Pumping injection of sodium hyaluronate for patients with non-reducing disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint: two year follow-up

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to examine the long-term e ffect of pumping injection of sodium hyaluronate into the TMJ in patients w ith non-reducing disc displacement. Patients: Sixty patients with non-reduc ing disc displacement underwent pumping injection of sodium hyaluronate (pu mping group). Seventy-six patients with non-reducing disc displacements wer e observed without any active treatment (observation group). Study design: In both patient groups clinical signs and symptoms were observed periodical ly for 2 years. Variables such as age, range of maximum mouth opening, angl e of posterior slope of the articular eminence and degenerative bony change s of the condyle at the initial visit were also examined, Cox hazards analy sis was applied to examine the clinical outcome for such variables in addit ion to the results of pumping injection of sodium hyaluronate, Results: Pum ping injection of sodium hyaluronate seemed to have a favourable effect whe n compared with the control group (untreated) (p = 0.0002), However, the fo ur background variables mentioned could not be explained as predictors of o utcome. Conclusion: Pumping injection of sodium hyaluronate seems to be eff ective for non-reducing disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint. ( C) 2001 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.