Arthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint. A comparative study of arthroscopic and tomographic findings.

Established radiographic criteria of temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis were evaluated by comparison of arthroscopic and tomographic findings in the superior compartment. 34 joints of 30 patients with long-standing chronic pain and/or functional impairment were investigated according to standardized techniques. Agreement was found between arthroscopy and corrected sagittal tomography regarding diagnosis of osteoarthrosis in all advanced cases. Diagnostic accuracy as regards slight changes was, however, lower. At tomographic examination, the sensitivity was slightly higher than specificity, i.e., pathological changes were more frequently identified than normality. No radiographic sign of osteoarthrosis could be specifically associated with arthroscopic features of osteoarthrosis or synovitis. Predominant location of osteoarthrosis at both arthroscopy and tomography was the posterior slope of the eminence (latero-central part). Osteoarthrosis was more widespread in the fibrocartilage than in the subchondral bone.