Application of exercise therapy for temporomandibular joint function after arthroscopic discopexy: a randomized controlled trial.

This study was to develop a targeted exercise programme and evaluate its short-term effect on patient recovery post-arthroscopic discopexy. This randomized controlled trial was performed between November 2023 and April 2024. Fifty-eight patients with irreducible anterior disc displacement who underwent successful arthroscopic discopexy were randomly assigned (1:1) to control and intervention groups. Beginning 1 month postoperatively, the control group received basic exercise therapy, including active mouth opening, mandibular protrusion, bilateral lateral movement. The intervention group received targeted exercise therapy starting at 2 weeks after surgery, with passive mouth opening and lower jaw pressure movement added to the basic exercise therapy (earlier start time, increased strength training). Maximum mouth opening (MMO), pain (VAS), mandibular function (MFIQ), and oral quality of life (OHIP-14) were assessed at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months post-surgery and compared between the groups. At 1 month, significantly better outcomes were observed in the intervention group across all measures: MMO (35.46 ± 4.55 mm vs 30.79 ± 4.97 mm, P < 0.001), pain VAS (1.78 ± 0.93 vs 2.48 ± 1.25, P = 0.017), MFIQ (17.67 ± 6.39 vs 23.26 ± 7.51, P = 0.003), OHIP-14 (8.63 ± 5.72 vs 13.89 ± 6.41, P = 0.012). At 2 months, only MMO differed significantly between the groups (40.06 ± 4.52 mm vs 36.76 ± 4.28 mm, P = 0.005). No between-group difference existed at 3 months. The targeted exercise therapy following arthroscopic discopexy may accelerates MMO recovery and pain remission, enhancing early postoperative quality of life.