LAUSR

BACKGROUND The efficacy of a combination treatment of arthrocentesis and stabilization splint for patients with bilateral anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDWoR) and erosive change of the TMJ remains controversial. OBJECTIVES To evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with ADDWoR and erosive change of the TMJ after performance of unilateral arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy. METHODS A retrospective study of 44 patients (37 females, 7 males, mean age of 34 years) with bilateral ADDWoR and erosive change of the TMJ were included in this study. Their clinical outcomes before and after arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy were compared. Evaluation criteria were as follows: 1) Maximal mouth opening (MMO); 2) Right and left maximal lateral movement (RLM, LLM) and maximal protrusive movement (PM); 3) Visual analog scale (VAS) pain score during MMO, RLM, LLM, and PM; and 4) VAS pain score during palpation of masticatory muscles. Wilcoxon signed rank test, Mc Nemar test, and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Differences in VAS pain score between arthrocentesis and non-arthrocentesis sites were not statistically significant except MMO and LLM (p < 0.05) after 6 months. Differences in mean VAS pain scores for all variables between before arthrocentesis and 6 months follow-up in the arthrocentesis site were statistically significant. (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Unilateral arthrocentesis on more symptomatic TMJ and subsequent stabilization splint therapy was highly successful for pain and achievement of normal range of mandibular movements in patients with both ADDWoR and bony change.