Abstract

Introduction

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are conditions that can affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), masticatory muscles, and associated structures and can clinically manifest as craniofacial pain, limitation of mouth opening, and joint noises.¹1 Craane B, Dijkstra PU, Stappaerts K, De Laat A. Randomized controlled trial on physical therapy for TMJ closed lock. J Dent Res. 2012 Apr;91(4):364-9 ^{, 2}2 Su N, Yang X, Liu Y, Huang Y, Shi Z. Evaluation of arthrocentesis with hyaluronic acid injection plus oral glucosamine hydrochloride for temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis in oral-health-related quality of life. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2014 Sep;42(6):846-51. Epub 2013 Dec 25. Over 30% of the population suffers from TMD and have their quality of life severely affected by this condition.²2 Su N, Yang X, Liu Y, Huang Y, Shi Z. Evaluation of arthrocentesis with hyaluronic acid injection plus oral glucosamine hydrochloride for temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis in oral-health-related quality of life. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2014 Sep;42(6):846-51. Epub 2013 Dec 25. TMD can be treated by either conservative or surgical treatment. Conservative treatments include occlusal splints, physical therapy, thermotherapy, administration of myorelaxant drugs, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory drugs as well as laser therapy. Surgical treatments can be invasive (open TMJ surgery) or minimally invasive, including arthrocentesis and arthroscopy.³3 Brennan PA, Ilankovan V. Arthrocentesis for temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2006 Jun;64(6):949-51. Arthrocentesis intervention is most commonly used in patients not responding to conservative treatment. The lysis mechanical action and joint space washing break adhesions within the joint and remove inflammatory mediators, such as interleukins and cytotoxins, which are responsible for chronic pain; thus, pain relief allows the improvement of mouth opening and mastication.⁴4 Nitzan DW, Dolwick MF, Martinez GA. Temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis: a simplified treatment for severe, limited mouth opening. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1991 Nov;49(11):1163-7. Arthrocentesis is the least invasive TMJ surgery, offers low risk, and can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia or conscious sedation.⁵5 Alpaslan C, Dolwick MF, Heft MW. Five year retrospective evaluation of temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2003 Jun;32(3):263-7. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and the level of satisfaction of patients who underwent TMJ arthrocentesis under local anesthesia.

Methodology

Study design

This prospective study was performed at the Universidade de Pernambuco - UPE between March 2012 and March 2013. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP/UPE) and registered under number 04474012.4.0000.5207. All patients signed an informed consent agreement. Patients were recruited at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of UPE. The inclusion criteria were a minimum age of 16 years, anterior disc replacement with or without reduction, mouth opening limitation of articular origin, and pain of articular origin, and the exclusion criteria were pain of muscular origin, systemic rheumatic disease, pregnancy, TMJ ankylosis, previous TMJ surgery, current use of anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, muscle relaxant or anti-depressants, and systemic disease.

Subjects

Fourteen enrolled patients, (13 females and one male; mean age, 37.6 years; SD 11.8) showing TMJ arthralgia (classified according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, RDC/TMD), underwent arthrocentesis as an initial treatment. Data was collected by a specific questionnaire in which the intensity of pain before, during, and after 1 year of the procedure, the patients’ opinion regarding the improvement of mouth opening and mastication, and their satisfaction with the outcome of the procedure were determined.

Arthrocentesis procedure

The procedure started by blocking the auriculotemporal nerve followed by anesthesia of the posterior deep temporal and masseteric nerves. A straight line was drawn on the skin from the middle portion of the tragus of the ear to the lateral corner of the eye; two points for the insertion of needles were marked on this line: the first, posterior point was marked at a 10 mm distance from the tragus and 2 mm below the same line; the second point was marked at a 20 mm distance ahead of the tragus and 10 mm below the line. A sterile mouth opener was placed between the dental arches on the contralateral side of the arthrocentesis to enable downward and forward displacement of the mandible head; thus, allowing easier access to the posterior recess of the upper compartment of ATM. An 18 G needle was introduced at the posterior point (first marking), which was connected to a 5 ml syringe, through which a 4 mL 0.9% saline was administered to distend the joint space. Another similar needle was introduced in the same distended compartment ahead of the first (second marking). Then, 300 ml of 0.9% saline was injected by the first needle and collected by the second. No substances or drugs were added to the injected solution, and all procedures were performed by the same clinician. Patients were instructed to take 600 mg Ibuprofen for 3 days in case of pain.

Measurement variables

The Visual Analog Scale (0–100 mm VAS), which helps to assess the subjective pain intensity of the patient (before, during, and 1 year after the procedure) was used. Mastication and mouth opening variables were assessed by the Likert scale, revealing the level of agreement or disagreement with the patients’ opinions regarding these variables. This scale presented a series of five propositions, among which the respondent was asked to select one: strongly agree (score 5), agree (score 4), no opinion (score 3), disagree (score 2) and strongly disagree (score 1). The level of the patients’ satisfaction with the procedure was obtained by a questionnaire with the response options “Yes” and “No”.

