Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, cilt.53, sa.12, ss.2238-2244, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) hypermobility is commonly associated with symptoms such as joint pain, restricted jaw function, and clicking sounds. While prolotherapy is recognized as a conservative treatment method for TMJ disorders, arthrocentesis is frequently employed to manage intra-articular inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of combining prolotherapy with arthrocentesis compared to prolotherapy alone in patients with TMJ hypermobility. A total of 26 patients (mean age: 33.7 years) were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two treatment groups: combined prolotherapy with arthrocentesis (n = 15) and traditional prolotherapy (n = 11). Clinical outcomes, including maximal interincisal opening (MIO), pain intensity assessed via the visual analog scale (VAS), and the presence of joint clicking, were measured before treatment and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-treatment. Both groups demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in MIO at the 3-month follow-up (p < 0.05). However, a more substantial decrease in VAS pain scores was observed in the combined therapy group (from 6.0 to 1.5, p = 0.001) compared to the traditional group (from 6.5 to 4.5, p = 0.015). Although clicking sounds decreased in both groups, the differences were not statistically significant. Transient complications, such as dizziness and temporary facial nerve paresis, were reported in a few cases and resolved spontaneously without further intervention. These findings suggest that the integration of arthrocentesis with prolotherapy may enhance pain relief and improve clinical outcomes in the management of TMJ hypermobility, offering a promising minimally invasive option for clinicians. This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration No: NCT07020455).