Surgical arthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint.

Currently, surgical arthroscopy of the TMJ is primarily confined to the superior joint space, unless there is a perforation in the disc. This is due mainly to the technical limitations imposed in attempting to manipulate a 0.69 mm arthroscope with advanced fibreoptics in the lower joint space. At the present time, operative arthroscopy is "state of the art" treatment for many pathological entities involving the TMJ. Disc entrapment, synovitis, adhesions, chondromalacia, osteoarthritis and lateral capsular impingement can be effectively treated with this technique. While many patients will achieve successful results with this form of therapy, operative arthroscopy is not a panacea, and the need for open arthrotomy must still be reserved for those patients with advanced intracapsular disease. Specifically, anterior disc displacement with reduction, extensive intra-articular fibrosis, failed arthroscopy, avascular necrosis, osteochondritis dissecans, and joint reconstruction often require open arthrotomy for their successful management.