Surgery Overview

For arthroscopic jaw surgery, the surgeon inserts a pencil-thin, lighted tube (arthroscope) into the jaw joint through a small incision in the skin. The arthroscope is connected to a small camera outside the body that transmits a close-up image of the joint to a TV monitor.

The surgeon can insert surgical instruments through the arthroscope to perform surgery on the joint, preventing the need for more surgical incisions. This technique is used to diagnose and treat temporomandibular (TM) disorders.

During arthroscopic surgery, the surgeon may:

• Remove scar tissue and thickened cartilage.
• Reshape parts of the jawbone.
• Reposition the disc.
• Tighten the joint to limit movement.
• Flush (lavage) the joint.
• Insert an anti-inflammatory medicine.

Procedures are done under general anesthesia and usually take 30 minutes or longer depending upon the type of procedure.

What To Expect After Surgery

After surgery, you may start physical therapy within 48 hours in order to maintain movement and prevent scar tissue from forming. You may also use a mechanical device that gently moves your jaw joint (continuous passive motion).

Your jaw movement may be limited for at least a month. And you may need to follow a diet of liquid and soft foods.

Why It Is Done

Arthroscopy can also be used to flush out the joint (lavage) or to inject an anti-inflammatory medicine. This can be especially helpful to people who have TM disorders caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthroscopy can be used to treat TM disorders involving:

• Joint disease that causes tissue and bone to break down.
• Scar tissue (adhesions).
• Cartilage that is too thick.
• Disc displacement.
• A jaw joint that has loosened over time or after an injury.

This procedure may also be used to diagnose a TM disorder (diagnostic arthroscopy).

Arthroscopy is not done when there is:

• Swelling in the jaw that has not been diagnosed.
• Infection (surgery could cause infection to spread).
• A tumor near the jaw joint. A procedure such as arthroscopy could cause the tumor to spread (metastasize).
• Stiffening or fusion of the jawbones (bony ankylosis).
• An affected joint next to the only ear with which the person can hear (surgery could accidentally damage the ear).
• Obesity, making the jaw joint difficult to access under the skin and fat.

How Well It Works

Arthroscopy is considered a minimally invasive and safe temporomandibular surgery technique.¹ The surgery is about 80% effective in treating joints with painfully limited motion.¹