Temporomandibular joint synovial fluid analysis.

A method for the estimation of the synovial fluid volume of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is described. Patients are administered 1.2 g of aspirin and the concentration of salicylate in plasma and in saline aspirates of the TMJ is measured by a sensitive high performance liquid chromatography assay. The ratio of the concentration of salicylate in the saline aspirate to that in the plasma allows the volume of the synovial fluid to be calculated. The method would also allow the determination of the concentration and the absolute amount of putative mediators of pathology in the upper joint.