Loose bodies of the temporo-mandibular joint, synovial chondromatosis or osteoarthritis.

A patient is presented with multiple intra-articular loose bodies of the temporo-mandibular joint, the aetiology and management is discussed. In the absence of histological proof of metaplasia within the synovium the mechanism of cartilage production is open to question. Attention is drawn to the diagnostic problem in long-standing cases when osteo-arthritis supervenes. The clinical picture presented may represent the late stages of synovial chondromatosis or degenerative joint disease from another cause.