Efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid sodium injection in combination with arthroscopic surgery for temporomandibular joint disc displacement

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate in conjunction with arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disc displacement. Methods: The study involved 120 patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement treated at Cangzhou Central Hospital, Hebei Province, China between January 2019 and December 2022. These patients were randomly allocated into control and study groups comprising 60 patients each. Control group was treated with arthroscopic surgery, while the study group was received a combination of hyaluronic acid sodium intra-articular injection and arthroscopic surgery. Visual analogue scale (VAS), degree of mouth opening, recovery of joint function (TJFI) and recurrence of disease condition were evaluated one month and six months after surgery for both groups. Results: Following the treatment, the study group exhibited notable advantages over the control group. Pain intensity in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The study group demonstrated significantly improved mouth opening compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The TJFI index of the study group was significantly superior to that of the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the study group experienced a substantially lower recurrence rate than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Intra-articular hyaluronic acid sodium injection in combination with arthroscopic surgery is a safe and effective treatment for temporomandibular joint disc displacement. This therapeutic strategy substantially improves mouth opening, mitigates pain, and reinstates joint function, while demonstrating a low recurrence rate. Future studies utilizing larger sample sizes, incorporating multiple centers for a more diverse patient population, and involving long-term follow-up to assess the efficacy and safety of combined treatments with hyaluronic acid sodium joint cavity injection and joint disc surgery will be required to establish the findings of this investigation.