Elif Bilgir1, Derya Yıldırım2, Mehmet Fatih Șenturk3, Hikmet Orhan4. 1. Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey. 2. Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. 3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey.
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effects of successful TMJ treatment on relief of pain, improvement of mandibular movement and capsular width with clinical and ultrasonography (US) findings. In this study, TMJ changes were evaluated by clinical and US examination after US-guided single-puncture arthrocentesis, which represents a novel approach. Methods: Clinical measurements were obtained before each procedure and at 1 day, 7 days, and 3 months thereafter. Capsular width was measured via the US at the 3-month follow-up. Results: Significant improvements were evident at the short term of 3 months post-arthrocentesis with supportive treatment, including splint therapy and jaw exercises. Conclusion: Arthrocentesis in conjunction with splint therapy and jaw exercises demonstrated significant clinical improvement at the short-term follow-up of 3 months. US imaging can be helpful for follow-up evaluation of the pre- and post-treatment capsule width. Longer follow-up studies are necessary to validate the effectiveness of this treatment protocol.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of successful TMJ treatment on relief of pain, improvement of mandibular movement and capsular width with clinical and ultrasonography (US) findings. In this study, TMJ changes were evaluated by clinical and US examination after US-guided single-puncture arthrocentesis, which represents a novel approach. Methods: Clinical measurements were obtained before each procedure and at 1 day, 7 days, and 3 months thereafter. Capsular width was measured via the US at the 3-month follow-up. Results: Significant improvements were evident at the short term of 3 months post-arthrocentesis with supportive treatment, including splint therapy and jaw exercises. Conclusion: Arthrocentesis in conjunction with splint therapy and jaw exercises demonstrated significant clinical improvement at the short-term follow-up of 3 months. US imaging can be helpful for follow-up evaluation of the pre- and post-treatment capsule width. Longer follow-up studies are necessary to validate the effectiveness of this treatment protocol.