Autologous blood injection as a new treatment modality for chronic recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation

Purpose. Many different surgical and nonsurgical techniques have been used to treat patients with chronic recurrent temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation. The nonsurgical techniques consist of injecting different substances into the TMJ area. This study was carried out to assess autologous blood injection to the TMJ for treatment of chronic recurrent TMJ dislocation. Patients and methods. Thirty patients having chronic recurrent TMJ dislocation were randomly divided into 2 equal groups (15 patients in each). Group A was treated only by autologous blood injection into the superior joint space (SJS), whereas group B received autologous blood injections to the SJS and the pericapsular tissues (PT). Results. At the end of the follow-up period of 1 year, the results of the current study have showed that injection of autologous blood to the SJS and PT gave a higher success rate (80%) than its injection only into the SJS (60%). Moreover, the patients of group B had an average decrease in their maximal mouth opening (5.3 +/- 2.1) higher than that of group A (3.6 +/- 1.5). Also, the digital radiographic imaging of the joints in group B only showed the condylar head posterior to the articular eminence, in open position, instead of being anterior to it before the injection. In both groups, no destructive changes to the bony components of the joint have been observed. Conclusions. We could conclude from this study that the injection of autologous blood into the TMJ in patients with chronic recurrent dislocation is a simple, safe and cost-effective technique. So, we encourage injection of autologous blood to the SJS and PT for treatment of patients with chronic recurrent TMJ dislocation, as it has shown better clinical and radiographic results than its injection only to the SJS. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: 31-36)