Objective: To compare the mean decrease in mouth opening by autologous blood injection in superior joint space with and without pericapsular tissue in the treatment of chronic recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation.
Methods: The prospective study was conducted at the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from July, 2015, to January, 2016, and comprised patients, divided into two equal groups, having chronic temporomandibular joint dislocation. Group A patients were injected with autologous blood 2ml by 18-gauge single needle technique in superior joint space, while in group B patients, the needle was moved outward for 1cm and an additional 1ml of blood was injected in the pericapsular tissue under local anaesthesia in single setting after scrubbing local area with antiseptic solution. Data was analysed using SPSS 17.
Results: Of the 80 patients, there were 40(50%) in each of the two groups. In group A, there were 18(45%) males and 22(55%) females with an overall mean age of 30.93±11.04 years, and in group B there were 16(40%) males and 24(60%) females with an overall mean age of 30.38±11.80 years. In group A, the decrease in mouth opening in 34(85%) patients was 2-4 mm, and 6 (15%) had 5-7 mm. In group B, 14(35%) patients had 2-3 mm and 26(65%) patients had 5-7mm (p=0.001).
Conclusions: The procedure was found to be safe, simple and cost effective for the treatment of temporomandibular joint dislocation, and it caused no foreign body reaction.
Keywords: Temporomandibular joint, Dislocation, Autologous blood injection.