[Pathologic study on synovial fluid after intra-articular corticosteroid therapy in temporomandibular joint disorders].

OBJECTIVE

To study what happens after intra-articular injection of corticosteroid.

METHODS

Synovial fluid after intra-articular corticosteroid therapy in temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) was studied by hematoxylin-eosin, PAS, and Atcian blue staining.

RESULTS

The results were that broken synovial membrane and articular cartilage, lots of synovial lining cells, macrophagocytes, inflammatory cells and free cartilage matrix could be found in the lavage fluid.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that drug synovectomy may be one mechanism about intra-articular corticosteroid therapy in TMD, and this therapy could lead to progressive degradation and destruction of the articular cartilage. Arthrocentesis and lavage are needed three to five days after this therapy.