• Geerten-Has E Tjakkes, Elisabeth M Tenvergert, Lambert G M de Bont, and Boudewijn Stegenga.
• Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. g.h.e.tjakkes@kchir.umcg.nl
• Clin J Pain. 2007 Mar 1; 23 (3): 233-6.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the distinguishing ability of intra-articular anesthesia from placebo in orofacial pain patients with pain located in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region, aiming at a validation of intra-articular anesthesia injection as a diagnostic test of pain in the TMJ region.Materials And MethodsA randomized prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted among 19 patients (18 females, 1 male) with pain in the TMJ region. The short-term effects of intra-articular ultracain and saline injections on pain and maximum mouth opening were measured and analyzed.ResultsCompared with placebo injections, a statistically significant difference in pain scores was found after intra-articular injection of a local anesthetic on Visual Analog Scale values. The maximum mouth opening scores did, however, not differ between the 2 groups.DiscussionTMJ injection with local anesthesia leads to the decrease of pain in patients with preauricular pain. To establish the source of pain, injection of a local anesthetic in the TMJ may be used as a diagnostic tool. However, the results of diagnostic injections should still be interpreted cautiously.

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