Correlation between pain and dysfunction and intra-articular adhesions in patients with internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

The correlation between pain and dysfunction scores obtained by questionnaire and an adhesions index obtained via arthroscopic inspection was investigated in 28 patients with internal derangements (closed lock) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A weak correlation was found between pain scores and the adhesions index. However, joint noise had a negative correlation with both severity and distribution of adhesions in the TMJ. A weak, but statistically significant, negative correlation also was found between the degree of interincisal opening and the adhesions index. This study indicates that intra-articular adhesions are one of the factors contributing to limited mouth opening in patients with closed lock, but that they do not cause TMJ pain.