title: Can arthrocentesis release intracapsular adhesions? Arthroscopic findings before and after irrigation under sufficient hydraulic pressure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of release of intra-articular adhesions of arthrocentesis, we examined patients with closed lock of the temporomandibular joint by arthroscopy before and after irrigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 6 closed lock cases in which adhesions in the upper joint space were observed by arthroscopy before arthrocentesis, arthroscopic examination was performed again to confirm whether the adhesion was released after the procedure. Range of mouth opening and joint pain were examined to determine the clinical efficiency of the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adhesion was not released by irrigation under low pressure but could be released by irrigation under high pressure. After irrigation under low and high pressure, the maximum mouth opening of the patients improved from 0 to 1 mm (average, 0.3 mm) and 2 to 6 mm (average, 3.7 mm), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that arthrocentesis with sufficient pressure could be effective for closed lock cases with adhesions in the upper joint compartment.
authors: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tonami General Hospital, 1-6 Shintomi-cho, Tonami-city, Toyama-ken 939-1395, Japan. yura@p1.coralnet.or.jp
authors: Shinya
authors: S
authors: Yura
authors: Yasunori
authors: Y
authors: Totsuka
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Yoshikawa
authors: Nobuo
authors: N
authors: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis; D011312:Pressure; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000601:surgery; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome