Comparison of imaging follow-up between joints with arthroscopic surgery (lysis and lavage) and those with nonsurgical treatment.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of arthroscopic surgery on radiographically evident degenerative change of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The post-treatment course was compared between the joints that underwent arthroscopic lysis and lavage and those that underwent nonsurgical treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients agreed to imaging follow-up examination of 35 joints. Twenty-four joints of 19 patients underwent only nonsurgical treatment (nonsurgical joints). Eleven joints of 9 patients failed the nonsurgical treatment and consequently underwent arthroscopic lysis and lavage (arthroscopic joints). The joints were assessed at first visit and at least 20 months later (mean, 79 months) for disc displacement, disc position, disc morphology, disc mobility, condylar morphology, morphology of the articular eminence, and horizontal condylar angle and size. Thereafter, interval change was assessed and compared between the groups.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the progressive degenerative changes between the groups. In addition, there was no significant difference in the change of size and morphology of the condyle. However, a higher prevalence of improvement of disc mobility in the arthroscopic joints rather than the nonsurgical joints was significant (Goodness of fit test for chi(2), P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the post-treatment course of radiographically evident degenerative change was not significantly different between arthroscopy and nonsurgical treatment; however, arthroscopic surgery showed a greater ability to improve disc mobility. In imaging follow-up, arthroscopic lysis and lavage is a minimally invasive treatment modality that is equivalent to nonsurgical treatment.