SYNOVECTOMY AND DISKECTOMY OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT IN PATIENTSWITH CHRONIC ARTHRITIC DISEASE COMPARED WITH DISKECTOMIES IN PATIENTSWITH INTERNAL DERANGEMENT - A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Twenty-five temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in 15 patients with chroni c arthritic disease were treated with synovectomy and diskectomy. Twen ty patients with internal derangement of 27 TMJs treated with diskecto my served as a control group. A response in pain relief was seen in 73 % of the patients with chronic arthritic disease and in 80% of the pat ients with internal derangement 3 yr postoperatively. In both groups o f patients a significant increase in mouth opening capacity and latera l movement of the mandible was seen postoperatively, with no significa nt difference in the improvement between the two groups. Four patients with chronic arthritic disease were reoperated within the 3-yr observ ation period. This study indicates that synovectomy and diskectomy of the TMJ may reduce pain and improve mandibular function in patients wi th severe chronic arthritic TMJ disease.