Diagnostic evaluation of an ultrathin 15,000 fiberoptic arthroscope: comparison of arthroscopic and histologic findings in a sheep model.
OBJECTIVE
An ultrathin 15,000 fiberoptic-based arthroscope was evaluated for the detection of osteoarthritic intra-articular pathologies in sheep temporomandibular joints.


METHODS
Osteoarthritis was bilaterally induced in the temporomandibular joints in sheep. Twenty osteoarthritic temporomandibular joints were arthroscopically examined and rated with use of the ultrathin arthroscope. The arthroscopic observation was then compared with the histologic findings.


RESULTS
The arthroscope provided excellent vision of the osteoarthritic joints. Correlation between arthroscopic and histologic findings was 80%.


CONCLUSIONS
The recently developed ultrathin (15,000) arthroscope was found to be a highly reliable and efficient tool to diagnose joint space pathologies of the osteoarthritic temporomandibular joint.
Kurita
Kenichi
K
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (I) and TMD Clinic, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan. ken-kuri@dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp
Ogi
Nobumi
N
Miyamoto
Ken
K
Goss
Alastair N
AN
D000818:Animals; D020679:Arthroscopes; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004867:Equipment Design; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000473:pathology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012756:Sheep; D013499:Surface Properties; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors