Arthroscopic management of septic arthritis of temporomandibular joint.
This article reports on 7 patients with septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) who were managed with arthroscopy between 1998 and 2007. The common symptoms were trismus and pain. A series of imaging studies showed widening of joint space in 1 patient with plain film; MRI demonstrated increased joint effusion in 4 patients; accompanying cellulitis in adjacent tissues was discerned by CT in 2 patients. Under the arthroscope, a reddened and swollen synovial membrane was found in 2 patients who were in the acute stage, whereas strong adhesions, destruction of cartilage, and bony defects were discovered in other 5 patients in the chronic stage. Additionally, the disc was ruptured in 3 patients, and fibrosis was confirmed for 2 patients. Lavage, lysis of adhesion, and debridement of articular surface were common procedures for treatments. The average follow-up period was 57.4 months, and no recurrence was found. Arthroscopy has proven to be a useful method for management of septic arthritis of TMJ, especially for patients in the chronic stage.
Cai
Xie-Yi
XY
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Yang
Chi
C
Chen
Min-Jin
MJ
Zhang
Shan-Yong
SY
Yun
Bai
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013585:Synovitis / Q000473:pathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents