NO SHORT-TERM DIFFERENCE IN OUTCOME AFTER TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT ARTHROGRAPHY ALONE OR WITH IMMEDIATE LAVAGE

Thirty-three patients with an arthrographically documented anterior di sk displacement without reduction were randomly assigned to be treated with upper joint space lavage or to serve as controls in an 8-week cl inical trial. Pain was evaluated by the patients on a visual analog sc ale at rest and after chewing gum. The dinical examination followed a standardized protocol. Improvements in pain and mouth opening were fou nd in both the lavage and control group after 8 weeks, but there were no statistically significant differences between the treatment and con trol groups. It was concluded that upper joint space lavage after arth rography seems to be ineffective to decrease pain and to increase mout h opening in patients with anterior disk displacement without reductio n.