Temporomandibular joint arthroscopy

Temporomandibular joint arthroscopy, described by Dr. Ohnishi in 1976, has become a very useful therapeutic alternative in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathologies due to its great versatility and low morbidity.The pathologies of the TMJ are complex, due to their multifactorial origin, ranging from inflammatory joint disorders to degenerative pathologies with severe destruction of the anatomy of the TMJ. Signs and symptoms are usually diverse, such as pain, alterations in mandibular dynamics, occlusal disorders, among others. These alterations significantly affect the quality of life. There is no single and exclusive treatment to solve these pathologies, but a multimodal type of treatment has been established, with functional treatments in conjunction with surgical treatments, in the selected cases, being the best choice. TMJ arthroscopy, in the latter cases, is useful because it permits visualization of the joint through a minimally invasive treatment, reducing surgical morbidity as well as being highly versatile in treating different pathologies according to their complexity.The aim of this article is to review the current status and advances of TMJ arthroscopy as a surgical treatment option for TMJ pathologies.