The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in the synovial fluid correlated with the severity of arthroscopically observed synovitis and clinical outcome after temporomandibular joint irrigation in patients with chronic closed lock.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) synovial fluid (SF) and the severity of arthroscopically observed synovitis before and after visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR) in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL). In addition, the findings were correlated with the clinical outcome.

Study Design: Twenty-four patients with unilateral CCL, who underwent a second VGIR either as a repeated therapeutic TMJ irrigation or as a follow-up arthroscopy, were enrolled in the study.

The changes of joint effusion on MRI and arthroscopic findings after visually guided TMJ irrigation correlated to the clinical outcome.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the changes of joint effusion (JE) on the MRI and arthroscopically observed pathology after visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR) in patients with chronic closed lock. The correlation of these findings to the clinical outcome was also studied.

Study Design: Forty patients with unilateral chronic closed lock who underwent 2-time VGIR, were divided into either the good outcome (g-) group (n = 29) or poor outcome (p-) group (n = 11) after the first VGIR.

Severity of arthroscopically observed pathology and levels of inflammatory cytokines in the synovial fluid before and after visually guided temporomandibular joint irrigation correlated with the clinical outcome in patients with chronic closed lock.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the severity of arthroscopically observed pathologies and the levels of a set of inflammatory cytokines in aspirated synovial fluid (A-SF) in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) before and after visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR). Furthermore, the findings were correlated with the clinical outcome after VGIR.

Study Design: VGIR was performed in 56 consecutive patients with unilateral CCL.

Cytokine and clinical predictors for treatment outcome of visually guided temporomandibular joint irrigation in patients with chronic closed lock.

Purpose: This study investigates selected predictors for clinical outcome of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) irrigation in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL).

Patients And Methods: Fifty-six patients with unilateral CCL, who underwent a visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR), were enrolled in this study. They were divided into either successful (s-group; n = 38) or unsuccessful groups (u-group; n = 18), according to the clinical success criteria.

Inflammatory cytokines correlated with clinical outcome of temporomandibular joint irrigation in patients with chronic closed lock.

Objective: This study investigated the correlation of clinical outcomes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) irrigation with the occurrence and concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-10 in the washed-out synovial fluid (SF) in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL) of the TMJ.

Study Design: Thirty-six patients underwent a visually guided TMJ irrigation (VGIR). SF samples were collected immediately before VGIR.

One-year clinical course following visually guided irrigation for chronic closed lock of the temporomandibular joint.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the clinical course following visually guided irrigation (VGIR) for chronic closed lock (CCL) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) as well as the factors of importance for clinical outcome. Evaluation emphasis was placed on the period needed for the patients to reach the success criteria.

Study Design: Sixty-one patients with unilateral CCL comprised the study group.

The occurrence of antibodies against Chlamydia species in patients with monoarthritis and chronic closed lock of the temporomandibular joint.

Purpose: The study goal was to investigate the occurrence of serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia psittaci in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) monoarthritis or chronic closed lock and in control subjects.

Patients And Methods: An indirect microimmunofluorescence test for detecting antibodies against C trachomatis was used. Twenty-three patients (12 with monoarthritis and 11 with chronic closed lock) and 42 control subjects were evaluated.

Visually guided temporomandibular joint irrigation in patients with chronic closed lock: clinical outcome and its relationship to intra-articular morphologic changes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome after visually guided irrigation (VGIR) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its relationship with postoperative arthroscopic changes.

Study Design: Of the original 69 patients, thirty patients (30 TMJs) underwent VGIR of the TMJ a second time. After the first VGIR, the clinical outcome was assessed, and 18 patients were assigned to the good outcome group.

Characterization of tissue components in the temporomandibular joint disc and posterior disc attachment region: internal derangement and control autopsy specimens compared by morphometry.

Purpose: Our aim was to morphologically investigate the occurrence of fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and blood vessels in the tissue of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc, the intermediate zone, and the posterior disc attachment region in control autopsy specimens and to compare the results with those observed in corresponding tissues from patients with TMJ internal derangement.

Patients And Methods: First, 20 bilateral TMJ disc specimens from selected autopsy cases were analyzed by conventional morphometry. Thus, the volume density of fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and blood vessels was determined.