Short-term effects of intra-articular sodium hyaluronate, glucocorticoid, and saline injections on rheumatoid arthritis of the temporomandibular joint.

The short-term effect (4 weeks) of intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate, glucocorticoid, and saline was studied in three groups comprising 41 patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the temporomandibular joint. Sodium hyaluronate and glucocorticoid treatments had a significant positive effect according to the patients' subjective evaluation. A comprehensive clinical dysfunction score was reduced significantly in all groups, while the number of tender muscle regions was significantly reduced and the maximum voluntary mouth opening significantly increased in the glucocorticoid and sodium hyaluronate groups only.