Evaluation of the efficacy of platelet rich fibrin (I-PRF) intra-articular injections in the management of internal derangements of temporomandibular joints - a controlled preliminary prospective clinical study

Mustafa Manafikhi; Jawdat Ataya; Omar Heshmeh

doi:10.1186/s12891-022-05421-7

Evaluation of the efficacy of platelet rich fibrin (I-PRF) intra-articular injections in the management of internal derangements of temporomandibular joints - a controlled preliminary prospective clinical study

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 May 14;23(1):454. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05421-7.

Authors

Mustafa Manafikhi¹, Jawdat Ataya^{2

3}, Omar Heshmeh⁴

Affiliations

¹ Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
² Medical Education Programme, Syrian Virtual University, Damascus, Syria. dr.jawdat.ataya@gmail.com.
³ Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria. dr.jawdat.ataya@gmail.com.
⁴ Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Al-Sham Syrian Private University, Damascus, Syria.

Abstract

Background: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the body. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are among the most troublesome disorders for patients, as they can cause pain, affect oral functions and disturb dentists on the level of diagnosis and treatment. The most common symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders are articulated sounds (such as clicking or TMJ crepitation), joint pain in comfort and function situations (jaw movements), pain or strain in masseter and jaw muscles and or restricted mandibular movements. One of the most modern biocompatible substances used to treat joint disorders, including the TMJ, is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) intra-articular injections in managing internal derangements of temporomandibular.

Methods: Twenty patients suffering from a unilateral click due to temporomandibular disorders were individually injected with 1 mL of (I-PRF) twice 1 week apart into the superior joint space of the TMJ with the internal disorder. Data were recorded and evaluated by the Helkimo index. This evaluation was conducted three times; 1 week after the first injection, 1 week after the second injection, and 6 months after the first injection.

Results: The clicking disappeared entirely in 14 out of 20 patients after 1 week of getting the first injection, and in all patients after 1 week of getting the second injection, and returned to two of them after a six-month since the first injection.

Conclusion: Preliminary results showed the efficacy of the Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin (I-PRF) in managing articular clicking in patients with internal disorders of the temporomandibular joint. Injectable Platelet Rich Fibrin has significant clinical efficacy in treating the articular clicking resulting from internal temporomandibular joint disorders.

Keywords: Injectable platelet rich fibrin (I-PRF); Intra-articular injections; Temporomandibular disorders; Temporomandibular joint.

MeSH terms

Arthralgia
Humans
Injections, Intra-Articular
Platelet-Rich Fibrin*
Prospective Studies
Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
Temporomandibular Joint
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* / diagnosis
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* / drug therapy