MRI findings of patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement: before and after performance of arthrocentesis and stabilization splint.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement before and after performance of arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with unilateral TMJ internal derangement that was successfully treated were included in this study. The clinical outcome and changes in the disc position, disc mobility, disc morphology, joint effusion, bone marrow edema pattern in the mandibular condyle, and the degenerative change before and after arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy were compared using MRI.

Results: The average maximum mouth opening (MMO) was increased and the average pain during MMO was decreased significantly after treatment. The disc position, disc mobility, and joint effusion were significantly improved after treatment.

Conclusions: The results in this study indicate that arthrocentesis and stabilization splint therapy provide significant improvement in the clinical outcome, disc position, disc mobility and joint effusion.