Advantages of ultrasound guidance for TMJ arthrocentesis and intra-articular injection: A narrative review

Ultrasound (US) is a widely available, low-cost, non-invasive, and safe medical imaging method that enables real-time observation. Ultrasound offers several advantages for dentomaxillofacial images, such as portability, the possibility of dynamic and repeated examinations, patient comfort, and availability. It is a useful tool for recognizing the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structures and their involvement during the course of different pathological processes, such as articular disk displacement, joint effusion and cortical erosion. In addition to its diagnostic use, US has been proposed as an auxiliary tool in minimally invasive procedures for arthrogenic temporomandibular disorders (TMD) to achieve an accurate puncture, recognize joint spaces and reduce surgical trauma. While US is widely used for large joints to visualize internal structures and guide the injection, this technique has only recently gained popularity for the TMJ procedures. Hence, the literature on this topic is scarce. The present review describes the potential advantages and the clinical technique of US guidance for TMJ arthrocentesis and intra-articular injection (IAI).