Arthroscopic treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction: preliminary results from a prospective follow up of over five years

Abstract

Patients with refractory temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) despite conservative therapies often require surgical intervention. Although techniques such as arthrocentesis or arthroscopy have been established for years, there remains a dearth of evidence regarding the long-term efficacy of these interventions. This preliminary prospective study aims to elucidate the outcomes of arthroscopic treatment conducted over five years ago in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction. A study involving 31 patients with temporomandibular dysfunction who underwent level II arthroscopic surgery prior to 2019 is presented. The principal objective parameter for joint function was mouth opening, while the primary subjective parameters included pain, which was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and quality of life, assessed using the OHIP-14sp questionnaire. Objective parameters were assessed preoperatively at one year and five years postoperatively, while quality of life was evaluated both preoperatively and five years after the procedure. Subsequently, the long-term status of patients was analysed, including surgical outcomes and the necessity for supplementary techniques such as second arthroscopy or open surgery. The quality-of-life scores significantly improved (p < 0.001) after five years of follow up when compared with preoperative assessments. Pain levels exhibited a statistically significant decrease over the follow-up period (p < 0.001). Significant differences were observed between preoperative and both 12-months’ and five-years’ follow up (both p < 0.001) but not between the 12-month and five-year marks (p = 0.899). Similar trends were noted for maximum mouth opening, with differences between pre-surgery and both 12-months’ and five-years’ follow up (p = 0.049 and p = 0.005, respectively) but not between the 12-month and five-year assessments (p = 0.482). Mouth opening at 12 months (p = 0.003) and five years (p = 0.032), as well as OHIP results at five years (p = 0.003), demonstrated statistically significant differences between groups according to the final status. In all cases, poorer clinical outcomes post-surgery (requiring a second arthroscopy or meniscectomy) correlated with decreased mouth opening and worse OHIP results. Arthroscopy emerges as an effective technique in the long-term treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, as parameters such as pain and maximum mouth opening improve, and this improvement remains stable at the five-year follow up.