Arthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint. A clinical study.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy on 30 joints of 26 patients with different signs and symptoms of TMJ arthropathy was evaluated. Local anaesthesia was used and proved efficient. In 27 cases, the superior, and in 3 cases both, compartments were punctured. Successful examination was performed in 26 superior and 3 attempted inferior compartments. Functional impairment following arthroscopy was minor and rarely lasted more than one week. No postoperative bleeding, nerve damage, or infection was observed. Of the 2 systems tested, the rod-lens arthroscope showed superior optical quality.