[Analysis of complications following double contrast arthrotomography of the temporomandibular joint].

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrography is a valuable diagnostic method to evaluate the pathology of soft tissue components of the TMJ. However, arthrography is more or less invasive technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the sort and content of injury following TMJ arthrography. The symptoms before and after the arthrography were compared. In 90 joints that underwent TMJ arthrography, complications such as pain and/or trismus were encountered in 39 joints within one month. Twenty six patients complained of the change of pain conditions including the discomfort. The most common one was the pain on mouth opening. In every joint the pain disappeared within one month without any treatment. There was a high frequency of exacerbated pain in patients with some pain before the arthrography. The change of the degree of maximum opening was recognized in 11 patients. The duration of that condition was somewhat longer than that of pain conditions. In 5 joints with late clicking, 3 developed closed lock. Other complications were swelling, disability of mastication, eczema, hearing impairment and facial paresthesia. All the symptoms disappeared within 1 week without any treatment. From these results it was suggested that TMJ arthrography has low possibility of severe damage to the TMJ although there is some possibility of injury to the bone and soft tissue by arthrographic procedures.