Statistical analyses

Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS statistics version 17.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA); pain intensity frequencies (before, during, and 1 year later) were determined and compared using the Chi-square test; means and standard deviations of pain intensity (before, during, and 1 year later) were determined and compared using Student’s t test; The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify the normal distribution of continuous variables. The Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained for comparisons between mouth opening and mastication. Differences were considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results

Fourteen patients, 13 females (92.9%) and one male, were included in the study. The patients’ ages ranged between 22 and 57 years, with an average of 37.6 years (and a standard deviation of 11.80 years. Before the beginning of arthrocentesis treatment, 85.7% of the patients (n = 12) reported severe pain, and 14.3% of the patients (n = 2) reported moderate pain; during the procedure, 57.1% (n = 8) reported mild pain, and 42.9% (n = 6) reported moderate pain; 1 year after arthrocentesis, 57.1% (n = 8) of patients evolved into mild pain, and 35.7% (n = 5) into moderate pain, and only 1 patient (7.1%) still had severe pain (Table). When the frequency of pain intensity before and after the procedure was compared, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) (Table) was observed. Means and standard deviations for pain intensity before and after the procedure also showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) (Figure 1). On the improvement of mouth opening after arthrocentesis, 42.9% of patients (n = 6) agreed that there was an improvement, 35.7% (n = 5) completely agreed, 7.1% (n = 1) disagreed, 7.1% totally disagreed, and 7.1% (n = 1) expressed no opinion (Figure 2). Regarding the question on improvement of mastication after arthrocentesis, 42.9% of patients (n = 6) totally agreed, 35.7% (n = 5) agreed, 7.1% (n = 1) disagreed, 7.1 % (n = 1) totally disagreed, and 7.1% gave no opinion (Figure 3).

Figure 1
Mean ± SD of VAS values before, during, and after treatment (Student t test).

Figure 2
Frequency of values in the Likert scale as to the opening.

Figure 3
Frequency of values in the Likert scale as to mastication.

The linear regression graph showed a significant correlation between mouth opening and mastication values on the Likert scale (R2 = 0.925, p < 0.0001) (Figure 4). Hundred percent of patients reported being satisfied with the treatment outcome.

Figure 4
Correlation between Likert scale values associated to mouth opening and mastication (linear regression graph).

Discussion

More recent literature supports the arthrocentesis procedure as the initial treatment of TMJ arthralgia in order to reduce pain and the functional deficit more quickly as compared to conventional therapy (occlusal splints, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory drugs). Although conventional treatment can be as effective as arthrocentesis, the results will appear as late as 26 weeks after initiation.⁶6 Vos LM, Huddleston Slater JJ, Stegenga B. Arthrocentesis as initial treatment for temporomandibular joint arthropathy: a randomized controlled trial. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2014 Jul;42(5):e134-9. Therefore, both treatment modalities appear to be equally effective in the long term.⁶6 Vos LM, Huddleston Slater JJ, Stegenga B. Arthrocentesis as initial treatment for temporomandibular joint arthropathy: a randomized controlled trial. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2014 Jul;42(5):e134-9.,⁷7 Yucel MA, Gozneli R, Alkumru HN, Kulak-Ozkan Y. Evaluating the additional effects of arthrocentesis on the condylar pathways of temporomandibular joint in patients with internal derangement treated with stabilizing splint. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2014 Jul;42(5):e86-90..⁸8 Diraçoğlu D, Saral IB, Keklik B, Kurt H, Emekli U, Ozçakar L, et al. Arthrocentesis versus nonsurgical methods in the treatment of temporomandibular disc displacement without reduction. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2009 Jul;108(1):3-8.,⁹9 Vos LM, Huddleston Slater JJ, Stegenga B. Lavage therapy versus nonsurgical therapy for the treatment of arthralgia of the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Orofac Pain. 2013 Spring;27(2):171-9. In a literature review, Vos et al.⁹9 Vos LM, Huddleston Slater JJ, Stegenga B. Lavage therapy versus nonsurgical therapy for the treatment of arthralgia of the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Orofac Pain. 2013 Spring;27(2):171-9. claim that TMJ washing can be a valuable alternative in cases where the primary symptom is exacerbated pain. The present study chose to perform arthrocentesis because patients had a history of unsuccessful conventional therapies. Given the degree of anxiety and stress of these patients, 85.7% had severe pain, marked limitation of mouth opening and masticatory deficit, the therapy chosen was meant to address the complaints of patients in the short run, allowing an improvement of their seriously compromised quality of life.

Today, it is undeniable that both conventional therapy and arthrocentesis play an important role in TMJ arthralgia treatment, provided there is a systematic indication of each technique. For patients with acute pain and functional deficits, the authors recommend an initial conservative therapy, which includes the use of occlusal splints, anti-inflammatory medications, soft diet, and physiotherapy; however, if the signs and symptoms persist or if patients have underwent other treatments, arthrocentesis is recommended.

Patients with TMD show significantly altered emotional states, which are associated with a poorer quality of life (QOL). TMD is a major cause of chronic facial pain and is closely related to physical and psychosomatic stress, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression. The clinical picture of pain associated with TMD has been related to changes in QOL.¹⁰10 Biasotto-Gonzalez DA, Mendes PCC, Jesus LA, Martins MD. Health-related quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorder–a cross sectional study. Rev Inst Cienc Saude. 2009;27(2):128-32. Portuguese.

All patients included in the study reported decreased QOL before treatment due to severe pain, difficulty chewing, decreased mouth opening and difficulty swallowing and speaking. After arthrocentesis, a significant improvement of QOL and clinically in these patients was observed. The survey of patient satisfaction ratified the treatment success, which was demonstrated by the total satisfaction of patients after 24 months.

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate that TMJ arthrocentesis is a viable treatment option for arthralgia relief in the short term. A reduction in symptom intensity gives the quality of life back to patients, which could be confirmed by the patients’ total satisfaction with the procedures performed.

References

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