TRENDS IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT SURGERY

We examined a large population of patients undergoing temporomandibula r joint (TMJ) surgery and provide a documentation of the average patie nt population, frequency of procedures, frequency of repeat procedures , and trends in open (arthrotomy) versus closed (arthroscopy) TMJ surg ery. Data on 194 TMJ surgical procedures was extracted from line item claims information collected by Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Virgi nia. The frequency of arthroscopy increased during the study, while th e incidence of arthrotomies remained relatively low. Approximately hal f of the hospitals statewide did not perform either procedure. There w as a low frequency (3%) of repeat procedures. In the Commonwealth of V irginia, since the advent of TMJ arthroscopy, it has become the prefer red surgical technique for treatment of internal derangement. There is a low incidence of repeat procedures for both types of treatment. Ana lysis of insurance carrier computer records is a valid technique for e valuating trends in surgical care.