Histopathologic Evaluation of Autologous Blood Injection to the Temporomandibular Joint

PURPOSE: Chronic recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation is treated by surgical and nonsurgical techniques described in the literature. However, these techniques have some complications noted in the literature. Recently, the autologous blood injection in temporomandibular joint technique has been applied to treat chronic temporomandibular joint dislocation. However, to date, there has been no study that describes the histopathologic effects of autologous blood injection within the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathologic effects of autologous blood injection in rabbit temporomandibular joints. METHODS: Eight New Zealand white rabbits underwent bilateral autologous blood injection. After the injection, mandibles were fixed by orthodontic brackets and elastics for 24 hours. One rabbit was included in the control group. After 1-month follow-up period, the animals were killed. Temporomandibular joints were dissected and sent to histological examination. RESULTS: Only fibrin accumulations were seen in the tissue samples. There was no evidence of degeneration in the joint cartilage, and a fibrous bed was not formed in the injected regions. CONCLUSIONS: Although the procedure has successful results in the literature, a fibrous bed that is supposed to be the outcome of the treatment was not seen in the tissue samples. According to this study, therefore, the autologous blood injection does not change the structure of temporomandibular joint in rabbits.