Temporomandibular Joint Disease - Indications for Arthroscopic Management

• an undiagnosed TMJ disorder that cannot be resolved on noninvasive imaging and which is unresponsive to conservative management?

• a need for a sample of joint fluid to be submitted for culture and cell analysis?

• a mass lesion that needs to be biopsied for histologic examination?

• a suspected perforation and an allergy to radiopaque dye?

• acute disc displacement without reduction or with frequent intermittent locking?

• hypomobility secondary to fibrous adhesions in the superior joint space?

• hypermobility of the joint that is associated with dislocation and/or painful subluxations?

• disc displacement with a small perforation in the retrodiscal tissue or disc?

• unexplained pain refractory to medical management with disc displacement, capsulitis and/or degenerative joint disease?

• a large meniscal or retrodiscal perforation?

• severe joint ankylosis?

• a large tumor that needs to be completely removed?

• removal of alloplastic material?

• regional skin infection?

• possible tumor seeding?

• septic arthritis of the TMJ?

• poor operative risk due to severe comorbid condition(s)?

• a severe, uncorrectable coagulopathy?

• facial pain without a functional intracapsular component?