2001 Volume 47 Issue 1 Pages 46-48
A case of rheumatoid arthritis of the temporomandibular joint is presented. A 53-year-old woman had limited mouth opening and pain of the temporomandibular joint. She had suffered from generalized arthralgia due to rheumatoid arthritis for 23 years.
An arthroscopic examination with a 0.8-mm rod-lens fiberscope revealed synovitis, deformity of the condyle, and fibrous adhesion in the lower joint cavity. Synovitis with capillary hyperemia, hypertropic soft-tissup-like synovial villi, exposure of subchondral bone of the eminence with pannus-like soft tissues, and fibrous adhesion were found in the upper cavity. After arthroscopic examination, arthrocentesis was performed.
After arthrocentesis, difficulty in mouth opening and joint pain were improved moderately.
