Therapeutic manipulation of the temporomandibular joint.
We present a prospective study of manipulation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) under a general anaesthetic undertaken to find out the success rate in an effort to reduce the number of patients referred for invasive surgery.


RESULTS
Of the 55 patients invited to participate in this study, 15 improved, 15 did not, 6 showed partial improvement, and 19 were not treated. The median pre-treatment opening was 20mm (range 13-27). Among those who improved after manipulation, the median opening after treatment was 38mm (range 35-56). Some of those who improved experienced a return of TMJ clicking but not of joint or muscle tenderness.


CONCLUSIONS
Manipulation under general anaesthesia helps some patients with disc displacement without reduction.
Foster
M E
ME
Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Gray
R J
RJ
Davies
S J
SJ
Macfarlane
T V
TV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome