Internal derangement (ID) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a common temporomandibular disorder (TMD) which causes hypomobility of the joint. Minimally invasive treatment modality like arthrocentesis is used as first-line of management having low morbidity and high efficacy. This prospective randomized comparative study was carried to compare the efficacy of intra-articular injection with sodium hyaluronate (SH) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) after arthrocentesis in ID of TMJ.

A total 40 patients diagnosed with ID (stage 1–4) were included in the study and randomly divided in two groups. Twenty patients (group A) received intra-articular injection of SH while 20 patients (group B) received intra-articular injection of TA, after arthrocentesis. The clinical parameters of pain (VAS), Maximum mouth opening (MMO) (mm) and clicking sound (present/absent) were evaluated pre-operatively and at seventh day, 1 month and 3 months post-operatively.

There was statistically significant improvement in pain scores in both the groups at all time intervals with SH being superior (p value 0.0086). All the patients showed improved mouth opening at all time intervals, TA being superior but statistically insignificant (p value 0.59). There was reduction in the clicking sound in both the groups which was statistically insignificant at all time intervals.

Arthrocentesis followed by intra-articular injection with SH is superior to TA in terms of pain reduction, while TA showed superiority in terms of improved mouth opening.