Comparison of Arthroscopy and Arthrocentesis in the Management of Internal Derangement in TMJ Disorders: A Systematic Review

The aim of the systematic review is to shed some light on comparison of Arthroscopy and arthrocentesis in the management of internal derangement in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted with no date or language constraints. Human research, such as randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and retrospective studies comparing arthrocentesis and arthroscopy in the treatment of internal derangements in TMJ disorders, was included in this study. After considering the exclusion and inclusion criteria, seven studies were being included in the systematic review. Because all trials employed the same scale, the weighted mean difference (WMD) was used to compute the Maximum inter-incisal opening (MIO) (in millimeters) and pain in the continuous data (by visual analog scale). The improvement in MIO following arthroscopy was greater than that following arthrocentesis. The difference in pain reduction between arthroscopy and arthrocentesis patients was statistically significant (fixed: WMD = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.54–0.30; P = 0.00001). When compared to arthrocentesis, arthroscopy lysis and lavage were shown to be more effective in improving MIO and lowering pain.