title: Effectiveness and satisfaction evaluation of patients submitted to TMJ arthrocenthesis: a case series.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and level of satisfaction of patients who underwent TMJ arthrocentesis under local anesthesia by considering the following parameters: joint pain, mouth opening, mastication, and satisfaction. Fourteen patients (13 women and one man; mean age, 37.6 years with TMJ arthralgia were selected. The patients underwent arthrocentesis under local anesthesia, and pain intensity was measured before, during, and 1 year after treatment using a visual analog pain scale (VAS 0-100 mm). A Likert scale was used to assess patients' opinion regarding the improvement of mouth opening and mastication. After treatment, patients were questioned on levels of satisfaction provided by arthrocentesis in regard to their quality of life. At the end of 1 year, patients showed a marked improvement in their pain clinical picture (p < 0.0001). Mouth opening and mastication, evaluated separately and then correlated (R2 = 0.925, p < 0.0001), also showed a marked improvement. When questioned, all patients reported being satisfied with the treatment outcome.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, Dental School, Universidade de Pernambuco, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors: Mariana Vasconcelos da Cruz
authors: MV
authors: Gouveia
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, Dental School, Universidade de Pernambuco, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors: Jimmy Charles Melo
authors: JC
authors: Barbalho
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, Dental School, Universidade de Pernambuco, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors: Edwaldo Dourado
authors: ED
authors: Pereira Júnior
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, Dental School, Universidade de Pernambuco, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors: Mirella Marques das Mercês
authors: MM
authors: Nascimento
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, Dental School, Universidade de Pernambuco, Camaragibe, PE, Brazil.
authors: Belmiro Cavalcanti do Egito
authors: BC
authors: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000601:surgery*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013582:Synovial Fluid; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult