This is a retrospective study to evaluate therapeutic arthroscopy for closed lock of the temporomandibular joint(TMJ). Eighteen subjects with 18 'locked' joints were treated y superior joint space arthroscopy, lysis of adhesion and lavage, and
lavage,
and debridement along with postoperative splint and physiotherapy. Pain, mandibular function including maximal incisal opening, and joint noises were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively(around 2 weeks), and at the last visit. The mean
follow-up
was 22.8 months, with range of 3 to 38 months. The results showed that therapeutic TMJ arthroscopy was effective in managing pain and increasing motion of mandible in patients with closed lock of TMJ. In pain 66.7% of the patients reported
pain-free
state at the last visit And in mandibular function, maximum interincisal opening was increased by 49.1% in distance ; mandibular deviation to the affected side on opening was corrected in 93.8% and limited lateral excursion to the unaffected side
was
resolved in 91.7% of the symptomatic patients at the last visit. But in improving joint noises, therapeutic arthroscopy was not effective and was unpredictable ; clicking was disappeared in. 45.5% and crepitus in 50% of the symptomatic patients
at
the
last visit.
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