Evaluation of the long-term treatment effectiveness of arthrocentesis in patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction: A retrospective study

Objectives To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of arthrocentesis in patients with TMJ disc displacement without reduction (DDWoR) and to identify prognostic factors that may influence treatment outcomes.Methods This study comprised 78 patients diagnosed with TMJ/DDWoR according to the DC/TMD and treated with arthrocentesis between 2014 and 2022. Patients were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at long-term follow-up using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and maximum mouth opening (MMO) for function. Treatment success was assessed according to clinician-assessed criteria and patient self-evaluation.Results Significant improvements in both pain and function were observed postoperatively and sustained through long-term follow-up (both p < .001). The success rate was 53.85% according to clinician-assessed criteria and 56.41% based on patient-reported outcomes. VAS scores were significantly associated with success outcomes across all time points (p < .05). Age showed a statistically significant positive association with self-evaluation success (p = .035).Conclusion Results support that arthrocentesis is an effective treatment option for patients with TMJ/DDWoR.