evaluation. Most of the patients had disk displacement without reduction. In the remaining patients, the intra-articular pathologic conditions ranged from disk displacement with reduction to degenerative joint disease. The outcome assessment was based on reduction in pain, improvement in vertical dimension of mouth opening, and mandibular excursions. The same surgical team performed all arthroscopic procedures. Before surgery, all patients received at least 3 to 6 months of nonsurgical therapy consisting of anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, splint therapy, physiotherapy, exercise, moist heat, cold laser, ultrasound, and soft diet or a combination thereof. Patients were monitored postoperatively for as long as 5 years.

RESULTS

Results showed that approximately 20% of those patients who had temporomandibular joint arthroscopic surgery underwent further temporomandibular joint procedures ranging from repeat arthroscopic surgery to open-joint arthrotomy.

CONCLUSION

Temporomandibular joint surgical arthroscopy is an appropriate therapeutic modality for patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangements, with reoperation required for only 20% of patients.

The outcome of arthroscopic treatment of temporomandibular joint arthropathy

Ninety patients underwent arthroscopic temporomandibular joint surgery to 124 joints for arthropathy which had failed to respond to at least six months of non-surgical treatment. They were surveyed at between 6 months and 5 years (mean 2.5 years) after surgery and 63 per cent responded to the survey. They reported an 82 per cent improvement for pain (50 to 100 per cent better), 80 per cent for clicking and 82 per cent for locking. There was no morbidity following the treatment. Arthroscopic surgery should be considered for advanced temporomandibular joint arthropathy which is refractory to non-surgical treatment.