title: Long-term results of arthrocentesis in degenerative temporomandibular disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term efficacy of arthrocentesis was investigated in patients with degenerative temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in this clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two joints of 15 patients with degenerative TMD were included as the study group, and 16 joints of 10 patients served as the control group. Arthrocentesis procedures in upper joint spaces were performed. The study group patients' mean follow-up period was 36.7 +/- 18.7 months, whereas the control group were kept for an average 9.9 +/- 2.8 months. Results were statistically compared using 1-way repeated analysis of variance and t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pretreatment maximal interincisal opening increased significantly from 33.6 +/- 6.0 mm to 37.8 +/- 6.0 mm in the study group. Pretreatment pain and crepitus scores decreased significantly from 71.0 +/- 6.6 to 27.0 +/- 16 and 0.73 +/- 0.4 to 0.6 +/- 0.5, respectively, in the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthrocentesis was found to be a useful method for the treatment of degenerative TMDs, and the outcomes of treatment provide long-term cure for degenerative temporomandibular joints.
authors.affiliation: Medical Center, Specialist Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. ercument@metu.edu.tr
authors.forename: M Ercüment
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.forename: Hakan H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tüz
authors.forename: Doruk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koçyiğit
authors.forename: Reha S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kişnişci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019152:Paracentesis; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult