Quality of Life in Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Following Arthrocentesis and Hyaluronic Acid Injection: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

  This retrospective study aims to assess the clinical efficacy and quality of life outcomes in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) who underwent arthrocentesis combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) injection. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with TMDs were treated with single-needle arthrocentesis followed by intra-articular HA injection. Clinical evaluations included spontaneous mouth opening, pain assessment, and patient-reported outcome measures using a modified quality of life questionnaire adapted from the SF-36. Pre- and post-treatment measurements were compared using paired Student’s t-tests. Post-treatment, 70% of patients showed improved mouth opening (mean increase: 1.5 mm; SD: 3.9), although the change did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.056). Pain levels decreased markedly, with 40% of patients reporting complete pain relief and 50% reporting only mild discomfort. Significant improvements were also observed in chewing function, recreational activity, and overall quality of life. Arthrocentesis with HA injection appears to be a safe, minimally invasive, and clinically effective treatment option for patients with TMDs, particularly those with early to moderate joint degeneration. Improvements in both objective and subjective outcomes support its role as a valuable therapeutic approach in cases unresponsive to conservative management.