Habitual TMJ luxation is a rare but serious condition for the patient, and is often managed by extensive open joint surgery. Arthroscopic eminoplasty is described as alternative to open eminoplasty, but with serious damage of the articular surface, and consequently adherence of the articular disc.

Aim: Therapeutic & side effects of arthroscopic electrocautery of retrodiscal tissues in habitual TMJ luxation.

Materials and methods: All patients with habitual TMJ luxations who needed surgical management between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009 were included in this study. Patients were primarily treated with arthroscopic electrocautery. Pre- and postoperative evaluation parameters: TMJ luxations, maximum mouthopening (MMO), pain and joint noises. Success was defined if within the first 6 months post operative reluxation not occurred, no pain, no joint mobility restrictions and no joint noises developed.

Results: In 16 patients (F:M = 9:7; mean age 32) a total of 20 TMJ (4 bilateral patients) with habitual luxation were treated with arthroscopic electrocautery. MMO pre-op 47 mm, post-op 40 mm ( p < 0.05). Only in one patient reluxation occurred. None of the patients had joint pain or mobility restrictions. Overall successrate was 95%.

Discussion: Success rate of our therapy was considerably higher than the arthroscopic eminoplasty (75%). In contrast with open joint surgery or using sclerosing agents, with our technique no other morbidity was seen.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic eletrocautery of retrodiscal tissues is a highly successful minimal invasive therapy in habitual TMJ luxation without side effects.

Conflict of interest: None declared.