Surgical Management of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

TMJ disorders are widespread compounds that could lead to pain, poor mouth openings, poor mastication, and low quality of life. The objective was to determine how well the surgical management of temporomandibular disorders of the joint is done, using clinical outcome and patient satisfaction in a hospital-based sample in Baghdad. It gave a prospective study of arthrocentesis, arthroscopy, open joint surgery or a combination of both studies on 40 patients who had undergone all the professional therapies yet failed to respond to the conservative therapy. Pain score, maximal interincisal opening, functional limitation, and locking joints were assessed clinically, but also patient satisfaction at the end of the treatment. The results indicated evident postoperative pain, mouth opening, and jaw-function improvements, and a significant decrease in joint-locking and overall high patient-satisfaction rates. Arthroscopy demonstrated the quickest functional recovery and arthrocentesis demonstrated an advantageous recovery with reduced invasion. In a few advanced cases, open surgery was still viable. The researchers conclude that surgical treatment can offer substantial clinical benefit and acceptable patient-reported outcomes in the appropriate cases of temporomandibular joint disorder.

Keywords:

Temporomandibular joint disorders, TMJ surgery, Arthrocentesis, Arthroscopy, Clinical outcomes, Patient satisfaction, Oral and maxillofacial surgery

References

Tran C, Ghahreman K, Huppa C, Gallagher JE. Management of temporomandibular disorders: a rapid review of systematic reviews and guidelines. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;51(9):1211-1225. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2021.11.009.

Garstka AA, Kozowska L, Kijak K, Brzozka M, Gronwald H, Skomro P, et al. Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Painful Temporomandibular Disorders: A Literature Review Supplemented by Own Clinical Experience. Pain Res Manag. 2023;2023:1002235. doi:10.1155/2023/1002235.

Qamar Z, Alghamdi AMS, Haydarah NKB, Balateef AA, Alamoudi AA, Abumismar MA, et al. Impact of temporomandibular disorders on oral health-related quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Rehabil. 2023;50(8):706-714. doi:10.1111/joor.13472.

Guarda-Nardini L, De Almeida AM, Manfredini D. Arthrocentesis of the Temporomandibular Joint: Systematic Review and Clinical Implications of Research Findings. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2021;35(1):17-29. doi:10.11607/ofph.2606.

Thorpe ARDS, Haddad Y, Hsu J. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing arthrocentesis with conservative management for painful temporomandibular joint disorder. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023;52(8):889-896. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2022.12.005.

Tang YH, van Bakelen NB, Gareb B, Spijkervet FKL. Arthroscopy versus arthrocentesis and versus conservative treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;53(6):503-520. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2024.01.006.

Anwar Z, McLeod NMH, Van den Bosch P, Cairns M. A review of the use of patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2024;52(2):181-187. doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2023.11.005.

Monje Gil F, Martيnez Artal P, Cuevas Queipo de Llano A, Muٌoz Guerra M, Gonzلlez Ballester D, Lَpez Arcas JM, et al. Consensus Report and Recommendations on the Management of Late-stage Internal Derangement of the Temporomandibular Joint. J Clin Med. 2024;13(11):3319. doi:10.3390/jcm13113319.

Bنckstrِm E, Wنnman A, Sjِstrِm M. The majority of patients report satisfaction more than 24 years after temporomandibular joint discectomy. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;28(4):1539-1545. doi:10.1007/s10006-024-01280-9.

Hasan RM, Diajil AR, Ali NM, Aswad F, Tariq LZ. Clinical characteristics of temporomandibular disorders in a sample of Iraqi patients. Wiad Lek. 2025;78(1):143-147. doi:10.36740/WLek/197186.

Guarda-Nardini L, De Almeida AM, Manfredini D. Arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint: systematic review and clinical implications of research findings. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2021;35(1):17-29. doi:10.11607/ofph.2606.

Rodrigues ALP, Cardoso HJ, آngelo DF. Patient experience and satisfaction with different temporomandibular joint treatments: a retrospective study. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2023;51(1):44-51. doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2023.01.006.

Tang YH, van Bakelen NB, Gareb B, Spijkervet FKL. Arthroscopy versus arthrocentesis and versus conservative treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024.

Crummey S, Rae A, Jacob O, Rogers SN, Fan K. Systematic review of patients’ experience with temporomandibular disorders. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2025;63(2):76-82. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2024.11.001.

Kapos FP, Exposto FG, Oyarzo JF, Durham J. Temporomandibular disorders: a review of current concepts in aetiology, diagnosis and management. Oral Surg. 2020;13(4):321-334. doi:10.1111/ors.12473.

Taimeh D, Ni Riordain R, Fedele S, Leeson R. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Used in Temporomandibular Disorders: A Review of the Literature. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2023;37(2):113-129. doi:10.11607/ofph.3264.

Shazo S, Al-Mualla HD, Abdulkarem AM, Zghair FA. The Correlation Between Depth of Invasion, and Degree of Differentiation with Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Contemp Med Sci. 2023;9(6). doi:10.22317/jcms.v9i6.1441.

Jubair RS, Alalawy H, Ali WI. Nutritional plan among cancer patients with dysphagia. Oncol Radiother. 2023;17(12):1-5.

Thorpe ARDS, Haddad Y, Hsu J. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing arthrocentesis with conservative management for painful temporomandibular joint disorder. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023;52(8):889-896.

Tang YH, van Bakelen NB, Gareb B, Spijkervet FKL. Arthroscopy versus arthrocentesis and versus conservative treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;53(6):503-520.

آngelo DF, et al. Postoperative Recovery after TMJ Arthroscopy: Masticatory Function and Daily Activities. Dent J. 2023;11(2):17.

Rodrigues ALP, Cardoso HJ, آngelo DF. Patient experience and satisfaction with different temporomandibular joint treatments: a retrospective study. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2023;51(1):44-51.

Anwar Z, McLeod NMH, Van den Bosch P, Cairns M. A review of the use of patient reported outcome measures in temporomandibular joint surgery. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2024;52(2):181-187.

Bنckstrِm E, Wنnman A, Sjِstrِm M. The majority of patients report satisfaction more than 24 years after temporomandibular joint discectomy. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;28(4):1539-1545.