EFFICACY OF ARTHROSCOPIC LYSIS AND LAVAGE IN PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERALIZED OSTEOARTHRITIS OR RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy of arthroscopic lysis and l avage in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms and gene ralized osteoarthritis (GOA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients an d Methods: Twenty-three GOA patients and 23 RA patients were evaluated after 1 year. Results: Seventeen of 23 patients (74%) in the RA group improved after arthroscopic lysis and lavages compared with 10 of 23 (43%) of the GOA patients. Lateral joint tenderness, crepitation, maxi mal opening, and maximal protrusion showed most improvement in the RA group. Conclusions: On the basis of this short-term follow-up study, a rthroscopic lysis and lavage seem to provide an effective treatment fo r TMJ pain and dysfunction in RA patients but not in GOA patients.