The aim is to compare the effectiveness of corticosteroid administration (dexamethasone) with a placebo (saline), following arthrocentesis of for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Twenty-eight participants with TMJ arthralgia, mainly related to osteoarthritis ae randomly assigned to two arms of a parallel double blind RCT. In both arms an arthrocentesis procedure is carried out, while a single dose intraarticular dexamethasone was delivered to participants in one arm. Saline was delivered in the other arm to serve as a control. Follow up visits were scheduled after 1, 3 and 24 weeks. During each visit TMJ pain (on a 100mm VAS) and joint stiffness (mouth opening in mm) are scored. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) are used for statistical analysis.
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Change from Baseline in TMJ pain at 24 weeks
Timeframe: 0 (T0), and at 1 (T1), 3 (T2) and 24 (T3) weeks.
Change from Baseline in Maximal interincisal opening at 24 weeks
Timeframe: T0, and at T1, T2 and T3.